.455 Triple Lock

[nicfarion]

Hey everyone. I’m kinda new to the forum but here’s my pride and joy revolver it’s a 455 triple lock. It came with no side plate screw but much thanks to a forum member [mention]Muley Gil [/mention] he was able to send me one to complete the gun. I was also missing a part within the ejector rod housing that held the rod in place ( a small lock washer) but I was able to source one and now I have a perfectly functioning triple lock. I have always wanted one and here she is. All matching numbers btw. She’s seen some stuff, front sights been ramped and finish is pretty worn but that’s what makes it more appealing to me. And it was a really good price too so I couldn’t pass it up. Any further info on these 455 triple locks would be awesome too like who they were issued to and such. Thanks for looking everyone, hope you enjoy.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[quinn]

Welcome. There's a lot of us triple lock fans here! Fine looking old gun, now fully complete and together. Has she been modified or another caliber 45 colt or 45acp, or are you shooting 455's?

[nicfarion]

Originally Posted by quinn

Welcome. There's a lot of us triple lock fans here! Fine looking old gun, now fully complete and together. Has she been modified or another caliber 45 colt or 45acp, or are you shooting 455's?

Thank you very much! Ya I’m glad it’s all back together and it’s still .455. I’ve shot it! Shoots good!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[deadin]

British Officers were not "issued" their side arms but rather had to purchase them.

As far as I know there is no way to track just who bought what, unless you are lucky and got one that the officer was proud enough of to engrave his name on it......

[Absalom]

The Enfield acceptance stamps and proof show that it was accepted into military service, it was not an officer’s private purchase to begin with.

If it wasn‘t sold out of stores and has an officer’s name engraved somewhere, as on Dean’s example, it was issued to a unit, not an identifiable individual.

Many units during WW I still marked their guns on the backstrap, but not all, so in the absence of such a marking, it‘s not likely you‘ll find more details about its service.

[Hondo44]

Nice triple lock!

Would you care to share the serial# for this study and database?

.455 British Svc Revolver Research Thread

You can go to post #223 for the latest database info, page 5 to get an idea of when yours likely shipped.

[nicfarion]

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Nice triple lock!

Would you care to share the serial# for this study and database?

.455 British Svc Revolver Research Thread

You can go to post #223 for the latest database info, page 5 to get an idea of when yours likely shipped.

Thank you! I believe it’s serial number 12496. I’ll attach a photo. The number appears on back of the cylinder, and on the barrel in the ejector rod cutout. If you can tel me more about that would be great. I’ve sent off for a smith and Wesson historic letter on it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hondo44]

Thank you. Yes #12496. It's a 4th variation British Svc Revolver in the database I sent. And since it has British military marks, see the final quote below:


4. “.44 HE - 1st Model”, ‘Triple Lock’, same as #1. above, but not likely converted .44s, just assembled into .455s:

“As the Brit contracts were finishing up in April, 1916, [H of S&W pg. 203] S&W found enough [HE 1st Model TL frames, possibly already numbered as .44s, and .455 barrels and cyls] to build 691 .44 HE 1st Model [per Roy Jinks in various letters] Triple Lock frames [for chambering in .455* like #1. above]. These guns are numbered in the .44 Spl serial number series. I have no idea why they were not just numbered in the .455 series. Perhaps it was .455 barrels and cylinders that the factory found, and they simply turned again to existing 44 HE 1st Model TL frames to use them up. They were sold commercially.” Lee Jarrett

11/3/15 “In April, 1916, the Factory found enough parts to assemble 691 Triple Lock 455s. They were assembled from April to Oct of 1916. They were numbered [late] in the 44 HE series. All I have seen are numbered from the 12,000 to 14,000's. [in 1916 and 1917 - 325 were sold to Shapleigh Hardware Co. and some to Simmons Hardware Co., St. Louis, MO.]
Some letter as being commercial sales, but I have long suspected that S&W simply slid many into the last of the British shipments at the standard price for the 455-2nd Models. I say that because I have observed several now with Brit ordnance marks and/or commercial proofs.” Lee Jarrett

[nicfarion]

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Thank you. Yes #12496. It's a 4th variation British Svc Revolver in the database I sent. And since it has British military marks, see the final quote below:


4. “.44 HE - 1st Model”, ‘Triple Lock’, same as #1. above, but not likely converted .44s, just assembled into .455s:

