Can you help me identify?

Doubledown1233 · Jul 8, 2020

Hi - any help would be great! new to this forum, but I think I came to the right place!

-no model number, or visible ctg stamp on barrel

-hand ejector
-no S on butt, just 98XX
-6" barrel
-fixed sights
-3 side screws, 1 in trigger guard

sorry if the pic is upside down. can't figure out
any help would be great! Thank you for your time!

WCCPHD · Jul 8, 2020

That appears to be a .44 First Model, AKA Triple Lock (although it came in some other calibers). It is wearing a much later set of pre-war Magna grips. While not original, they are extremely coveted and quite valuable.

Very soon the experts will be along to give you a better assessment.

handejector · Jul 8, 2020

You have a 44- 1st Model, aka the Triple Lock.
The barrel is almost certainly 6-1/2" if you measure from muzzle to cylinder.
There are 4 screws on the sideplate. One is under the grips.
The gun is from right around WW I. Let's guess 1912 to 1916. Only a letter will tell you for sure.
The grips are not original and date to the late 1930s.
It is a desirable and valuable gun.

daddio202 · Jul 8, 2020

Do you know what caliber the gun is?. I am leaning towards it being a pre ww2 heavy duty in 38 special. The barrel may be a replacement as it should have a ctg stamped on it. Those grips are fairly nice and desirable worth a pretty penny just by themselves. Looks like somebody has put a stationary block in the rear sight area. A picture of top of gun and of side of gun with cylinder out to see in ejector shroud area too. More pics please. After looking at pics again.....?.?
Oops I missed the third lock. Nice triple lock in 44spcl!!!

Doubledown1233 · Jul 8, 2020

Thanks for all the help!

No caliber or ctg markings anywhere. Barrel is smooth on both sides. Top of barrel has markings and proofs. Attaching more pics now.

Old_Cop · Jul 8, 2020

I think that my leg is being pulled ever so gently.

handejector · Jul 8, 2020

Thinking a little more-
Your gun MAY be a .455.
In WW I, S&W converted over 800 .44-1st Models to .455 to supply the Brits with desperately needed guns. This may be one of them. The serial numbers of those guns ARE known, so if you care to share the full serial number, we can check to see.

ALSO- post a pic of the chambers seen from the rear of the cylinder. If it is a good pic, it is easy to ID .455 chambers.

Jim Watson · Jul 8, 2020

Agree, a "Triple Lock."

It has one of those dovetailed fixed sights that turn up every now and then. I have not heard of the factory doing that, maybe the gunsmith also provided the Magna grips.

Caliber probably 44 Special, but I would be poking some different cartridges at the cylinder to see if something else chambered.

Doubledown1233 · Jul 8, 2020

Thank you everyone- I really appreciate all the help. I loved this gun before knowing what it was, but obviously things are getting interesting?

Here are some more pics.

rocknroad · Jul 8, 2020

Doubledown1233 said:
Thank you everyone- I really appreciate all the help. I loved this gun before knowing what it was, but obviously things are getting interesting?

Wow, another "what do I have here?" gem.

This is one of the things I love about this forum. Someone comes here not knowing what they have and, boom, they find out they're sitting on a treasure.

Very cool gun. I would love those pre-war magnas on my 38-44. My originals disappeared decades ago.

Wow.

daddio202 · Jul 8, 2020

Looks like a .455 that was converted to 45 long Colt by recessing the Chambers. One of the best way to convert one, a 455 Webley and 45 LC should chamber and be able to shoot. Some value lost but should be an accurate and long lasting shooter!

JSR III · Jul 8, 2020

Just a little tip when counting screws. In most cases if there is a trigger guard screw and an upper side plate screw then it is a 5 screw. The upper side plate screw and the trigger guard screw were the first to go.

hibbs · Jul 8, 2020

I also have a triple lock that came without caliber or S&W markings on sides of the barrel. The top of the barrel has the same markings as your gun. Had a hell of a time determining the caliber as there were two steps in the cylinders. Turns out a 44-40 cartidge fit perfectly. Luck was on my side.

Richard

StrawHat · Jul 8, 2020

I flipped your photos for you.

Kevin

handejector · Jul 8, 2020

Doubledown1233 said:
Thank you everyone- I really appreciate all the help. I loved this gun before knowing what it was, but obviously things are getting interesting?

Here are some more pics.

9860 is not on the list of converted 44-1st Models, but 9857 is. Your gun was obviously one of the 44s converted to .455, and as another said, it has been reamed to 45 Long Colt. It is a pretty decent job.
The list of converted 44s is not all inclusive. I remember one or two other converted 44s turning up in recent years that were not on the list.

It would be worth spending the money for a letter. I don't see any Brit proofs, so it likely shipped somewhere else, which is odd since they were rushing to get guns to the Brits.
An interesting gun.
It would be nice to see closeups of the rear sight.

Doubledown1233 · Jul 8, 2020

Here are pics of the rear sight.

DWalt · Jul 8, 2020

Looks for all the world like a .455 TL converted to .45 Colt. As a shooter, that's not necessarily a bad thing as .45 Colt ammo is much more readily available than .455. The SN gives it a probable ldating of 1915-16. While the grips are not period original (probably from the late 1930s), they are still very desirable.

Muley Gil · Jul 9, 2020

Can you post a side view of the rear sight also?

Doubledown1233 · Jul 9, 2020

Here you go

Muley Gil · Jul 9, 2020

That's a neat-o Triple Lock!

Can you help me identify?

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