OP
.455 British Svc Revolver Research Thread
- Thread starter Hondo44
- Start date
Deacon KC
Member
I finally joined your ranks folks with what would be Category 3. Ist Model Triple Lock #12740. Marked Smith & Wesson .455. on left side of barrel. Factory letter puts it as one of the Shapleigh Hardware guns. No visible numbers on inside of grip panels.
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Glad to see this thread get kicked back up into my feed. Arguably my favorite thread going here on the forum.
OP
Thank you! That is actually a Category 4. 1st Model TL. And lived its entire life in the USA as a 'civilian'!
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OP
Thank you!
Roberto Renauld
Member
netex,
Thx for the additional info on your #3424 which indicates it's a Triple Lock, 455 HE - 1st Model, it's a very interesting example.
It having the front sight regulated for 100 yards has resulted in the very high POI at 50 feet as you are aware. It would have shot to point of aim at that range in factory configuration. A previous owner has certainly made changes for their specific needs.
1. Does the barrel have a shroud under the barrel for the Extractor rod? And does it still have a functioning third lock at the front of the yoke? If so, I'm very curious about where a # 10,001 triple Lock barrel in 45 caliber came from!
Triple lock photos:
Photos by Driftwood Johnson
Photos by Driftwood Johnson
2. The cyl was converted to 45 Colt in a very professional manner, still allowing the use of the original 455 cartridges. Does the cyl retain the #3424 serial # matching the gun?
3. Since the serial is removed from the butt, where else on the gun do you find the # 3424?
4. The grips are interesting to say the least and another question is how are they held on the grip frame w/o a center screw?
Very didactic, clear and neat photographs!!! Thank you for sharing this pictures, this is a very good discussion on "rare" triple lock S&W revolvers!!!!....
RR
This is the only Triple Lock I own. A British Contract gun serial number 4178 which was issued to Capt. Leonard Francis Cass of the 7th Royal Sussex Regiment, British Army. He was killed by a sniper at Festubert France on on 12-13-15.
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OP
moosedog,
Wow that's a stunner! Good documentation too. I'd love to know where it went from 12-13-15 and how it returned stateside.
It has no proof stamps normally required for export thru official channels depending on when it came back across the big pond.
Likely by unofficial means which is cool because it's not all stamped up. Just enough marks to show where it was issued and trace to whom.
Thx for sharing your 455 with us and contributing to the research!
Wow that's a stunner! Good documentation too. I'd love to know where it went from 12-13-15 and how it returned stateside.
It has no proof stamps normally required for export thru official channels depending on when it came back across the big pond.
Likely by unofficial means which is cool because it's not all stamped up. Just enough marks to show where it was issued and trace to whom.
Thx for sharing your 455 with us and contributing to the research!
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Adam Baker
Member
Jim,
You can add 1055 to the list of category number 2.
It has no barrel caliber markings. It has 2 Brit proof's similar to moosedogs gun shown in above posting.
It has been converted to 45 long colt along the way.
Thank you for all the hard work and contribution to this forum!
Adam
You can add 1055 to the list of category number 2.
It has no barrel caliber markings. It has 2 Brit proof's similar to moosedogs gun shown in above posting.
It has been converted to 45 long colt along the way.
Thank you for all the hard work and contribution to this forum!
Adam
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lamarw
Member
Thank you mrcvs for reporting this to Jim. I was unaware of this thread and will now enjoy reviewing all the post.
lamarw
Member
Jim, Below are pictures of the triple lock I did not win last week. It is serial number 444.
I will let you decipher the data from the pictures. I believe it is marked on the right side of the barrel the way the British do it. The pictures are pretty detailed.
I am pretty sure I won the right one with SN: 4365. Although, it cost a bit more.
I will let you decipher the data from the pictures. I believe it is marked on the right side of the barrel the way the British do it. The pictures are pretty detailed.
I am pretty sure I won the right one with SN: 4365. Although, it cost a bit more.
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nudge
Member
2nd Model
serial no 28339
No caliber stamp
Marked 3MD on backstrap
Location Australia
serial no 28339
No caliber stamp
Marked 3MD on backstrap
Location Australia
deadin
US Veteran
Jack Flash
Member
I just acquired a S&W .455 Mark II, serial number 35284.
The LHS of the barrel:
It has been refinished so some of the markings are smeared looking. It has the Broad Arrow, etc., on the LHS upper rear of the frame. Other than the re-blue and replacement M1917 stocks, it is unmodified.
Haven't lettered it and probably won't, but from the data Jim has compiled, it looks like it probably shipped at the very end of 1915.
The LHS of the barrel:
SMITH & WESSON .455.
Note the full stop. Nothing on the RHS of the barrel. It has been refinished so some of the markings are smeared looking. It has the Broad Arrow, etc., on the LHS upper rear of the frame. Other than the re-blue and replacement M1917 stocks, it is unmodified.
Haven't lettered it and probably won't, but from the data Jim has compiled, it looks like it probably shipped at the very end of 1915.
OP
Thank you Jack!
I have added yours and updated the list post #223, page 5.
I have added yours and updated the list post #223, page 5.
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Another Triple lock for the list
Another Triple lock for the list:
6.5" barrel
No caliber markings on barrel
No military markings
sn 5755
appears to be all org. and shows almost no wear
Caliber is .455
Located in Canada
Would this one go in your TL category 0, 1 or 2?
thanks
Tom
Another Triple lock for the list:
6.5" barrel
No caliber markings on barrel
No military markings
sn 5755
appears to be all org. and shows almost no wear
Caliber is .455
Located in Canada
Would this one go in your TL category 0, 1 or 2?
thanks
Tom
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OP
Hi Tom,
Thank you for another to add to the list, especially #5755. In addition to being in show-stopper condition, it's extremely unique!!
Does it have any import/export/civilian proof marks stamped on it, although no military marks as you posted?
It is one of the rare 67 .455 Triple Lock #s that was used twice:
In the .44 Spl # range for a category 1 factory converted-to-.455 TLs, and in the .455 British # range for a category 2 .455 1st Model Triple Lock!
It cannot be a category 0 serial # which all have .44 Spl # range serial #s, because your # was used on a category 1 .455 TL.
Knowing this dilemma existed, I've awaited for one to show up for some years now. It's going to be difficult to determine which you have even with a letter, since both categories shipment dates overlapped quite a bit beginning in 1914. And neither category TLs had the caliber stamp on the barrel!
However, as near as I can deduce, there's two possible ways to distinguish between the category 1 and 2 TLs:
#1. many of the cat. 1 TL frames were already numbered when converted to .455 at the factory, and will therefore have the lanyard swivel drilled thru the butt serial # with the # re-stamped at the bottom of the left side of the grip frame under the left grip panel. Is yours like that?
#2. several of the cat. 2 TLs at the end of the #1 - #5800 range were sold into the commercial market and would not have any military marks as you described. It might have Canadian civilian import marks however.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
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Is this one of those 64 you describe, serial number 5245, no markings on the barrel, and (presumably) in .455 Webley? It does have an offset serial number on the butt to accommodate for the lanyard ring and it is probable that the original serial number was centrally located and mostly obliterated by the hole drilled for the lanyard ring and by the lanyard ring itself.
However, be advised that this one shipped in March 1912, well before WWI and the contract with the British government.
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