New Triple Lock- A Good, Bad Deal

Burnston · #1 09-01-2021, 05:45 PM

Generally I am not easily impressed. Easily satisfied, but not impressed. That said, I've always been impressed by the .44 Special, granted I am relatively young.

After following an auction house for several years, this last round produced one of the seven guns on my top seven list; a Smith and Wesson Triple Lock in .44 Special. The auction house placed its manufacture around 1913, though I've yet to verify this. For reasons that I cannot explain, my low-ball bid was uncontested. While I believe it rude to spend and tell, I will admit that the low three-figure offer was a longshot at best. So surprised was I at the win that I dug through couch cushions and boot tops to pay the bill.

I call it my good, bad deal pistol because while it was very cheap for what it is, the pistol has gone through an unfortunate home-grown re-bluing session, as indicated by the polish wheel marks on the barrel when viewed from a certain angle, and the very shallow S&W insignia on the side plate.

There is also some play in the cylinder, as indicated by the inconsistent cylinder gap.

This is not to say that I am at all displeased with the purchase. I tend to use my pistols extensively, for more than pleasure range work, and being in this condition, I will use (though not abuse) this one extensively with a clear conscience. I began with a reasonable, non-Skeeter/Keith dosage of unique with a 240gr coated LSWC.

Offhand at fifteen yards, the accuracy was enough to scare a target, though not enough to impress my wife. It remains to be seen whether this is user error or load incompatibility, though it is just as likely user as anything. Furthermore, I would sincerely appreciate any of you old hands who would like to recommend competent, yet appropriate loads for a pistol of this age and structural integrity. While I am not a hot-rodder, I have very little use for a "target only" pistol, and hope to find a load that is suited to both its age and its use in the deer woods.
At the risk of degrading a classic, I intend to replace the grips with the same service style but perhaps in Giraffe bone or stag, and find a good Tyler-T or equivalent adapter to make it more suited to my preferences.
As far as practical maintenance goes, I've already been in touch with a well reputed smith to see what he can do about the cylinder play, as well as give it a good going-over to ensure its integrity.

If anyone can shed any light on this pistol based on the accompanying photos, I would be very grateful. I am out of my league when it comes to guns of this age and quality, and therefore yield to those of you more suited to the task. There are no additional numbers on the frame under the grips, nor are there any markings inside the grips themselves.

- (5312)

Muley Gil · #2 09-01-2021, 06:15 PM

My 5" TL, that someone parkerized, is extremely accurate.

mrcvs · #3 09-01-2021, 07:27 PM

Well…

A few things. Yes, as you correctly stated, your Triple Lock revolver has been refinished. That’s why your low three figure bid was accepted. Because that’s what it’s worth…sort of. It depends on how low three figures your bid was. If really low, then you got a deal. If not so low, and adding in commissions and shipping, it’s mid 3 figures, then you have into it what irs worth. Because, where are you going to get an N frame revolver for under $500 these days, short of it being run over by a steamroller? Having said that, with the buffing marks and cylinder play, it might be a stretch to expect much over $500 for yours, as it sort of reaches a $500 value based on the assertion, highly subjective, as to where exactly will you find an N frame revolver for under $500 these days?

If I had to wager, I would guess your revolver with serial number 10295 shipped in 1915. Simply because, although Smith & Wesson didn’t ship sequentially, for some reason an awful lot in the 10,000 and 11,000 range seemed to have shipped then. I’m guessing that most of those prior to this range had already been shipped and the last batch(es) were forged in 1915, IIRC, and they would all have been approaching or over serial number 10,000 by then. If you want to know for sure, you can send for a factory letter, although that will cost you a fair percentage of what you have already invested in your Triple Lock revolver.

quinn · #4 09-01-2021, 07:41 PM

I don't think I've ever met a 'bad' Triple Lock. Congratulations on getting one of your top 7 at an affordable price.

bengal fan · #5 09-01-2021, 09:04 PM

I agree with Quinn, I’ve never seen a bad TL either, congratulations! You got a cool gun you can enjoy!

Baltimoreed11754 · #6 09-01-2021, 10:36 PM

Nice .44. Endshake washers would tighten up your cylinder movement. All my big ‘N’ frames are .45’s. A .455 TL is one of my grail guns.

hsguy · #7 09-01-2021, 11:08 PM

Nice gun! Even at a high 3 figure price it was a buy in my opinion. It is a T-Lock!

ddixie884 · #8 09-02-2021, 03:11 AM

How many folks do you know with a genuine Triple Lock 'shooter'? be careful when handloading for it as the cylinder is smaller in diameter and much softer steel than more recent .44spl S&Ws.......

series guy · #9 09-02-2021, 08:51 AM

Congratulations. You now own a Triple Lock that you can shoot and enjoy. Both of mine are shooters that are well past being restored to collectors condition. I enjoy taking them to the range and shooting them often as well as letting others shoot them to introduce them to the joys of 100 plus year old guns. Everyone that fires them is amazed at the quality as well as the accuracy. I judge a gun like this on its ability to carry out its intended purpose. Your gun scores 100%.

2152hq · #10 09-02-2021, 10:13 AM

The grips are a +/- $300 item in them selves if not cracked or beaten up.
For a shooter T/L it looks like a decent deal.

