Here is my latest toy. From a most generous gentleman who is also a member of this forum. Arrived safely, and in much better condition than I ever expected. Shipped 29 December 1917 to Shapleigh Hardware. Enjoy!

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That sure is in good shape for being over 100 years old. Do you have plans to shoot it?

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On the Oak Savannah

That's a beauty!

One of the small percentage chambered for the British cartridge that never left this country!

Are you inclined to share the serial # for our research database, either here or in a private message?

Thanks for sharing,

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Jim
S&WCA #819

See attached photograph.

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Seriously way cool

Thank you!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Once again, the "Like" button doesn't get the job done. We need a button for "LOVE" or "LUST."

Froggie

Perhaps someday, and then very gently, although the thought of shooting it this 29th of December, the 100th anniversary of the day it was shipped, does sound appealing.

Sounds like a great 100th birthday bash to me...Simply beautiful

Those are seriously hard to come by in that condition, believe me, I've looked. I need one as a mate to my 2nd model. An application of Ren wax would make a world of difference on that recolver.
Congrats sir,

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Jeb

Wow congrats on owning that ,I love shooting my firearms but that one I would have to think on but the 100th anniversary thing is a good idea.

That would be just dandy!

There are several members here who regularly shoot their Triple Locks, i am one of them. Lately I have been thinking about stepping up from cowboy action shooting loads to some home grown 240gr goodness. Not Elmer Keith in any way, I surely don't want to hurt the old girl.

I think that I recall seeing some commercially available 455 loads, but I can not for life of me remember where. They may be a seasonal item with only one limited run each year. If you reload, you may be able to fashion your own out of 45 Colt brass.

The Smith & Wesson Triple Lock is a machined marvel and a joy to shoot and admire. The machines that they were made on were all manual, there was no CNC in that day. Those S&W machinists were at the top of their game to produce the TL with barely perceptible lines between parts.

Please post a range report for us when you do shoot it.

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On the Oak Savannah

About 15 years ago Hornaday made a run of 455, I reload mine with 255gr Colt semiwadcutters. Very pleasant to shoot. I also have a box of CIL Dominion in 450 Colt I shoot. I think that was made in Canada.
SWCA 892

Here's the 2nd Model sister to that triple lock with its holster. Shipped in the same shipment to Shapleigh. It may have been fired but there is no indication of it that I can find. Interesting thought to shoot it on its "birthday."

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

That 2nd model is a gem. Man!, Wow!, etc.!, etc.!

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Jeb

I have a renickeled Triple Lock I shoot. Can't hurt it! Some of my others I shoot occasionally. One of the better ones I will likely not likely ever fire. This one might just fall into this category.

Should I elect to fire it--what is your load? Where are .455 Webley dies for sale and any considerations if going from .45 Colt to .455 Webley?

Lee Precision sells 3 die carbide sets for .455 MKII. Start with 3.4 gr. of Bullseye and work up until you are satisfied.

Also Fiocchi occasionally distributes .455 MKII but everyone is out right now.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

As AustinTexas & WireGrassGuy said, Fiocchi and Hornady both used to sell .455 Mark II as loaded ammunition, but I haven't seen any from either company in a long time. I think Hornady also sold the brass. If you don't want to make your own brass, a company called Buffalo Arms used to sell brass it converted from Colt .45 to .455 Webley Mark I specs. Do a search, maybe they still do.
That should be .455 Colt brass, which is identical to .455 Webley Mark I / .455 Eley. It is (or was) made in Canada. Note CIL = Canadian Industries Limited.

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You're shy a few manners.

A thing of beauty! Thanks for posting.

