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09-22-2020, 09:22 AM
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The elusive 4" Triple Lock ...
About how many 4" Triple Locks were produced?
I seem to see one about every five years.
And now I am trying to recall if Elmer Keith said the Triple Lock was "the" finest revolver ever produced or "one of" the finest revolvers ever produced 
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09-22-2020, 10:19 AM
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You mean one of these??
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Dean
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09-22-2020, 10:45 AM
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Yes!
I have the grips ... even a Triple Lock frame ... but I am afraid the rest will never materialize
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09-22-2020, 10:57 AM
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I have one that is very worn. The grips are nearly smooth. It letters as a 4" nickel, serial #2486, shipped on May 13, 1912 to Belknap Hardware Co, Louisville KY. The story was that it belonged to a sheriff in the Niceville FL area. Who knows, I just kinda lucked into it. I had never seen one in person and it is my only Triple Lock.
Tim
Last edited by tt66; 09-22-2020 at 12:46 PM.
Reason: letter information added
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09-22-2020, 11:09 AM
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That is a gun with some history!
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09-22-2020, 12:25 PM
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I know that I have heard from varying sources that "about 100" or "maybe 125" Triple Lock revolvers with a 4" barrel and nickel finish were produced. Unscientifically, it appears that about a third of Triple Lock production of the 15, 376 civilian revolvers were nickel revolvers at the very most. Interpolating all of the aforementioned, it strongly suggests that well under 500 Triple Lock revolvers ever produced contained a 4" barrel.
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09-22-2020, 12:54 PM
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Here is mine. It looks to have lived a colorful life 
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachm...1&d=1600793601
It does letter as a four inch gun, but in blue. No matter...it is fun to think about what stories this one has to tell.
I have a NIB hammer and trigger that I just can not bring myself to install into this gun. One day, maybe...
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09-22-2020, 02:24 PM
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And here is my well used and renickeled 4" Triple Lock.
Depicted singly and also with a nickel 5" and 6 1/2" Triple Lock revolver.
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09-22-2020, 04:03 PM
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I guess mine means that there must have been at least 5 of them. This also letters as a 4" and in original finish.
...and with siblings-also in original finish
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Randy
Provenance nerd
Last edited by quinn; 09-22-2020 at 04:05 PM.
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09-22-2020, 06:10 PM
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Oh great, Quinn ... while I am not in love with nickel guns, a BLUE 4" Triple Lock is enough to keep me up at night. I MUST HAVE ONE.
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09-22-2020, 06:59 PM
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No doubt the 4" Triple-lock is rare and desirable,I still prefer the balance of a 5" barreled revolver. A double-lock 3rd model.
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09-22-2020, 08:31 PM
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I’m sorry I can’t answer your question to how many was made, but I’m glad I found mine! I have the original stocks, but I prefer the vintage stag 
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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09-22-2020, 08:34 PM
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What kind of google-fu do you guys use on internet searches? Or are these all gun show finds? ��
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09-22-2020, 09:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MRH
...are these all gun show finds? ��
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None were gun show finds nor located on the internet, unless this site counts as the internet. Nonetheless, not Gunbroker or other internet retail venue.
The 4" was located on this site. The source was an individual who mentioned it in a thread and said he wanted to sell it. I contacted him and he stated he wanted "a nice round number" for it--e.g., $1000. I insisted that $750 was an equally round number. After going back and forth, I believe we came to the conclusion that $800 was also a nice round number. That was over 5 years ago now.
The 6 1/2" one was a local gun shop find maybe 25 years ago. The first Smith & Wesson I ever bought. Had no idea what I was doing then, but purchased dirt cheap.
The 5" one was purchased off of the Classifieds section of this forum about 2 or 3 years ago. Which reminds me I have not found a good Triple Lock lately in the Classifieds section of this forum in a LONG time. If you have a decent one you wish to part with, PM me.
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09-22-2020, 10:55 PM
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Mine is a 4". Still haven't gotten a letter for it.
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09-22-2020, 11:38 PM
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I have a buddy who has offered me a 4 inch TL lettered in nickle.
Might be renickled but its really hard to tell for sure.
Just haven't pulled the trigger
Now if it was a target it would have been a done deal!
Did they ever make a target version of the four inch?
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09-23-2020, 12:10 AM
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OK I have to ask. Why are they called "Triple Lock?"
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09-23-2020, 01:16 AM
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Some of you might remember this one from a while back. I reckon if you can’t find one you just build one. 😳 An Outdoorsman Becomes a Triple Lock....
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09-23-2020, 06:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hiram Jr
OK I have to ask. Why are they called "Triple Lock?"
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A typical S&W revolver has two cylinder locks. One that snaps into the front of the ejector rod and the thumb lock at the rear. A triple lock has another locking point in the frame in front of the cylinder. The triplelock was considered the penultimate of handgun engineering. However, in WWI the British felt it was too well engineered and could not perform well in the trenches. Therefore, S&W removed the frame lock and created the 2nd model hand ejector (no shroud). After WWI, they never went back to the original design.
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09-23-2020, 07:31 AM
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There’s one here in NC, not mine unfortunately.
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Sure you did
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09-23-2020, 08:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy
A typical S&W revolver has two cylinder locks. One that snaps into the front of the ejector rod and the thumb lock at the rear. A triple lock has another locking point in the frame in front of the cylinder. The triplelock was considered the penultimate of handgun engineering. However, in WWI the British felt it was too well engineered and could not perform well in the trenches. Therefore, S&W removed the frame lock and created the 2nd model hand ejector (no shroud). After WWI, they never went back to the original design.
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Thank you, Guy! Interesting.
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