No smilies necessary, TX*; your observations on grips make more sense than most.
S&W Triple Lock Compared to Colt New Service
- Thread starter rhmc24
- Start date
Sebago Son
Member
A New Service in the hand...
Bob Murphy in his book "Colt New Service Revolvers" identifies 9 different grip frame patterns for the New Service during it's long production life... to which do you refer?....
Having had the task of restocking a couple of these guns I can tell you that finding origionals that fit correctly is a real challenge. I will say that the last of the production series from the 1939/40 era give better hand... the eariest guns seem to hold more like a Bisley to me...
Drew
Bob Murphy in his book "Colt New Service Revolvers" identifies 9 different grip frame patterns for the New Service during it's long production life... to which do you refer?....
Having had the task of restocking a couple of these guns I can tell you that finding origionals that fit correctly is a real challenge. I will say that the last of the production series from the 1939/40 era give better hand... the eariest guns seem to hold more like a Bisley to me...
Drew
keithherrington
Member
Took my New Service in 38-40 to the range today. Used Blackhills Cowboy load (180 grain RNFP at about 800fps), and Ten-X Cowboy (180 grain RNFP at about 1050fps). Liked the Ten-X much better than the Blackhills and the gun shot to sights at 25 yards. Also shot my 625 Classic in 45 Colt. What has always impressed me about the S&W is how smooth and effortless the action is and how comfortable the grip is in comparison to the NS. Now the S&W had Nill Classics on it and the Colt had the original gutta percha grips but still the difference is extraordinary. The quality of the double action on the NS does leave a lot to be desired once you're used to a S&W. Having said that the NS is hell for stout and not a bit delicate.
Keith
Keith
The Colt New Service is a great wonderful robust pistol, unfortunately for us who collect target models, they are few and far between compared to find a S&W HE target TRIPPLELOCK/NEWCENTURY Frame! I have both a a Colt NST and a S&W REG MAG, and it would be hard to chose wich one I would chose over the other, as the work that the fine old S&W and Colt craftsmen put into these fine target arms, cannot be matched today! I have small hands and still enjoy the Colt, but I must admitt the S&W is more conducife to my needs. Now if you took and combined al the great things of both pistols into one, well there son would be the ultimate fine revolver! Dale Z in Canada!
David LaPell
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I have owned a Triple Lock and as nice as the action was (and it really was) the gun's achille's heel is the fact the cylinder isn't heat treated, so no moderate loads in such a fine old gun. Where as the New Service is built like a tank, literally. I put some money down on a commercial New Service in .45 Colt and I can tell you that it doesn't quite have the action of the Smith but it isn't all bad either. To me the Smith is better action wise as long as the loads are kept within reason (keep in mind the age of these guns) but the New Service is no slouch. One of the big problems shooters found with the Colt is the grip, its very hard to reach the trigger well. Kind if glad I kept one of my Pachmayr grip adaptors for a New Service to help out.
Gen.Eric Colt
Member
At the time the New Service was designed, shooters didnt think in terms of double action shooting, It was a gentlemans world and you shot duelist style, and single action.Growing up in the fifties and sixties we were still taught that way.I have always thought of the NS as a single action with double action capabilities. Being a very long time user of a Colt New Service,( Bought mind in 1965, 25$ mail order, pre 68 gun law I was 15) I found that the grip like every one else, must have been made for some one with hands like a catchers mitt. Early on I read Ed McGivern's fast and fancey shooting .In the book he shows a good way to hold a NS for shooting, fast or otherwise.Still a grip adapter works well also. There is little out there about slicking up one of these guns , but Howe in "The Modern Gunsmith" advised on the 1917 models to check the hammer stud and trigger stud for proper fit both to the hammer and trigger and to the frame. Lastly, primers caps were made out of much thicker metal when these guns were new, than today requiring a harder hammer fall( This is true about most guns prior to WW1) I installed a Colt Python mainspring about 40 years ago and have never had a miss fire from to light a hammer fall. Please dont stick a screw driver between the spring arms and cock it, bending the mainspring,Not only will your gun be possibly subject to a broken mainspring (Most often when youre out shooting) this trick also puts the gun out of time, ever so little, but it will add up. As I said I did these things years ago and have never had to work on this gun again, and when ever I thought I needed a revolver for self defence , this is the one I have always reached for. As for the S&W HE. I own one of them too. The only problem I have with a S&W is the cylinder release button. It is very hard to operate left handed, as I am. I have to shift the gun to my right hand. Thats not a design flaw with the Smith, but rather with me.
DHENRY
SWCA Member
+ 1 for Sebago Son's asessment of the New Service grip shapes.
I can attest that the earlier models' gripframes (like this ca. 1920 in .45 Colt) are much closer to a Bisley than anything else!
Over the years I'v noticed that the TL's certainly have an easier double-action trigger-pull.
Accuracy?
I've never seen any significant difference.
In addition to its use as a handgun, the Colt would function very well as a club.
Don
I can attest that the earlier models' gripframes (like this ca. 1920 in .45 Colt) are much closer to a Bisley than anything else!
Over the years I'v noticed that the TL's certainly have an easier double-action trigger-pull.
Accuracy?
I've never seen any significant difference.
In addition to its use as a handgun, the Colt would function very well as a club.
Don
Sebago Son
Member
Don,
Excellent example of an "Improved Model" not many around from that period in this good a condition.
Good to see you post Brother...
Drew
Excellent example of an "Improved Model" not many around from that period in this good a condition.
Good to see you post Brother...
Drew
keithherrington
Member
A friend of mine, Ed Toth, who is a real New Service aficionado past on some research he did on the NS. Soon after its introduction it became a favorite of professional gunmen and lawmen, especially in 38-40 and 44-40. Many of the the guns owned by these fellas will have the front sight filed down about half way. That was because the gun was sighted in to hit high at gun fighting ranges. The accomplished shooters of the day would normally use the belt buckle as the aiming point but wanted the gun to hit higher on the chest for better effect. The favoring of the two bottle neck cartridges was for two reasons: both had the reputation for being good mankillers while being easy to handle, and the guns were faster to unload and reload than a straight walled case such as the 45 Colt or 44 Special. According to Ed, double action was the preferred method of firing since the action was always fast and relatively close.
Toth, in law enforcement himself, used to carry a NS in 38-40 improved, rechambering a 357 Mag cylinder from a late model gun and doing all the remaining gunsmithing himself.
Keith
Toth, in law enforcement himself, used to carry a NS in 38-40 improved, rechambering a 357 Mag cylinder from a late model gun and doing all the remaining gunsmithing himself.
Keith
wraco
Member
Tough for me to compare a Triple Lock S&W to a Colt New Service as I don't have a T-lock, but I do have S&W N-frames to compare it to. I like them both and have no problem reaching the NS trigger but my S&W N-frames have better DA.
Rod
here's a picture of my New Service, 45 Colt, 1919.
Rod
here's a picture of my New Service, 45 Colt, 1919.
highpower3006
Member
I have been trying to find a TL for years. Usual story, when I have the $, I can't find the gun. When I don't have any money they seem to be everywhere.
I do have a NS though, it's one of 500 Colt parts cleanup guns made in the early 30's using surplus M1917 frames and M1909 barrels, cylinders & other obsolete parts.
Unfortunately it has been refinished
I do have a NS though, it's one of 500 Colt parts cleanup guns made in the early 30's using surplus M1917 frames and M1909 barrels, cylinders & other obsolete parts.
Unfortunately it has been refinished
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