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Fred
S&WCA 3238

I have a 1915 Mk II which I actually purchased from "Hondo" in his earlier life for the grand sum of $350. I was able to buy some of the Hornady Mk II brass and then some Bertram MK I (I am actually in OZ at the moment and am looking for a supplier in the Sydney area but no luck). I also lucked out on the Fiocchi but it uses a SP primer, so you have to be careful. Reeds Ammo sometimes runs a lot of loaded 0.455 with the correct 265 grain bullet, but these are expensive. I usually use a 255 grain Colt 45 bullet sized to 0.454" in the Mk II and an uncut Webley MK VI, though my cut ones require a 0.45 AR case. I do have an ingenious circular shim that permits 0.455 cases to be fired in a cut Webley MK VI (I have three) or their cousins from the early 1920s, the Enfield MK VI (two of these). Unfortunately my other Mk II was reamed for a 0.45 Colt so out of luck there other than using Cowboy loads. I would fire the gun on its 100th Birthday. Dave_n

In preparation for my 'Centennial Shoot', which may or may not happen, I looked on midwayusa.com and noted that you can get .455 Webley brass, 20 of them, for $39.99, which is $2.00 per brass. I also noted, although out of stock, that you can get 50 rounds of Fiocchi ammunition loaded with a 262 grain round nose lead bullet for $36.99, or 74 cents a round. Now, I might not be the brightest, but which is the better deal? Unless...that is the list price the last time Fiocchi .455 Wembley ammunition was for sale, perhaps eons ago?

I am hoping to find dies, someday, that are not Lee. I am not a fan of Lee products. But, then again, since this gun really is a safe queen, if I ever even fire it at all, a factory box of ammunition might be all I ever put through it, so the factory box of ammunition, without any consideration towards reloading, might make the best economic sense, in the end.

Very nice. It is amazing that these guns are in such wonderful condition a century after production.

I have a second model that I load for. The Fiochi factory ammo makes 630 fps. The Hornady factory ammo makes 575 fps. Using Hornady brass and and Remington 45 Colt bullets, I load 5.2 gr of Unique loaded to an OAL of 1.114 and make 785 fps. Using 4.5 gr of Unique I get 680 fps. Loading a 260 gr commercial 45 Colt bullet and 3.4 gr of Bullseye I get 575 fps. Dean

Thanks to you all who keep finding and posting these TL threads. Keeps the thought of having one to the fore, and I sure enjoy looking at the photos!

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Yes you can buy some Bertram Brass, but they're out of stock / no back order. I did and I didn't like it, especially for the high price charged. I would rather use converted .45 Colt. Bertram Reloading Brass 455 Webley Box of 20 - MPN: BERT455W

If you want some lead bullets, Hornady sells 255 grain sized to .454". Midway USA has them for $42.99 / box of 200.
Hornady Bullets 45 Cal (454 Diameter) 255 Grain Lead Flat - MPN: 12458

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You're shy a few manners.

Buffalo Arms sells .45 Webley brass at $0.60/casing in 100 case lots.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

It seems odd that a gun built for Brits in WW I would instead get shipped to Shapleigh Hardware which was located in St. Louis MO. Finding ammo for the gun may have been challenging. My imagination suggests S&W had some few Triple Lock frames leftover after the decision to discontinue. We know S&W hated to waste anything.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

For any large contract like the British order, S&W always made far more frames (and parts) to allow for rejects.

Those guns shipped commercially are known as "over runs". Many in fact ended up purchased by US Home Guard units, even though chambered in the 455 British cartridge. Some commercially sold were purchased by British agents and did actually end up in military use issued to British troops.

Guns were just that hard to come by during the war. An approximate # of contract guns of both 1st (triple locks) and 2nd models sold commercially is 2042.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Has it been re-finished?

I have a reprint of the 1940 Shooter's Bible which shows that Colt was still offering the New Service Revolver chambered in .455 Colt, which was Colt's version of the .455 Webley Mark I.

As well in 1940, the Smith & Wesson 1926 Model .44 Target was
"Also available chambered for .455 Colt and .455 Eley for British and Canadian Service".

Cartridges of the World says that the .455 Colt was "loaded by American companies ... but was discontinued in the late 1930s." It was no doubt loaded by Dominion in Canada well past the end of the war. (Into the 1960s or so, I think).

I surmise that an American civilian could have ordered one in that chambering and found ammunition for it (from around 1916 to at least until America entered WWII) if he had enough determination.

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You're shy a few manners.

No. The bluing is the proper colouration, the case colouring is as well, all edges are crisp, the sideplate fits tightly with a very fine line between sideplate and frame, all markings are distinct, even the right sqared insert in the right side of the frame is not blued, which is correct, but, if blued, is a dead giveaway for a refinish. Also, grips are not excessively worn relative to the rest of the gun.

So, no, not a refinish.