TRIPLE-LOCKS--POST YOURS!
- Thread starter S&W ucla
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This is mine. Serial number 088 it is the first of the 12 made in 1906. For some reason some folks think they were all nickle plated. I think the nickel ones were sent back and plated later in life. Target shooters didn't like the bright finish reflecting off the barrel and front sight. All the information I've seen states they were blue when they were shipped in 1906.
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No.12064. Shipped September 1, 1916, to Belknap Hardware in Louisville, KY. Returned to S&W in October of 1946 to have the sights upgraded. This one has been in my family since it was new, originally belonged to my great-grandfather, and has been passed from father to son through four generations.
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OP
That brings a smile to my face. May the tradition continue for many generations to come!
policerevolvercollector
Member
Here is an old .44 TL that has had the barrel cut down to around 3 1/4" and looks to have been engraved from the cylinder back by a fairly competent engraver and on the front of the frame and on the barrel by a butcher. Maybe one day I can find another .44 barrel and have it engraved and nickeled to closer match the back half...
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Enjoy,
bdGreen
bdGreen
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OP
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy
Not a Triple Lock, but this is a Canadian Broad Arrow on a 455 HE 2nd Model. A regular British Broad Arrow surrounded by a C.
Not a Triple Lock, but this is a Canadian Broad Arrow on a 455 HE 2nd Model. A regular British Broad Arrow surrounded by a C.
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Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy
This was my first Triple Lock. 44 Special. A refinished target model that shipped in November of 1908. Not a very good refinish job, too many edges rounded over, and I paid way too much for it. But it was my first one.
I came across this one about a year later. Nickel Plated, 44 Special, shipped in October of 1915. I like this one so much better. A little bit of staining to the nickel, but it's all original. If I had found this one first I never would have bought the Target Model.
But this one is my favorite. I came across it last year at a local auction. It was on the silent auction table and had not been labelled correctly. Holy Smokes I said, that's a Triple Lock. 44 Special. Very early, SN is less than 200. Roy says it shipped in November of 1907. Almost no finish at all and the checkering is almost completely worn off the grips. But the bore and chambers are like new, and it locks up perfectly. The suggested price was so low I put in a bid to make sure it would go home with me. And it did, for an unbelievable $650!
To top that off, it's a great shooter!
So early it is marked 44 S&W CTG instead of 44 S&W Special CTG.
This was my first Triple Lock. 44 Special. A refinished target model that shipped in November of 1908. Not a very good refinish job, too many edges rounded over, and I paid way too much for it. But it was my first one.
I came across this one about a year later. Nickel Plated, 44 Special, shipped in October of 1915. I like this one so much better. A little bit of staining to the nickel, but it's all original. If I had found this one first I never would have bought the Target Model.
But this one is my favorite. I came across it last year at a local auction. It was on the silent auction table and had not been labelled correctly. Holy Smokes I said, that's a Triple Lock. 44 Special. Very early, SN is less than 200. Roy says it shipped in November of 1907. Almost no finish at all and the checkering is almost completely worn off the grips. But the bore and chambers are like new, and it locks up perfectly. The suggested price was so low I put in a bid to make sure it would go home with me. And it did, for an unbelievable $650!
To top that off, it's a great shooter!
So early it is marked 44 S&W CTG instead of 44 S&W Special CTG.
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Well, let's see. My first TL is the one in front that was cut down to 4" and refinished in nickel, including the trigger and hammer. It also got some genuine pearl stocks on it. From the ink on the inside of the grips and some vibro-engraving on the grip frame I know that it had been owned by an Alva, OK lawman. (The gun in back is a 3rd Model HE, similarly nickeled and has imitation ivory stocks.)
Then there's a .455TL that was converted to a .45 Colt target gun that I picked up at a Wanenmacher show in Tulsa a few years ago.
Stamped "NOT ENGLISH MAKE" on both the barrel and frame. (Wouldn't want anyone to think this junk was made in the King's England now, would we!)
The caliber is X'd out and .45 Colt is stamped on the other side (visible in picture 2).
Next up is a factory Target TL with some massively oversized custom grips.
The barrel is a bit spotty but that just means it's a shooter, instead of a safe queen.
I also have a couple of Spanish TL copies, but no pictures handy. I'll post some shots of those when I get a chance.
Then there's a .455TL that was converted to a .45 Colt target gun that I picked up at a Wanenmacher show in Tulsa a few years ago.
Stamped "NOT ENGLISH MAKE" on both the barrel and frame. (Wouldn't want anyone to think this junk was made in the King's England now, would we!)
The caliber is X'd out and .45 Colt is stamped on the other side (visible in picture 2).
Next up is a factory Target TL with some massively oversized custom grips.
The barrel is a bit spotty but that just means it's a shooter, instead of a safe queen.
I also have a couple of Spanish TL copies, but no pictures handy. I'll post some shots of those when I get a chance.
Stirling
Member
Great thread! I love seeing your Triple Locks!! I like them with barrels 5" and longer. Strange when you consider I prefer my N-Frames 4'... Very neat seeing these old revolvers, they really hark back to a bygone era.
olskool
Member
man I love it the way it is! if you ever want to trade for something let me know,,
Here are the Spanish Triple Locks that I mentioned above. The blue one has a 5" barrel and a four digit serial, 1482. The nickel one has a 7-1/8" barrel and a six digit serial, 322375. I doubt that they actually made that many but who knows? They are very different internally. I have not shot either and the nickel one needs some work.
Click the pictures for a larger version.
They both say this on the side of the barrel.
This is the top of the blue barrel
This is the top of the nickel barrel.
The blue gun has a TAC logo on the left side.
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7133* .44 Target shipped 9/26/12 to M.W. Robinson NYC. My first TL acquired from Lee in June 2014 when I had "TL" on the brain. Likely a factory 1950's refinish with post-war trigger and hammer. Star next to serial number on the butt and diamond "B" stamp on grip frame but no date stamp. Someone set it up for serious target work. Check out that front sight!
12742 .455 Military likely one of 325 shipped to Shapleigh Hardware St Louis, MO 12/29/17. It showed up at a Phoenix gunshow table in January 2014.
DWFAN cleaned and squared up the unnumbered stocks last year.
13823 .44 Military shipped 11/14/16 to W.G. Walz Co, El Paso, TX. I like to think this old iron rode around west Texas, traveled across New Mexico, and ended up with its last known owner in Tucson where it sat for lord knows how many years. Inherited from a distant relative, long since passed, by a young man in Phoenix who then sold to me in June 2016. Neglected for decades and almost inoperable due to the accumulation of grit and dried oil this old workhorse finally got the attention it needed: A thorough cleaning inside and out, a trip to the gunsmith, and set of period-correct stocks. Today it is one of my favorite shooters and quite an attention-getter...and it's accurate as all get out, too. I just wish I could find a period holster with the right amount of "experience" to match.
12742 .455 Military likely one of 325 shipped to Shapleigh Hardware St Louis, MO 12/29/17. It showed up at a Phoenix gunshow table in January 2014.
DWFAN cleaned and squared up the unnumbered stocks last year.
13823 .44 Military shipped 11/14/16 to W.G. Walz Co, El Paso, TX. I like to think this old iron rode around west Texas, traveled across New Mexico, and ended up with its last known owner in Tucson where it sat for lord knows how many years. Inherited from a distant relative, long since passed, by a young man in Phoenix who then sold to me in June 2016. Neglected for decades and almost inoperable due to the accumulation of grit and dried oil this old workhorse finally got the attention it needed: A thorough cleaning inside and out, a trip to the gunsmith, and set of period-correct stocks. Today it is one of my favorite shooters and quite an attention-getter...and it's accurate as all get out, too. I just wish I could find a period holster with the right amount of "experience" to match.
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I bought this one in 7/94, from the grandson of the original owner. All original and all matching serial #s in all ten locations including the stocks, from 1911, #5437. Barrel roll mark is the later style: .44 S&W SPECIAL CTG with 'dingbats'. (Early TLs are marked .44 S&W CTG with dingbats).
For size comparison, shown with 3rd Model .22 Ladysmith 3" M frame, Smith's smallest Hand Ejector, #22508.
This next one, also not good photos, came out of an estate and the seller was selling it for the widow. Obviously a reblue and not a factory reblue. Just not a turn-of-the-century 'looking glass' polish, but not a bad job either. No rounded corners and clear barrel markings. The trigger and hammer pins are slightly less rounded but not flattened, the logo is a little faint but not near as bad as it looks in these photos. And even the side plate edges are crisp and sharp. Serial number 2702 and all matching except the original grips were long gone. Very tight with a breaking glass let off and old world silky smooth action.
Barrel roll mark is the later style: .44 S&W SPECIAL CTG with 'dingbats'.
Right side:
Left side:
For size comparison, shown with 3rd Model .22 Ladysmith 3" M frame, Smith's smallest Hand Ejector, #22508.
This next one, also not good photos, came out of an estate and the seller was selling it for the widow. Obviously a reblue and not a factory reblue. Just not a turn-of-the-century 'looking glass' polish, but not a bad job either. No rounded corners and clear barrel markings. The trigger and hammer pins are slightly less rounded but not flattened, the logo is a little faint but not near as bad as it looks in these photos. And even the side plate edges are crisp and sharp. Serial number 2702 and all matching except the original grips were long gone. Very tight with a breaking glass let off and old world silky smooth action.
Barrel roll mark is the later style: .44 S&W SPECIAL CTG with 'dingbats'.
Right side:
Left side:
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bmcgilvray
Member
A Before and After Triple Lock
This Triple Lock was obtained from a kind friend who saw to it that I had a specimen in the collection here. He'd earlier acquired this one as a poorly refinished nickel example and had Gene Williams refinish it to more of an original appearance. It's a sho' 'nuff shooter, giving perfect accuracy satisfaction at the range or in the field with prepared handloads.
Before
After
Photgraphs showing the third locking feature to the uninitiated.
I was prepared to be enthused about the "triple lock" feature but the workmanship exhibited in the finishing of the revolver's tight yet very smooth fine action proved to be even more extraordinary, making for a most fabulous Smith & Wesson revolver model.
A good ol' Triple Lock deserves its own good ol' Heiser holster.
This Triple Lock was obtained from a kind friend who saw to it that I had a specimen in the collection here. He'd earlier acquired this one as a poorly refinished nickel example and had Gene Williams refinish it to more of an original appearance. It's a sho' 'nuff shooter, giving perfect accuracy satisfaction at the range or in the field with prepared handloads.
Before
After
Photgraphs showing the third locking feature to the uninitiated.
I was prepared to be enthused about the "triple lock" feature but the workmanship exhibited in the finishing of the revolver's tight yet very smooth fine action proved to be even more extraordinary, making for a most fabulous Smith & Wesson revolver model.
A good ol' Triple Lock deserves its own good ol' Heiser holster.
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Here is a .22 conversion I just picked up in an online auction about an hour ago.
Sent from my SM-S975L using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-S975L using Tapatalk
Cool!
What auction was that? GunBroker or elsewhere?Chad Gripp owns a .22 conversion Triple Lock as well. Here is the thread about it (minus many pictures due to the Photobucket debacle): Triple Lock sn# 2747 chambered in .22 Long Rifle