“As the Brit contracts were finishing up in April, 1916, [H of S&W pg. 203] S&W found enough [HE 1st Model TL frames, possibly already numbered as .44s, and .455 barrels and cyls] to build 691 .44 HE 1st Model [per Roy Jinks in various letters] Triple Lock frames [for chambering in .455* like #1. above]. These guns are numbered in the .44 Spl serial number series. I have no idea why they were not just numbered in the .455 series. Perhaps it was .455 barrels and cylinders that the factory found, and they simply turned again to existing 44 HE 1st Model TL frames to use them up. They were sold commercially.” Lee Jarrett

11/3/15 “In April, 1916, the Factory found enough parts to assemble 691 Triple Lock 455s. They were assembled from April to Oct of 1916. They were numbered [late] in the 44 HE series. All I have seen are numbered from the 12,000 to 14,000's. [in 1916 and 1917 - 325 were sold to Shapleigh Hardware Co. and some to Simmons Hardware Co., St. Louis, MO.]
Some letter as being commercial sales, but I have long suspected that S&W simply slid many into the last of the British shipments at the standard price for the 455-2nd Models. I say that because I have observed several now with Brit ordnance marks and/or commercial proofs.” Lee Jarrett

Wow thank you! That’s awesome, this guns staying apart of the collection for a long time


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[The Gila Bender]

It's always nice to see an old warhorse restored to serviceable condition. Well done! Here's my stateside Shapleigh Hardware .455, serial 12742, slathered in nickel (before it came to me), wearing Patrick Grashorn stocks and service stocks cleaned and repaired by DWFan. Original .455 chambering, it's not been modified for .45 Colt or .45 ACP.

TL .455 12742 before stock repair.jpg TL .455 12742 Grashorns.jpg TL .455 12742 right.jpg TL .455 12742 left.jpg

[nicfarion]

Hey everyone I want to add that I got the Smith and Wesson letter today. I’ll post a photo but it wasn’t shipped to simmons or shapleigh hardware like previous suggestions. Some company called Bigelow and Co in London England. One of 300 guns. If anyone knows the history of this company please post here. I’d love to know!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hondo44]

There's something wrong with the serial #:

The gun is clearly stamped 12496 but the letter indicates # 12996. The letter must have a typo or the number you sent was wrong/misread by the historian. If you call, the letter will be corrected.

[nicfarion]

Originally Posted by Hondo44

There's something wrong with the serial #:

The gun is clearly stamped 12496 but the letter indicates # 12996. The letter must have a typo or the number you sent was wrong/misread by the historian. If you call, the letter will be corrected.

Oh ya I didn’t even notice that haha thank you I’m gonna call and straighten it out


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AlanDavid]

This is especially interesting, I had never heard of Bigelow & Co or the order of 300 revolvers to them.

Please let us know what Roy says about the serial number confusion.

Regards

AlanD

[The Gila Bender]

Originally Posted by AlanDavid

This is especially interesting, I had never heard of Bigelow & Co or the order of 300 revolvers to them.

This is interesting. Can a list of the 300 Bigelow revolvers be made available?

[ddixie884]

Lotsa info here.......

[Hondo44]

Originally Posted by nicfarion

Oh ya I didn’t even notice that haha thank you I’m gonna call and straighten it out


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Whether the # in the letter is a typo or not, but wrongly looked up as the # of your gun, the history information for the correct # could be completely different.

[Baltimoreed11754]

Beautiful Smith .455 HE [one of my grail guns] but it’s not complete until it has a lanyard ring and a proper lanyard.

[AlanDavid]

Any luck in clarifying the serial number situation on the revolver/letter?

Regards

AlanD

[glowe]

You can find a lanyard ring for that 455 here: Butt Swivel, Original | Gun Parts Corp.

I have bought reproduction lanyards and buried them in the garden for a month. Came out looking very realistic. You can find a reproduction lanyard cord here:
U.S. 1917 Pistol Lanyard braided cord (MISC901)

Nice old war-horse. I have a few, done in 455, re-done in 45 Colt & 45ACP. Might have missed the answer to a question above, but does your cylinder have recessed chambers to fit a 45 Colt? If so, you can also shoot 455 in that gun since the rim is larger than 45 Colt and it will sit above the recess.

[Muley Gil]

Originally Posted by glowe

You can find a lanyard ring for that 455 here: Butt Swivel, Original | Gun Parts Corp.

