1st Model Triplelock's in .455 - What are they selling for these days??

THREEDFLYER · Aug 31, 2017

Has anyone recently purchased or sold a .455 chambered 1st Model Triplelock in original condition and could share how much they paid/sold it for?? GunBroker is not a reliable source, and these do not pop up often.

I have someone interested in a possible trade for mine and I am not up to speed on these......

Here are a few photos....it is 100% original and has not been modified in any way. It has some light freckling, but remember, this is a battle weapon who knows where it's been! The bore and cylinders are excellent.....but need a cleaning.

Thanks!

Dpris · Aug 31, 2017

Mine in similar shape has been estimated at $2000, if that helps.
No military markings.
Denis

mrcvs · Aug 31, 2017

Tom,

Looking at your revolver, the finish is 100% original, the condition is not. From the one photograph supplied, I would estimate condition at 70%. Value? As long as not rechambered to .45 Colt or .45 ACP, I would think a fair value for your revolver might be in the $1250 to $1500 range.

Hondo44 · Aug 31, 2017

Yes as posted above, it's 100% original configuration and original refinish but not 100% of the finish is left.

It's still a nice TL!

If it's not English, Canada, or Commonwealth stamped, it's likely a commercially sold example. TL 455s fall into 3 categories, and which category can affect the desirability and price to some. When you advertise it for sale, it will help your sale for potential buyers to know that. Especially for someone trying to collect one from each category.

If you supply the serial # here or by PM, I can look it up for you.

Wiregrassguy · Aug 31, 2017

Tom, check the completed auctions at gunbroker. You might find something informative.

Valmet · Aug 31, 2017

There were two that I recall on GB in last 6-8 months. One in what I'd put between 50-60% that sat at $1800 while another in the same condition sold for $1200.

Wiregrassguy · Aug 31, 2017

One in what I'd put between 50-60% that sat at $1800

Still there. Been relisted 6 or 7 times.

THREEDFLYER · Aug 31, 2017

Triplelock .455

Jim, the S/N is 4172 and the unit was shipped from S&W in January 1918 according to Roy. Here are photos of the markings that I can find so far. There are some very small letters stamped into the grip frame which I assume are assembly numbers. The stocks appear original but no number is stamped or written in pencil. There is a very lightly scratched inscription on the bottom of the stocks......previous owner?

THREEDFLYER · Aug 31, 2017

mrcvs said:
Tom,

Looking at your revolver, the finish is 100% original, the condition is not. From the one photograph supplied, I would estimate condition at 70%. Value? As long as not rechambered to .45 Colt or .45 ACP, I would think a fair value for your revolver might be in the $1250 to $1500 range.

As mentioned in my first post, the revolver is original and not modified.
I think $1,500 is a very light estimated value, but that's my opinion.

So far, none of those posting has bought or sold one recently so there is no benchmark. You just don't see these come up for sale on a regular basis. And GunBroker is not what I would consider a reliable source......most guns on there are listed many times over so completed auctions are difficult to pin down, especially guns that have actually been sold!

But I appreciate the input so far. Hopefully Jim can chime in again with more details based on the proof marks I have posted photos of.

THREEDFLYER · Aug 31, 2017

Dpris said:
Mine in similar shape has been estimated at $2000, if that helps.
No military markings.
Denis

OK, I would be curious to know if yours with NO military markings is a more scarce variation? I assume yours is also in .455 and has not been modified??

Dpris · Aug 31, 2017

I see what appears to be a military marking in the photos, and going from those close-ups I can see yours is not quite in the same shape as mine.

If mine could be valued at $2000, I think yours would go a bit less. Mine also has its original owner's initials scratched into the left panel, in the same style of lettering as his name scratched on the back of the holster that came with it.
Denis

ExcitableBoy · Aug 31, 2017

The name on the bottom of the stock panel appears to be 'W. HANSON'. A little research might add value with any provenance established.

6string · Aug 31, 2017

Far be it from me to chime in when we've got real experts here, but I'll just add one thing.
Having grown up in Canada, these S&W 455s (TLs and 2nd models) were fairly common. One of the nearly surefire indicators of military use was the pitting in the cylinder chambers from the use of Cordite loaded ammo. I can see that right away in the last set of pics.
Still, always nice to see one in original guise.

Thanks,
Jim

CptCurl · Aug 31, 2017

I bought this one 2-1/2 years ago.

It is not a military issue gun. It's one of the ones that were sold to Shapleigh Hardware at the end of 1917.

S&W_Historical_Letter_44HE_1st_12787_Page_2.jpg

It's all original with a perfect bore, perfect unaltered chambers, and is in really good shape. I paid right at $2,200 in an arms length transaction. Good deal, bad deal - I don't know. Like you say, you don't see too many change hands.

Not to be ugly, but mine's in much better condition than yours, from looking at the photos.

For what it's worth, mine is one of the last few hundred triple lock .455 revolvers from the .44 HE series that ended up being sold commercially. Therefore, it is classified as a .44 HE First Model (New Century) in .455 caliber. Jim (Hondo44) can much more eloquently explain these details.

Curl

Dpris · Aug 31, 2017

Mine was one of the last bunch of .455 triple locks made in 1916.
Waiting on the letter now.

A Mr. Kennedy of Nova Scotia was the original owner, he enlisted for the duration in 1915 & was de-mobbed early in 1919.

Artillery gunner in France.
7th Artillery Brigade, 25th Battery.
Denis

Hondo44 · Aug 31, 2017

THREEDFLYER said:
Jim, the S/N is 4172 and the unit was shipped from S&W in January 1918 according to Roy. Here are photos of the markings that I can find so far. There are some very small letters stamped into the grip frame which I assume are assembly numbers. The stocks appear original but no number is stamped or written in pencil. There is a very lightly scratched inscription on the bottom of the stocks......previous owner?

Tom,

Yours is a 2nd category military 455 TL:

2. ".455 Mark II HE - 1st Model TL" in the new .455 British serial # range 1 to #5461 [H of S&W pg. 201] made 1914-15. Thus creating 63* duplicate serial #s with the 666 1st category in the ".44 HE 1st Model TL" chambered in .455, serial number range.

Yours does not have a duplicate #. The shipping date is quite late for what we'd expect for guns produced 1914-15. But we must remember the TL was not Britain's first choice. Simultaneously the 455 2nd Model was being tooled for, then produced, and shipped 1915-1917. #4172 must have languished in inventory; the '1st in, last out' syndrome we have all become familiar with about Smiths.

Here are some helpful posts regarding the military markings on yours:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...y-hand-ejector-birmingham-marks-new-post.html

I believe the scarcer commercially shipped 455 TLs have realized higher sales results than military models in like condition. Although either can go off the charts when in pristine condition. And military collectors actually prefer and will seek out and pay for nicer condition military stamped examples.

Yours is unmolested, unconverted nor abused which is a plus. But the finish lowers the value to shooter class. Many look for these as inexpensive as possible just to shoot or even to convert, modify, and re-finish into carry and field guns. I imagine $1400-$1500 might be the max. value.

THREEDFLYER · Aug 31, 2017

ExcitableBoy said:
The name on the bottom of the stock panel appears to be 'W. HANSON'. A little research might add value with any provenance established.

Here are better photos of the inscriptions on the bottom of the stocks.....it appears to be on both. But nothing is on the backside of either stock.

THREEDFLYER · Aug 31, 2017

6string said:
Far be it from me to chime in when we've got real experts here, but I'll just add one thing.
Having grown up in Canada, these S&W 455s (TLs and 2nd models) were fairly common. One of the nearly surefire indicators of military use was the pitting in the cylinder chambers from the use of Cordite loaded ammo. I can see that right away in the last set of pics.
Still, always nice to see one in original guise.

Thanks,
Jim

Jim, Here are better photos showing the cylinder and barrel bores after a good cleaning.....NO ISSUES with this one, just dirty!

Texas Star · Aug 31, 2017

The OP's gun is quite rough by my standards, and I'd simply not buy it at all. I think that if he gets even a $1,000 offer, he should take it.

His gun does bear opposed Broad Arrow markings, showing that was sold from Stores, to an individual officer or later, as surplus.

I know that collectors don't like refinished guns, but this one is a prime candidate for a refinish. If I bought it, I'd have to figure on spending several hundred dollars to restore it. I'd then have a prime example of the type, if not especially collectible.

BTW, he said the "cylinders" are in good shape. He means the chambers; the gun has just one"cylinder."

I'm glad we saw photos. They reveal a gun much less desirable than his opening comments suggested.

steelslaver · Aug 31, 2017

Inscribing your name on the butt must have been a thing for the owners. I have a 455 2nd with a name nicely stamped on the butt.

1st Model Triplelock's in .455 - What are they selling for these days??

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