I sure hope a member was the lucky sole that bought this 4 inch Triple Lock. I must have missed seeing it today when it posted then saw that it was already sold later in the day. I could not find a way to post pictures but just follow this link. Be prepared to cry.

It is hard for me to know how they can be so low on a few guns and so high on others. The local Cabelas near me has all their Smith's,Colt's and other guus sutff priced so high it will never sell. Then they let this one slip thorough. Interesting.

Gun Library: Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector First Model (Triple Lock), .44 S&W SPL : Cabela's

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Jim
SWCA #2246

That one is definitely in nice condition.

I hear you...did you see the 99% 29-1 that sold last month? I think it went for $1400.

And now they have a K-22 for $4800...yikes. Prices are all over the place.

What percentage of TLs were made with a 4 inch barrel?
What would be a realistic value of the TL in this configuration and condition?(taking into account the flaking on the left side)

Jim, That is a fine looking tl. Here is a pre war m&p snub I picked up at the Rogers Cabela's for under 850.00. It was marked a pre 10. The gun now belongs to Mike (pace40). Mikeuser161818_pic8471_1358095258.jpg

DSC_0029.jpg

I just missed it by about 10 minutes. The guy in the gun library had just hung up from the buyer. He had called exactly at 9:00 local time when the store opened. I called about 9:30. Broke my heart. Guy said it had been listed the night before. I do hope another forum member got it.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Can you post a link to that? I ran through all the Grand Junction guns and didn't see it.

I did see the Winchester M21 for $9999.66. A beautiful gun, but not worth that since its got a big split in the fore end.

Back to K22s. I've got a few I wouldn't sell for that. If its a second model in great condition, its worth that easily. Some are investment grade guns and you can't touch them for pocket change.

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Dick Burg

I've got a nickel gun in pretty nice shape. I didn't pay much at all, but its been a few years now. I bought a 4" TL and a 4" 3rd model for $2500 total. The seller calculated them as being equal value. I didn't but I wasn't in a mood to argue. The 3rd model has been refinished. Still a very nice gun, but it got itself a new nickel finish somewhere along the line, I'm guessing it went to W&K. At the time I figures I paid $1000 for the 3rd and $1500 for the TL. Figured that way, it was fair. Besides, how many folks do you know (besides Jim Fisher) that have any 4" guns from that era?

As for a fair market value, the gun is blue and I would hope original finish. I know people that wouldn't hesitate at $2000. I'm one of them. Its not a raging deal, but what appears to be priced to sell. Remember, we're living in an age of concealed carry. Its cold outside, so you wear a coat when you venture outside. Coats hide nice big guns. Don't let the spray and pray plastic crowd intimidate you, the 44 Special starts with the number 4. Its a righteous gun. It lobs huge hunks of lead and most 44 specials hit where they're pointed. Its a fine gun that I'd love to own.

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Dick Burg

And now they have a K-22 for $4800...yikes. Prices are all over the place.[/QUOTE]

That listing of the K-22 is a 2nd Model K22/40. If you notice the large sight screw on the right side and the knotch in the hammer.

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Mitch
SWCA 2597

The early blueing had a tendency to flake which might support it being original finish but the blueing looks newer to me. It's really hard to tell from those pics. I wonder if there are any date marks under the grips. Hopefully a member here got it and can give us the "rest of the story".

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PTLAPTA!

I saw that yesterday afternoon. I knew it was rare, but had to
hesitate because for a 100+ year old TL the finish looked "new".
Possible refinish? It just looked too good to be true.

Even if it was a factory refinsh I would be happy for $1,800.

Forgive a noob, but what does triple lock mean?

It's not an official term, but the first edition 44 hand ejectors have a third lock located in the frame/yoke area of the gun. This is a third lock; where a normal S&W only has two places where it locks the cylinder in place. By the time the second edition 44 hand ejectors came out S&W had done away with this feature.

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Mark

It looked like a refinish to me, too. Didn't someone post a Triple Lock for sale recently, here, or on another forum, that was factory refinished at $1700? It sold fairly quickly. To me, this firearm is not worth that kind of money unless an original finish. If factory refinished, that would be better yet, but not a $1700 firearm. Yes, if all original, then I would pay $1700 (or $1799, in this case), for a Triple Lock.

For many of us, its a term of endearment. Its like Randolph Scott or John Wayne. Almost religious in nature. Yes, 3 locks. The rear of the cylinder with the center pin, the front of the ejector rod under the barrel, and the third being a "tooth" that engages the ball under the barrel for that purpose. If the cylinder is open, the lock sticks up. When looking at the right side of the gun, you can see it in the frame, just rear of the bottom of the barrel shroud. Also the Holy Grail of handguns. They don't make them that good any more.

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Dick Burg

If anyone wants to sell their factory refinished 4" Triple Lock for $1,800 You know where to find me

Ignorance. They think common guns are worth a fortune and they don't recognize the true value of the rare ones. So a 1956 M&P is priced at $800 and Registered Magnum may be tagged at $1,000 making it a steal.

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No life story has happy end.

I enlarged the pictures. I see no signs of a refinish.

I just wish Cabela's would make it easier to search for items. Guns International has a very easy way to see what is available.

The gun that was listed here for $1700 here was a Triple Lock Target, which ramps it up a notch. And the gorilla who bought it was Lee Jarrett, owner of this forum, who might know a thing or two about S&W values. http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sa...riplelock.html

and just an aside, the ad for the triple lock states that it bears a star next to the serial number indicating a factory refinish.

The factory star merely indicates that the gun went back to the factory for some modification. It does not necessarily mean a refinish. I own a .22/32 HFT (384570) that went back to the factory and has the star marking. It received a new cylinder with the recessed chambers that was not available until around serial number 525600 of this model.

My gun was not refinished.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Would it be safe to say then that if the star is blued over - then the gun was indeed reblued at the factory, and if the star is still "cratered" and appears to be struck after the blueing - then the the gun was not refinished?