Rare Triple Lock Target in 44/40 turns 100 years old on 2/28/2010

bmg60

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Century Old Triple Lock Target 7 1/2 in 44-40 Cal.

Two years ago a fellow member of the SWCA perused my display at a Washington Arms Collector show in Puyallup, and took note of my interest in rare variations in S&W revolvers. Sometime later, an elderly gentleman approached him about selling an heirloom revolver. After meeting the gentleman and inspecting his revolver, he contacted me about adding it to my collection.
The revolver is an original parts matching Triple Lock Target in .44-40 Winchester with 7 ½” barrel. The package included a period correct shoulder holster and a box of ammunition. It was ordered by the 83 year old gentleman’s father, and shipped on February 28, 1910 to a hardware store in western Washington. It has been in the family until now.His father was an avid hunter, and after taking delivery, carried the revolver throughout a lifetime of adventures, including taking mountain lions. He wanted a handgun in the same chambering as the rifle he used while hunting, something more powerful than a .44 Special loading.
The revolver shows carry wear, and is definitely not a safe queen, but it is one of the rarest S&W revolvers ever made. In my long experience as a collector, this is the first revolver of this type and caliber that I’ve seen. I am very happy I was able to acquire it. I have other .44-40s-- Triple Locks and 2nd models, but this one stands alone.
I f anyone has factory documented information on similar guns that I can provide when I display it, please let me know.

Enjoy the information and the picture, this could be the only 7 1/2 Target made in this Caliber.
Jim Fisher SWCA 1491

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bmg60-albums-rare-limited-production-revolvers-picture2301-left-side-no-2-44-40-tl.jpg


bmg60-albums-rare-limited-production-revolvers-picture2302-right-side-no-2-44-40-tl.jpg
 
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A great story for a rare revolver. That's why we collect.
I hope you find an old Winchester rifle in that caliber to go with it.

Thanks for posting, what a happy birthday.

GF
 
Very nice, Jim. There are scarce models, rare models and then the rarest of the rare. If I ever stumble across a second one of these, I'll be sure to let you know.

Right after I refi my house and buy it for my collection. :D

A great gun made greater by the extra items and the rock-solid century-long history. Congratulations, and Many Happy Returns to the birthday boy.
 
TLT .44-40

Jim-

I could say that words fail me, but everyone knows that's not the case. Solid historical information on a gun adds a great deal to it's worth. You are very fortunate to own it. The fact that you'll share it with others in your displays around the country is the best part for me. Congrats on acquiring another great gun.

Your friend,

Jim
 
Outstanding......great story. More pics would be great if you can get them. The history on that revolver and the honest wear it shows beats a safe queen anyday
 
wow.
that is such a cool story. shame that the gent that sold you the gun didnt have a son or grandson or nephew that would appreciate the piece.

amazing what will come out of the woodwork, stuff thats been in a family for 100 years suddenly comes on the market and the rest of us get to learn from it.
 
Thanks for posting this Jim.

I sometimes think it's too easy to get caught up in the 4 & 5 screw guns from the '50's and early '60's and forget where they all got their starts. What a great piece of history, and it's owned by someone who can appreciate what it is.:)
 
That .44-40 Target Triple Lock just far surpassed the Triple Lock that I bought just last month. I only encounter Triple Lock's maybe once or twice a year. The area where I live rare guns just don't seem to surface. I have seen a couple of Target Triple Lock's over the years. But I have never seen a Triple Lock in .44-40. If I recall every Triple Lock that I have encountered has been in .44 Special.

This is the one that I bought. Still waiting on the factory letter for it:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...1st-year-s-w-44-triple-lock-serial-689-a.html

Just curious...how much did you pay for it? The one I bought was just a common .44 Special, 6-1/2" barrel, nickeled w/mother of pearl grips and it cost me $2000. I would imagine that gun would be well over $3000+ easily!

Terrific find!

jsmith
 
Rare tripple lock target turns 100 years old

I recently joined the S&W Forum and found the commentaries and subjects to be very interesting. Your discussion on the Rare Tripple Lock is just an outstanding story. I must admit it struck a note also since I spent my years with the Army at Ft. Lewis, WA. Brought back excellant memories. Thanks for the story.
 
Nice gun! When I started collecting over 40 years ago I had a old collector friend offer me a triplelock in .45 colt! It looked about unfired and had a lot of built up gun oil caked on it. Noooo, I wanted a .44 special like elmer talked about! I later read that I belive about a dozen or 15 triplelocks were made in .45 colt!!
I do have a .44 special triplelock in 6 1/2" that was sent back to the factory in 1949 and 1950 and had target sights put on. I went one day with 3 or 4 various other 44 specials I own, one was a 1950 target plus my 29-2. The triplelock outshot them all!

SWtriplelock4591.jpg
 
Absolutely beautiful! I hope that you will get a S&W letter and share it with us. It would be great to see some close-up pictures of barrel markings and serial numbered parts. Yours has the early convex-knuckle grips like the ones I have and have seen in the two- and three-digit serial number ranges.

I am fortunate enough to have a .44 S&W 7-1/2 inch TL Target Model - sort of "run of the mill" compared to a .44-40. I noticed that on it even the rear sight blade has a matching serial number in additition to the usual matching serial number under the rear sight mounting and elevation strap. Neither of these numbers can be seen without careful disassembly using proper gunsmith screwdrivers. Even better would be to have a proper gunsmith do the disassembly and reassembly!
 
Thank you VERY much for sharing the photos, history, and story behind this revolver! I really enjoy learning about fine firearms like this one, even if they don't belong to me.
 
TL, target, 7.5" bbl, 44-40 chambering, obtained from the last member of ownership chain, holster & ammo. !!!!!!!!!!!!

Go ye sir to the head of the class ! We mere mortals can but stare and dream. Thanks for sharing so that others cannot say, "it doesn't exist".

If it were mine, the bluing would be less in a few days as I could not put it down and would fondle it oh so delicately.

Bob
 
I am so trying not to drool all over my keyboard right now. All I can say is, wow.
 
Triple lock Target 44/40

hi
this gun was bought at Whiton Harware store in Seattle Washington.

Below are the 3 main hardware stores in Seattle in the 1900,s
that were gun suppiers
Schwabacher Hardware Co.
Seattle Hardware Co.
Whiton Hardware Co.

bmg60-albums-rare-limited-production-revolvers-picture2300-warehouse.jpg






Pre the above picture it looks like Whiton Hardware had a fire on Sept 12 1919.and the upper two floors were devoled to salvage operations
This bring up another question "How Many Smith & Wessons were lost in this Fire."

Title Warehouse building, Seattle.
Photographer Curtis, Asahel, 1874-1941
Date 1919
Notes Three-story wooden warehouse with signs, "Sugarman and Greenberg Salvage Factors" and "Dearborn St. Garage Gas & Oil" Inscription on photograph reads "Two upper floors - 40000 sq. ft. devoted entirely to salvage operations, Whiton Hardware Co., Seattle, U. S. A. Fire, Sept. 12, 1919. Sugarman & Greenberg, salvage factors"; "Sugarman & Greenberg 11-2-1919."
 
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