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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 01-07-2020, 12:02 AM
Driftwood Johnson Driftwood Johnson is offline
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Howdy

I am copying a post here from another forum.

Anybody able to shed any light on this question?


"For the handgun trials of 1906, Frankford Arsenal was directed to produce a .45 Caliber cartridge that could be used in either a revolver or an autoloading pistol. The resulting cartridge has a very small rim and extractor groove. It was noted that "Smith & Wesson complained that the rim was too small to work well in their revolver." As a matter of note, this cartridge was immediately superseded by the M1906 cartridges dedicated to pistol or revolver use.

This brings the question to my mind, what was the Smith & Wesson entry in those tests? I'm certain it was an N-Framed double action, similar to the New Century. But a Triple Lock? Note this was prior to the British .455s and the M1917 revolvers.

Anybody have any information?"
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Old 01-07-2020, 12:13 AM
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See post 17.

Triple Lock Revolver size of forging lot?
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Old 01-07-2020, 02:08 AM
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S&W entered two T-Locks in the 1906 Trials, one of which had 5 1/2 in. barrel. The only T-Lock ever made in that barrel length. It was returned to S&W after the trials however it's location is unknown to collectors today. The other T-Lock entered was destroyed in the rust test. It's location is also unknown today. No record of the serial numbers of the two guns has been found, however based on known T-Locks in .45S&W Special caliber, the two trial guns probably had serial numbers under # 13. Ed.
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Old 01-07-2020, 07:51 AM
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While it doesn't say much about guns, Hackley, Woodin, and Scranton's book "History of Modern U. S. Military Small Arms Ammunition, Volume I" provides a fairly thorough discussion of that .45 round. If you look around on the internet you may find a copy of the official report on the 1906 pistol trials. I know it exists as I have seen it. BTW, the Colt New Service was determined by the Army trial to be the better revolver, and the Army did later adopt it as the Model 1909 Colt New Service revolver, but chambered in .45 Colt (actually a cartridge very similar to the .45 Colt) for Philippine service. Both the 1909 Colt revolver and the .45 M1909 military cartridges intended for it are very seldom seen today. Hackley, et al, also discusses the M1909 .45 cartridge.

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Old 01-07-2020, 02:16 PM
Driftwood Johnson Driftwood Johnson is offline
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Thanks for the answers.

Here is a related question.

Everything I have ever seen about Triple Locks says they were first offered for sale in 1908.

Roy told me this very early one shipped in 1907, but let's go with the 1908 date.




So, my question is, if S&W shipped a couple of revolvers to the Army trials in 1906, is it safe to say that is when the model was still under development?

In other words, does anybody know when S&W first started working on a 44 Hand Ejector?

Thanks

P.S. Just answered my own question. 1905 according to Roy's book 125 Years With Smith and Wesson.

Last edited by Driftwood Johnson; 01-07-2020 at 02:29 PM.
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