Curl,

I think your points are most valid. The huge assumption is that everything not right with this Triple Lock can be attributed to that which was done at the factory in February of 1952, and, based on what you have pointed out, only some or none of what differs from the norm on this firearm might have been done in February of 1952 and this very well might be a well executed refinish far from Springfield, Massachusetts.

.455 Webley Triple Lock revolvers contained a lanyard. Few, if any, in .44 Special manufactured for domestic use contained said lanyard. I do not know for sure, but, if I had to guess, I would think later application of a lanyard through the serial number would be suspect on its own, and this hypothesis is strenthened by the later application of a questionable serial number.