I have bought reproduction lanyards and buried them in the garden for a month. Came out looking very realistic. You can find a reproduction lanyard cord here:
U.S. 1917 Pistol Lanyard braided cord (MISC901)

Nice old war-horse. I have a few, done in 455, re-done in 45 Colt & 45ACP. Might have missed the answer to a question above, but does your cylinder have recessed chambers to fit a 45 Colt? If so, you can also shoot 455 in that gun since the rim is larger than 45 Colt and it will sit above the recess.

Nic, the OP, stated that his TL is still and .455 and that he has fired it.

[nicfarion]

Ya original 455 as stated but I’m still waiting for the updated letter from smith and Wesson but don’t worry when I get it I’ll be sure to update y’all


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[boykinlp]

Have you gotten the corrected letter yet?

Also, did the letter you receive have the wrong serial number, so Mr. Jinks is just having to correct the number, or was the number in the original letter correct, and you are getting a completely new letter for your serial numbered gun?
Larry

[nicfarion]

Originally Posted by boykinlp

Have you gotten the corrected letter yet?

Also, did the letter you receive have the wrong serial number, so Mr. Jinks is just having to correct the number, or was the number in the original letter correct, and you are getting a completely new letter for your serial numbered gun?
Larry

Unfortunately I haven’t heard anything yet but I have emailed a few times and received no reply. Hopefully I’ll hear something soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AlanDavid]

Any news on this?

[AlanDavid]

As a month has gone by it may pay to make a new inquiry with Roy.
You potentially have a very interesting revolver once you get the correct letter.

Regards

AlanD

[nicfarion]

Originally Posted by AlanDavid

As a month has gone by it may pay to make a new inquiry with Roy.
You potentially have a very interesting revolver once you get the correct letter.

Regards

AlanD

Hey Alan, thanks for the reply. Yes I emailed again and spoke to Mike Helms and he assured me he would talk to Roy. That was a few days ago but hopefully he is working on it as we speak. I will update when I receive the final letter hopefully soon


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[first-model]

I'm happy to report that Roy researched the correct gun, and the incorrect serial number was just a typo in the letter.

Interesting gun indeed!

Mike

[nicfarion]

So I got and update from Mike Helms, who is the secretary of the smith & Wesson historic foundation, and he verified that the letter IS correct and that the serial number was just typed out incorrectly. So that still raises the question of has anyone seen a gun that was delivered to this company before? Any info would be appreciated as it would be interesting to know more about it. Either way the gun has come back to Canada I’m guessing just after WW1.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[nicfarion]

Originally Posted by first-model

I'm happy to report that Roy researched the correct gun, and the incorrect serial number was just a typo in the letter.

Interesting gun indeed!

Mike

Oh haha my bad Mike I just posted too lol. Thanks for the post too


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hondo44]

Originally Posted by nicfarion

So that still raises the question of has anyone seen a gun that was delivered to this company before?

No, I haven't and do not have any others listed in my database at the research thread link I posted above.

However, I have almost a couple of dozen of these Version 4 TL serial #s from your serial range with only a few that are "lettered". It would be very interesting to know the background on the erroneous #12996. If it exists, it may well have gone to Bigelow & Co as well as some of the others in my list.

[AlanDavid]

Thanks for the update on the letter.

Like everyone else I would be keen to know if anyone else has a .455 T/L that letters to Bigelow & Co.

I have not found any record for them on the internet so far.

Regards

AlanD

[AlanDavid]

Another example of a Bigelow & Co London shipment has been given to me.

S/N 12646. British ordnance marked and commercial London proofs, same as the OP's revolver. I have not been able to find any information on Bigelow but suspect they may have just been the shipping agent. Possibly this was the last shipment of .455 HE's to the British Government, which is listed as 200 revolvers in British documentation but this could be a typo and was meant to read 300 revolvers, lots of speculation here though.

Regards

AlanD

[AlanDavid]

Hondo44

What is the last date you have in your data base for a .455 HE that shipped to the Canadian Government please.

Regards

Alan

[Hondo44]

Thank you Alan,

Please go to post #223 for the database info, page 5 here:

.455 British Svc Revolver Research Thread

[nicfarion]

Thanks guys for the info and insight, would be really cool if what stated above about the last shipment being true. Hopefully we can uncover some info in the future


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk