Older Triplelock (Sock drawer gun?) Now with Letter

delcrossv · Jan 29, 2019

Following Bigl1911's great scores in Vegas, prompted me to post my recently acquired Triplelock S/N 384X. Seems to have a similar "inky black" finish and the stud by the grip is proud to the sideplate

:

First side-

Other side:

Someone along the way decided to highlight the roll stamp (which contains the "hidden" Smith & Wesson) on top of the barrel- As with Bigl1911's piece

Same poor indoor lighting as with the 2nd Model and the grips do number to the gun (gotta hold them to the light just right).

In other oddities, the backstrap, forestrap and trigger have fine cross-hatching (like you'd see on a hammer) ???

The bore is minty fresh and the action is very tight and "snappy". Just ordered 200 rounds of lead flat nose .44 Spl to give her a little "exercise".

handejector · Jan 29, 2019

delcrossv said:
In other oddities, the backstrap, forestrap and trigger have fine cross-hatching (like you'd see on a hammer) ???

Show pics of that. The Factory did some triggers. Not sure about gripstraps. NICE old gun.

delcrossv · Jan 29, 2019

Thanks Lee! You can see a little if you double click on the pictures to blow them up . I'll post more tomorrow.

Sgt Neutron · Jan 29, 2019

If that was indeed a sock drawer gun, some socks had pretty good company!

bigl1911 · Jan 29, 2019

Awesome!! That is what i ma talking about and you can shoot!! Terrific gun Del!! Thanks for sharing the love!

delcrossv · Jan 29, 2019

bigl1911 said:
Awesome!! That is what i ma talking about and you can shoot!! Terrific gun Del!! Thanks for sharing the love!

You just made my day! Thanks!

Kinman · Jan 29, 2019

Perfect "Sock Drawer" piece, I love it when my "hairball" theories come home to roost. There are more out there, that would be a perfect heading for a thread.

EarlB · Jan 29, 2019

Beautiful gun! Earl

Hondo44 · Jan 29, 2019

Wow, another stunning TL!

I also notice it does have a checkered trigger, some of which are known to be factory. I hope you plan to letter that one.

Wiregrassguy · Jan 29, 2019

An interesting coincidence of really high quality guns lately. Congratulations!

Guy

delcrossv · Jan 29, 2019

Hondo44 said:
Wow, another stunning TL!

Thank you!

I also notice it does have a checkered trigger, some of which are known to be factory. I hope you plan to letter that one.

Definitely. I'm curious as to what that will turn up.

delcrossv · Jan 30, 2019

Pictures in daylight

As requested, Here're some shots in direct sunlight:

One side:

Other side:

Detail of the checkered trigger and forestrap:

Checkered backstrap:

The checkering on the trigger is more comfortable to my finger than the grooved triggers on, for example my postwar I frame, and the checkered gripstraps really give a nice secure grip.

Too cold to go out but I hope to get to the range this weekend along with the .455 for a little "compare and contrast".

mrcvs · Jan 30, 2019

Others more knowledgeable will likely be able to assert more definitively, but my " guess" is that this checkering is professionally done but not factory. This is because I own a New Model No 3 with checkering on the trigger and the coarseness of the trigger checkering differs and it ends with a defined border. Of course, in the time frame when my NM No 3 shipped, in February 1900, and when this Triple Lock shipped, styles easily could have changed, so the style may not be a good factor on which to judge, but I think a defined border/boundary may be more typical of factory work. That is, the checkering at the proximal end of the trigger ends at a solid line and does not run into "infinity".

What is the serial number of your gun? It has early non medallion grips. Also, unusually, for a non British contract model, it contains a lanyard.

delcrossv · Jan 30, 2019

Are you referring to the trigger (No border) or the straps (which have a border) ?

S/N is 384X.

This one definitely needs a letter.

Hondo44 · Jan 30, 2019

The trigger looks identical to other confirmed factory checkered triggers I've seen on pre war guns and another triple lock, no border. I'm not sure about the grip straps.

Modified · Jan 30, 2019

mrcvs said:
Others more knowledgeable will likely be able to assert more definitively, but my " guess" is that this checkering is professionally done but not factory. This is because I own a New Model No 3 with checkering on the trigger and the coarseness of the trigger checkering differs and it ends with a defined border. Of course, in the time frame when my NM No 3 shipped, in February 1900, and when this Triple Lock shipped, styles easily could have changed, so the style may not be a good factor on which to judge, but I think a defined border/boundary may be more typical of factory work. That is, the checkering at the proximal end of the trigger ends at a solid line and does not run into "infinity".

What is the serial number of your gun? It has early non medallion grips. Also, unusually, for a non British contract model, it contains a lanyard.

Could be factory service dept.

Compare to my gun which is documented to have had this done at the factory:

mrcvs · Jan 30, 2019

delcrossv said:
Are you referring to the trigger (No border) or the straps (which have a border) ?

S/N is 384X.

This one definitely needs a letter.

Yes, definitely get a letter.

I was referring to the trigger. Mine has a border. It seems to me this would be done, but others have suggested otherwise. So what "seems" to be the case and reality aren't necessarily one and the same.

delcrossv · Jan 30, 2019

SixgunStrumpet said:
Could be factory service dept.

Compare to my gun which is documented to have had this done at the factory:

That looks very similar! Do I have to contact SWHF separately? Or can I request a search along with my letter form? I can find no rework Mark under the grips.

Edit: Nuts.Seems Foundation docs only go back to 1920.

Kinman · Jan 30, 2019

SixgunStrumpet said:
Could be factory service dept.

Compare to my gun which is documented to have had this done at the factory:

That's beautiful, thanks for sharing...

Modified · Jan 30, 2019

delcrossv said:
That looks very similar! Do I have to contact SWHF separately? Or can I request a search along with my letter form? I can find no rework Mark under the grips.

Edit: Nuts.Seems Foundation docs only go back to 1920.

I'm pretty sleep deprived because of the new baby, so I might have missed it, but have you taken off the stocks to check for any service department marks?

There's nothing saying that your gun didn't go back to the service department sometime after 1920. There could be records.

By the way, I haven't said it yet, but WOW that gun is great. I'm pretty jealous, I have to admit. That's a heck of a gem.

Older Triplelock (Sock drawer gun?) Now with Letter

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