Increasingly more Interesting Triple Lock *update*

Edit: It may be worth noting for anyone visiting this thread for the first time that you will eventually find as you read through it additional information on the gun found in the factory letter and soon documentations from the historical foundation.


So this just arrived from gunbroker. I've been developing my S&W addiction over the past few years and I decided a while back that I both really love shooting .44 special, and that on N frames 5" barrels balance the best, in my opinion at least.

When this gun came up for auction I just couldn't resist.

I also broke my camera taking pictures of it. So please pardon pardon the full shots of the gun, they are not what I wanted. When I can replace the camera I will get some better shots.

After the pictures here I will have a bit of a rundown of what I *think* this gun is, but I am relatively new at S&W collecting and always amazed by the knowledge on this forum, so if you can correct me where it is needed I would appreciate it. Also, if you have anything to add that would be fantastic.






The sights seem to be very interesting to me. They appear to be added by dovetailing them in.





















Here's what I think this gun is:

1) Factory 5" .44 special triple lock. I assume this because the text appears centered on the barrel

2) Early production gun given the 4 digit Serial Number, First year?.

2) Factory refinish some time in the mid to late 1930s. I'm guessing this because:

• The Magnas are of course not original to the gun, but are certainly Pre-War.
• The front sight is, as I understand it, a later design.
• There is a Star next to the Serial Number.
• The finish appears to be very similar if not exactly the same, to other Pre-War guns I own.

Of course this is a gun I will be sending off for a letter on.

Do you guys think that this is something they should be able to come up with some documentation on at the S&W Historical Foundation? As I understand it they should have records digitized from the period of time that this gun was re-finished?

That is a beauty.

Those sights have nothing to do with the factory. Having said that, we always have to
keep in mind the guideline "Never say never". Still in all, those sights have nothing
to do with the factory.

The star on the butt indicates it went back for something - maybe a refinish,
maybe some maintenance work, maybe a barrel change, etc.

I doubt the Historical Society will have any information about it. A letter will be
helpful as to its original configuration.

While you had the grips removed, was there anything stamped on the grip frame ?
Is there any service department marks on either the grip frame, or under the barrel ?

Mike Priwer

Like Mike said,

The sights are not original, but nicely done.

Great old Smith

mikepriwer said:

Those sights have nothing to do with the factory. Having said that, we always have to
keep in mind the guideline "Never say never". Still in all, those sights have nothing
to do with the factory.

The star on the butt indicates it went back for something - maybe a refinish,
maybe some maintenance work, maybe a barrel change, etc.

I doubt the Historical Society will have any information about it. A letter will be
helpful as to its original configuration.

While you had the grips removed, was there anything stamped on the grip frame ?
Is there any service department marks on either the grip frame, or under the barrel ?

Mike Priwer

Click to expand...

Looks like an 8 and a 1, and then something that looks like it could be a B in a diamond? It's partially obscured by pitting.




On the reverse we have an F and a B

Smith did make a rare variation called the Military Target for use in Britsh matches like Bisley where drift adjustable, but not screw controlled, sights were permitted. That being said, I agree that the rear sight is probably not by Smith, but one never knows without the research (and sometimes not even then).

Bob

red9 said:

Smith did make a rare variation called the Military Target for use in British matches like Bisley where drift adjustable, but not screw controlled, sights were permitted.

Click to expand...

To All,

Below I've attached a few photos of a Factory-Installed Triple Lock Drift-Adjustable Rear Sight!! As you can see both the Sight Blade as well as the method of installation, although very well executed, are very different than the Rear Sight installed on the OP's Triple-Lock!! Still in all...Given the S&W "Never Say Never" philosophy...I believe the OP's TL is deserving of a "Letter"...just in case!!

Masterpiece said:

To All,

Below I've attached a few photos of a Factory-Installed Triple Lock Drift-Adjustable Rear Sight!! As you can see both the Sight Blade as well as the method of installation, although very well executed, are very different than the Rear Sight installed on the OP's Triple-Lock!! Still in all...Given the S&W "Never Say Never" philosophy...I believe the OP's TL is deserving of a "Letter"...just in case!!

Click to expand...

Fantastic, thank you.

I have to say that you guys on this forum are so far ahead of me in terms of knowledge it humbles me.

That is one of the nicest and appealing (to me) New Centuries I've ever seen. Had I seen that on GB I would have been so tempted to bid on it, even if I had to beg and borrow money to get it. (smile)

Congratulations to the OP on a great find and acquisition.

Dave

Dave T said:

That is one of the nicest and appealing (to me) New Centuries I've ever seen. Had I seen that on GB I would have been so tempted to bid on it, even if I had to beg and borrow money to get it. (smile)

Congratulations to the OP on a great find and acquisition.

Dave

Click to expand...

When I came across it I just sort of sat there staring for 5 minutes. Ultimately I hit the buy it now because I knew that no matter who had done the work on it, I would still be happy with it. Also, if I didn't buy it I would regret that forever.

When I actually received the gun I was just as happy as I thought I would be. It feel's very "right" in my hand. I really like the feel of pre-war magnas. The lockup is extraordinarily tight. The action is of course as one would expect.

All in all I think that no matter what the history of the gun turns out to be (if I can even discern much about it) I'll still be very happy with it.

Those stocks can be restored and refinished to like-new condition, and I would probably do that were they mine.

DWalt said:

Those stocks can be restored and refinished to like-new condition, and I would probably do that were they mine.

Click to expand...

I'm certainly considering it.

I must admit though, I think I am a bit weird when it comes to collecting. I enjoy a pristine example of an original gun, sure, but I also really like the idea that a gun has seen honest use.

My registered magnum is pretty beat up, but aside from missing the rear sight (which I will eventually fix whenever I can find a dang replacement) I'm actually happy with the overall condition of it. It's a gun that went to mexico and somehow came to be hanging on a nail in a wood shed in Washington state, and it looks like it. It shoots great, so I kind of feel like refinishing it is almost a shame in a way. I might as well just buy another one that has already been re-finished.

I sort of feel the same way about the chip in the stocks on this gun, it's honest wear. I certainly plan on shooting this gun. I think the part of me that wants to collect really nice things wars with the part of me that wants to collect historically interesting things. I'm not sure yet which side will win out over these stocks.

SixgunStrumpet said:

I'm certainly considering it.

I must admit though, I think I am a bit weird when it comes to collecting. I enjoy a pristine example of an original gun, sure, but I also really like the idea that a gun has seen honest use.

My registered magnum is pretty beat up, but aside from missing the rear sight (which I will eventually fix whenever I can find a dang replacement) I'm actually happy with the overall condition of it. It's a gun that went to mexico and somehow came to be hanging on a nail in a wood shed in Washington state, and it looks like it. It shoots great, so I kind of feel like refinishing it is almost a shame in a way. I might as well just buy another one that has already been re-finished.

I sort of feel the same way about the chip in the stocks on this gun, it's honest wear. I certainly plan on shooting this gun. I think the part of me that wants to collect really nice things wars with the part of me that wants to collect historically interesting things. I'm not sure yet which side will win out over these stocks.

Click to expand...

I agree. I always feel that a worn gun with refinished, redone, or "freshened" stocks stands out like a sore thumb.
Nice piece, btw. I'd be more than happy to own and carry it.

I gotta show this to my gunsmith.
I have been looking at the current crop of PD tradeins but was deterred by the hogwallow sights. This looks like a way to get something I can see on a gun inexpensive enough to tinker with. If I can catch FLGs interest on something like this, he won't charge a lot.

SixgunStrumpet said:

I'm certainly considering it.

I must admit though, I think I am a bit weird when it comes to collecting. I enjoy a pristine example of an original gun, sure, but I also really like the idea that a gun has seen honest use.

My registered magnum is pretty beat up, but aside from missing the rear sight (which I will eventually fix whenever I can find a dang replacement) I'm actually happy with the overall condition of it. It's a gun that went to mexico and somehow came to be hanging on a nail in a wood shed in Washington state, and it looks like it. It shoots great, so I kind of feel like refinishing it is almost a shame in a way. I might as well just buy another one that has already been re-finished.

I sort of feel the same way about the chip in the stocks on this gun, it's honest wear. I certainly plan on shooting this gun. I think the part of me that wants to collect really nice things wars with the part of me that wants to collect historically interesting things. I'm not sure yet which side will win out over these stocks.

Click to expand...

Pictures of the RM please.

That's a nice one!

As to the factory-installed fixed rear sight blade - is there some documentation for that?

As to the <B> on the grip strap, that should be the service department marking for
a blue refinish.

Mike Priwer

mikepriwer said:

As to the factory-installed fixed rear sight blade - is there some documentation for that?

Click to expand...

Yes...It "Letters" to England!!

Muley Gil said:

Pictures of the RM please.

Click to expand...

Sure thing, the new camera arrived, so I could snap some.

I actually have a question about it I should probably ask here. This sight on ebay right now isn't 100% correct, it should have 2 holes, but do you guys know if it would work? The K-Frame here doesn't, the screw hole is in the wrong spot. I've been after a rear sight for nearly 2 years now and can't seem to find the right one. Seeing as I paid so little for the gun spending a few hundred on a sight would be no problem, if this one works, even if its slightly wrong, I think it would fit the overall aesthetic of the gun.

So my RM is, um. There's a bit of a story:

I didn't really know what they were, but I was at a gunshow and a guy set it out on a table right in front of me. The table was all knives plus this one gun, he wrote out a sticker with $150 on it, and stuck it to the gun. I was smart enough to realize that any N Frame .357 was worth $150, even if it was just in parts. I picked it up, checked the action, it all seemed to be good. It had two flaws however. It was wearing a set of smooth Herretts which didn't suit it at all, and the rear sight was gone with an extra hole in it:



Sitting above it there is the closest to a correct sight I have been able to find, which I can only imagine must be K-Frame:



Eventually found a set of pre-war magnas for it, they were damaged and repaired. I have a slight amount of fitting I still need to do, but I am pleased with the overall effect. In truth I just love shooting this gun and want to get it back to shooting exactly as it did when it shipped, even if it doesn't look anything like it did back in '39.





Lettered out to having been shipped to an outfit that exports to Mexico:



After that it came to be hanging in the woodshed of the guy I bought it from. He said it had been there since he moved into the house and had just brought it to the show because he figured someone would want it.

I was very pleased about 2 hours later when I got it outside in the light and it dawned on me what the little REG 4XXX meant.



Here is another shot of the Triple Lock, going to have to mess around with light some more to get a better picture still:

I like 'em both.

"Sitting above it there is the closest to a correct sight I have been able to find, which I can only imagine must be K-Frame:"

Jist wrap some 'lectrical tape around that sight. That'll hold it.