The end shake can be dealt with as already explained.
The refinish is what it is.
Use it as is or have a better finish done.
It won't improve the guns accuracy.

Easy on the loads, It's 110 ys old or so. Elmer liked to blow these up in his quest for more power.

Congrats on a great revolver.

tommy F · #11 09-02-2021, 10:25 AM

very nice enjoy

The Gila Bender · #12 09-02-2021, 11:56 AM

That's a great nickname for it, "Lowball TL".
I'd fix the mechanical issues to make sure it functions correctly, clean it up inside and out, maybe swap in a set of target stocks or grips for range shooting, and enjoy. My 1916-shipped beater/shooter TL is still pretty accurate despite the muzzle being worn thin after 100-some years of riding around New Mexico and Arizona in a gritty holster. This one was found in the local online classifieds in June 2016. It was badly crudded-up internally and needed timing and endshake adjustment. While not a collectible it was and is satisfying to restore this and other neglected S&W's to reliable working condition.

TL 13823 Right.jpg

teletech · #13 09-02-2021, 11:58 AM

I strain to think of how bad a TL would have to be for me to leave it on a table for under a grand. I think you did great on price for the condition.

It's still pretty early days for my reloading for my TL but so far:
I've found 4.8-5.5 of Titegroup behind a 174 truncated cone (from SNS, I think) to be about the best groups in a powderpuff load, coming in at 3" @ 25yds. Shoots pretty low, but I have adj sights so hard to know how you will fare.
For a full power (for a TL) load, I like 9.9of Blue Dot behind a 240.
Hits a lot harder and higher (9" @ 25yds), groups at 2" on a good day.
As always, work up slowly and YMMV.

murphydog · #14 09-02-2021, 01:24 PM

It’s a cool gun, and probably well worth what you paid if in good mechanical shape.

It has a decent refinish; the sideplate seam is thin and the overall color looks good. Another clue to this is the extra frame piece for the yoke lock was originally color case-hardened.

Enjoy!

SS336 · #15 09-02-2021, 06:35 PM

I like it a lot. For the price, especially today, a bargain. I’m very jealous. 🤢
Bet it will be a fun revolver to shoot and enjoy.

cgt4570 · #16 09-02-2021, 08:14 PM

I've seen much worse specimens sell for more on GB.
Congrats!
I also got what I think was a bargain on a 7.5" TL Target several years back. It hasn't been refinished, thankfully, but it doesn't have much original finish either. It was more than 3 figures, but not by much. I call these "Hail Mary" bids, mostly placed as place keepers. I forget all about them until on rare occasions the auction house emails me for my FFL. :-)

stansdds · #17 09-03-2021, 07:47 AM

Nice shooter! It's definitely a refinished piece, but it does not look to be a horribly refinished piece. End shake is easy to fix with some end shake washers. Unless the bore is corroded or oversized, it should actually be an accurate revolver. As stated above, this is not the 44 Special to use for hot 44 Special loads. It's a solid $300-$400 revolver, but adjusted for today's panicflation, $500 would be a good buy.

raljr1 · #18 09-03-2021, 10:11 PM

I want to know where you guys are buying triple locks for $500 in ANY condition??

Robert

Burnston · #19 09-03-2021, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raljr1

I want to know where you guys are buying triple locks for $500 in ANY condition??

Robert

That’s my thought. This is the first deal of this type I’ve ever experienced. I’m not one to say what a pistol is or isn’t worth, but I can safely say I’ve never seen a TL in any shooting shape go for less than $1k. Perhaps you and I have been shopping in the wrong shops.

raljr1 · #20 09-03-2021, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnston

That’s my thought. This is the first deal of this type I’ve ever experienced. I’m not one to say what a pistol is or isn’t worth, but I can safely say I’ve never seen a TL in any shooting shape go for less than $1k. Perhaps you and I have been shopping in the wrong shops.

I bought a decent "shooter grade" nickel one a few years back for $1000...thought I hit the lottery.. i do not get folks calling any TL a $500 gun unless they are cheating some old widow.

Robert

mrcvs · #21 09-03-2021, 10:44 PM

About 2 1/2 years ago, I bought this one at auction and the cost of it plus commissions was a bit under a grand.

StrawHat · #22 09-04-2021, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raljr1

I want to know where you guys are buying triple locks for $500 in ANY condition??

Robert

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnston

That’s my thought. This is the first deal of this type I’ve ever experienced. I’m not one to say what a pistol is or isn’t worth, but I can safely say I’ve never seen a TL in any shooting shape go for less than $1k. Perhaps you and I have been shopping in the wrong shops.

Here is one I got in May, $500.00. A few warts but it shoots.

Kevin

Baltimoreed11754 · #23 09-04-2021, 10:16 AM

Kevin, nice revolver. Your aftermarket grips look like ones that I bought for my big Smith. Not TL’s. [one on right] I removed the faux silver medallions from them and installed old S&W brass medallions. Thinking that I bought a forstner bit to recut the inlet. I do need to age them a little.

Eddie Southgate · #24 09-04-2021, 02:24 PM

Congratulations .