Gentlemen, I recently purchased this 7 1/2 inch triple lock target, .44 Special. It is serial numbered in the 50xx range. It is equipped with a "Sheard" marked gold bead style front sight.

Mechanically it is tight and sound. There are no factory rework stamps. There is some blotchy, finish loss. But there is no pitting and what remains of the blueing is beautiful; deep, inky and mirror reflective.

This is the first 7 1/2 in gun I have owned. I love it. I think it looks great and points.

I know S&W did not build a lot of TLTs. Can anyone tell me the approximate percentage of TLTs that were equipped with 7 1/2 in barrels?

Thanks.

Wow, just Wow !

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

Hi
The triple lock Targets were made in 4 inch, 5 inch, 6 1/2 and 7 1/2. The most common
Barrel length was 6 1/2. The 4 inch was the rarest, 5 inch next and the 7 1/2.
based on the amount we see of the 7 1/2 my best guess would be estimated less than
300 to 400. The only way to know the amount is from the shipping records.
I hope this helps.
Jim Fisher

Thank you for the information Mr. Fisher. I appreciate the response.

Holy Cow!! That is way past cool!

Color me jealous.

Do you think any 4" (or 5") Target Models were actually manufactured? A 4" Target seems counterintuitive as a longer barrel length would be preferred if precision was desired.

MAJPATT,

If you would consider trades, I have two excellent+ "Eye Teeth". Original finish, tight, no end-shake, little side movement, sharp edges......please let me know & thanks for considering,

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Jeb

Beautiful .

I consider Jim Fisher's estimate to be right in the ball park.

Roy's response to the same question is: "The number of these revolvers with target sights is difficult to estimate. It is my opinion that between 250 and 500 were completed with 7 1/2" barrels and some type of target sight."

I take "some type of target sight" to include the handful of drift adjustable for windage only sights for the Bisley matches.

Roy's estimate puts the 7 1/2" percentage of ~ 15,000 total TL production in 44 Spl Chambering at from 1.7% to 3.3%.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

As Jim indicated above, there were and he has some of them.

Short barrels with adjustable target sights may be counterintuitive, but shouldn't be. The benefits of the ability to have an improved sight picture and to adjust the sights for different loads is really irrelevant to the barrel length. And some find shorter barrels to hold on target easier than long barrels.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Hi
In response to the 4 inch targets and 5 inch targets.
I have two 5 inch targets that letter. I also have one 4 inch Target that was modified by
the factory to Target. I only know of one more 4 inch target it was owned by Bill Orr.
I know of only 5 or 6 5 inch targets that are known. Bob Bettis has one.
I hope this helps. If anybody has a 5 inch target that letters please let me know and I will be glad to up date my estimate.
Jim Fisher

Here is my 5 inch Target My other 5 inch target is in Nickel it is the only nickel 5 inch known.



Here is the 5 inch Nickel Tatget.



Here is the 4 inch Target.

Thanks for all of the comments. I appreciate all of the useful information.

Now it's time to see how it shoots. Luckily .44 Special is one of my favorites, and one of the main reasons I got into reloading.

A triple lock was at the top of my "grail gun" list for many years and then the elusive target option. Mostly to great luck and with great help from forum members I have purchased each.
I love and appreciate the opportunity to cherish such works of
art and skill and to shoot them with respect. I think my next goal is a short barrel Registered Magnum and will enjoy looking for one. Wish you fine shooting Major.

MAJPATT, that is an awesome find. Congratulations.

Hey-sus ! !

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I'm too windy for 30 chrctrs!

That is one awesome looking firearm. Just to be a purist, these guns were shipped with "checked" stocks by S&W. It is only folks today that refer to them as "checkered grips".

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James Redfield
LM #497

Jim,

I was reading this old thread again and noticed the wide hammer on this gorgeous Target TL of yours. Does it have a King cockeyed or double cockeyed hammer?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

That is one mighty nice find sir! The luck to have it be a target version then the rare 7 1/2 inch barrel. You should buy a lotto ticket just in case you have just little more luck to be ringed out. A 7 1/2 barrel length is ... to me the perfect range length barrel for target work on a large frame gun. I only own 1 gun with 7 1/2 barrel length and I love it but it's on a frame of a main S&W competitor with the name starting with C. I have to post just 1 pic of it here but it fails in comparison to the op's TL. Enjoy!

Attached Images

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Good find!

Funny this thread should pop up at this time. I believe I purchased this gun on Gun Broker last Sunday night.

Sent from my SM-G930VL using Tapatalk

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Regards,
Bruce

Really glad you got it, Bruce. My wife had handcuffed my hads behind my back. I had to live like that for almost 10 days! Congrats...

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Saw that too. Congratulations!

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

Can someone post a link to the completed Gunbroker listing? I thank you in advance.

It was Woodlawn boys.
Here you go. S&W .44 HE 1ST MOD TRIPLE LOCK TARGET 7.5" LETTER - Revolvers at GunBroker.com : 810759908

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

Thanks guys. I really have been trying to be good, but it was a last minute impulse buy. Thankfully, TooManyChoices gave me the moral support I needed to carry through.

Bruce

Sent from my SM-G930VL using Tapatalk

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Regards,
Bruce

This is all correct.
Further, many target shooters find a shorter barrel length preferable because the front and rear sights are closer to being at the same focal length. For older shooters, this makes it much easier to get precise sight alignment.
Also, there is the theoretical advantage that a shorter barrel means the bullet has left the muzzle earlier, thus reducing follow-through errors in hold.

Jim

PS: Awesome TL Target!!!

Nice find! A 7 1/2" Target Model Triple Lock revolver is uncommon. I own several Triple Lock revolvers and one in that configuration is not one of them.

$3040 plus shipping of $40 is a good price. Edit: The two photographs of the original thread were not the greatest; I was finally able to access the photographs on Gunbroker and it is obvious this revolver has not been reblued, but has curious wear patterns to the bluing. Nonetheless, I'd be pleased to snag this one in this condition at that price. Great acquisition!

The bad part is when it is time to wipe yore....ah....um...MOUTH, that's right, wipe yore mouth!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!