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02-08-2017, 04:43 PM
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My best Triple-Lock...
In the autumn of 2016 I was fortunate enough to acquire an important historical set of firearms, carbine and revolver which belonged to the legendary lawman Tom Threepersons. Generally regarded as one of the last of the “old western gunfighters”, Threepersons had a long and varied career in law enforcement, primarily along the southern border, with additional service as a scout during the Punitive Expedition to Mexico. He served in several positions in El Paso, as well as the federal prohibition enforcement service.
Both the Winchester 94 carbine and the S&W 1st Model Hand-Ejector “Triple Lock” .44 date to 1915 and were likely purchased by Threepersons at this time. Sold to well known local gun collector and saloon owner Tom Powers in 1929 when Threepersons retired from law enforcement, both guns show extensive surface wear accumulated during a relatively short period of active service. Both remain “like new” mechanically and internally and were well cared for.
In an interview following publication of an article stating that he had killed 20 men, Threepersons responded that he had never “told a living soul as to how many men I’ve killed. That is an unpleasant memory that few officers like to recall.” According to a letter he wrote later in life, “I have never had any desire to be placed in a class with Wild Bill Hickok, Billy the Kid, or any of the so-called Western bad men. My desire was and still is to be classed as a respectable officer of the law and its enforcement. I did my duty to the best of my ability, as I was sworn to do, and that was all.”
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02-08-2017, 04:44 PM
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The revolver and carbine came without accessories - the other pictured items are not connected to TTP but made for better photos....
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02-08-2017, 04:46 PM
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More photos
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02-08-2017, 04:49 PM
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Additional photos
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02-08-2017, 04:50 PM
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Further photos
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02-08-2017, 04:51 PM
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Awesome set!! Thanks for sharing.
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02-08-2017, 04:53 PM
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Almost done...
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02-08-2017, 04:54 PM
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Unbelievable collection. You are the custodian of some national treasures.
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Randy
Provenance nerd
Last edited by quinn; 02-09-2017 at 12:04 AM.
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02-08-2017, 04:55 PM
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Final set...
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02-08-2017, 05:18 PM
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Amazing. Thank you for posting!
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02-08-2017, 06:20 PM
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Outstanding! Thanks for sharing.
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02-08-2017, 06:24 PM
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That is so cool! Thanks for posting.
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02-08-2017, 08:38 PM
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Awesome! The guns and the story.
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02-08-2017, 09:01 PM
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Fantastic....appreciate your sharing this history.
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02-08-2017, 09:03 PM
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Thanks for sharing.
I love them both. The S&W TL and the Winchester.
I'll wager that those were not cheaply bought.
Chuck
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02-08-2017, 09:11 PM
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Banned
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WOW!!! Outstanding collection!
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02-08-2017, 09:51 PM
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Incredible history you have!!
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SWCA 2945
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02-08-2017, 10:12 PM
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Range Report!!!
WOW!! It'll be hard to "Best" those!!
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PTLAPTA!
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02-08-2017, 10:31 PM
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Son of a NUTCRACKER!! Those are the coolest guns! Very important history right there! Crazy!
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02-08-2017, 11:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by USMC0802
Final set...
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Well done! PM sent. (Whoops, ignore my PM, I see you already have a copy of Jinks "The Letter" on this pistol. Let me know if I can help with any other research materials, of which I have heaps.)
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Red Nichols The Holstorian
Last edited by rednichols; 02-08-2017 at 11:55 PM.
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02-09-2017, 12:01 AM
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My goodness! To think of those firearms and the person they accompanied while conducting business makes my mind run wild. Thanks for sharing.
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02-09-2017, 12:06 AM
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Cool guns. I have a triple lock (and holster)that belonged to a railroad detective out West.
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02-09-2017, 01:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rednichols
Well done! PM sent. (Whoops, ignore my PM, I see you already have a copy of Jinks "The Letter" on this pistol. Let me know if I can help with any other research materials, of which I have heaps.)
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I was hoping you saw this thread. You can now definitively confirm the answer of your question for the exact barrel length of Tom's Triple Lock 44 and confirm the 6 1/2" listed in the letter.
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S&WCA #819
Last edited by Hondo44; 02-09-2017 at 01:11 AM.
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02-09-2017, 04:37 AM
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My friend Red told me about this thread this morning and I'm really glad
he did. I might have missed it. Really great presentation of important
historical artifacts. Good job and thank you for posting it.
We were discussing whether Tom was the last great gunfighter from the
Old West or the first great gunfighter from the modern gunfighters.
I think we settled on first of the modern, but then in reality he was
both the last and the first, if we consider the turn of the 20th Century
as the dividing point in history.
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02-09-2017, 07:59 AM
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Phil those are called Transitional Gunfighters. :-).
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02-09-2017, 08:14 AM
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If you go to response #9,and open picture two..then hit the "next" button...you get a quick draw! Great story and cool piece of history.
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02-09-2017, 09:24 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lawandorder
Phil those are called Transitional Gunfighters. :-).
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Thanks lawandorder. I'll buy that.
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02-09-2017, 09:34 AM
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What a wonderful glimpse into the life of this legendary lawman. I thought of Red and Phil right away when I stumbled on this thread this morning. Glad they have already been there.
Thank you for sharing this treasure with us!
Best Regards, Les
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02-09-2017, 10:11 AM
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Many thanks for all of the kind words, fellas. I've been fortunate enough to stumble across some really great old firearms, but these are amongst "the best" and I am thrilled to care for them. I have fired the TL and WILL fire the 94 when the schedule eases up a bit.
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02-09-2017, 10:36 AM
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...very nice, and impressive.
Thanks.
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02-13-2017, 06:36 PM
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I love the old Smiths, and to have the handgun/rifle pair is an incredible find. I have a 3XX Triple Lock, same caliber and configuration, and it's long been a favorite.
Good shooting,
Will
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02-13-2017, 07:40 PM
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SWCA Member Absent Comrade
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Wow!
Wow that is some find!
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02-13-2017, 11:50 PM
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SWCA Member Absent Comrade
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This is one of those thread's that make you very glad you stopped by in time to catch. I would have hated to miss this.
Thanks for posting,
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02-14-2017, 02:12 AM
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Semper Fi, " cannon cocker". You were definitely in the right place at the right time
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02-14-2017, 12:15 PM
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I wish the current LEO's would be able to enforce the law of the land like he did, might be less crime,border incursions, drug smuggling and mayhem along the Southern borders if they were .
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02-14-2017, 01:56 PM
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Thank you, sir, for sharing this.
Steve
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02-14-2017, 03:05 PM
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Those are an incredible piece of living history! Thank you for sharing them with us and thank you for shooting them. You are using them (carefully) as they were intended.
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02-15-2017, 12:51 PM
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An old Skeeter Skelton article about Threepersons -
Tom Threepersons
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02-15-2017, 08:17 PM
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Thanks aphelion, I've read that on
Dark Canyons, very good read but, I like Skeeter's work anyway.
Steve
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02-17-2017, 04:07 PM
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that is a bit cooler than anything I have....
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