Recent auction sale of a nickel Triple Lock revolver with a 4” barrel

mrcvs · Dec 17, 2021

Sold earlier today at $1600, with buyer’s premium, $1920.

Only about 100 nickel Triple Lock revolvers with a 4” barrel were ever manufactured, but this one would have been refinished after the custom/amateur engraving, which hurts it. I was unwilling to bid that high, given its problems, but I suppose if you really wanted an example such as this one to have a Triple Lock revolver in nickel with a 4” barrel, this one could suffice.

Lot Detail - (C) SMITH & WESSON TRIPLE LOCK HAND EJECTOR ENGRAVED REVOLVER.

series guy · Dec 17, 2021

I think that went way cheap. You don’t have to look too far into the future to see the stocks being worth the purchase price. Unless you are buying solely for investment purposes getting to experience the pleasure of shooting a 100+ year old Triple Lock instead of some plastic fantastic is well worth the price.

tt66 · Dec 17, 2021

4" Nickel Triple Lock

This is mine, I have shown it here before, but I love showing it off.

It letters as a 4" nickel shipped to Ky , I don't have the letter in front of me but I believed it shipped in 1912.

It has been refinished at least once and as you can see, it was carried a lot. The story that I got was it belonged to a Deputy Sherriff from the Florida panhandle. I have never seen a set of grips with so much wear that still look so good. Would love to hear the stories of all that it has been thru.

Tim

mrcvs · Dec 17, 2021

My limit on it was $1500 and, of course, it hammered at $1600. A $1700 bid would have pushed this one over 2 grand, with buyer’s premium.

LLOYD17 · Dec 17, 2021

Did you ask if the barrel number matches the frame?

Only a letter would confirm original as mine was sent back to have the 6.5” barrel swapped for a correctly numbered 4” barrel.

handejector · Dec 17, 2021

I'm not sure that gun is a total refinish. That type of punch engraving was usually done through the nickel. W&K guns were done through the nickel.
I realize that the hammer, trigger, and yoke cam are plated, but they look like chrome beside the slightly yellow tint of the nickel. Perhaps they rusted and were chromed, or maybe Bubba just wanted his whole gun to look 'silver'.

mrcvs · Dec 17, 2021

handejector said:
I'm not sure that gun is a total refinish. That type of punch engraving was usually done through the nickel. W&K guns were done through the nickel.
I realize that the hammer, trigger, and yoke cam are plated, but they look like chrome beside the slightly yellow tint of the nickel. Perhaps they rusted and were chromed, or maybe Bubba just wanted his whole gun to look 'silver'.

That’s interesting you say that as the edges are crisp, the pins aren’t flush, the barrel address is mostly prominent, the S & W logo is mostly so, as well.

But I reasoned it had to be refinished as I wasn’t aware that this could be done through the nickel.

I really didn’t know how high to go, as it is a rare configuration, but the engraving does hurt it as it is only somewhat amusing but mostly unsightly. I reasoned anything over 2k including buyers premium was pushing the upper limit.

mrcvs · Dec 17, 2021

Also, here’s the one I have already—not exactly a beauty queen either!

wordsmith · Dec 17, 2021

The gun was a stone-cold bargain, Ian, whether now---or in many years past or long years into the future. All it needs is a proper cleaning and a nice pair of pearl or ivory grips. I know how to clean it and have several pairs of grips to choose from. Wolf & Klar style engraving on a 4" nickel Triple Lock, what a perfect 'western look' revolver. I'd've paid a lot more than I did.....

David

mrcvs · Dec 17, 2021

wordsmith said:
I'd've paid a lot more than I did.....

Congratulations! It sounds like you bought it then!

I haven’t bought anything like this before so I had a tough time coming up with what’s a decent price on it. Over 2k was my limit without knowing for sure. It might very well be worth twice that, or more…

mrcvs · Dec 18, 2021

Now that I look at this revolver even more…

I enlarged photographs on my computer. Clearly NOT refurnished. Even the custom engraving shows breaks in the finish, as it would be expected. Prior to enlarging these photographs, I assumed in order for the custom engraving to look as it does, it couldn’t be anything other than refinished.

So, my conclusion is that this was an outstanding buy IF you don’t mind the custom engraving.

I missed some key points and created red flags that never existed.

I think a set of pearl stocks, a flashy tooled holster and belt, and a box of ammunition dating from the 1930’s to 1950’s, when this engraving was likely done, would make for a great display. And you still have a revolver that you can shoot.

I wish I felt this way 24 hrs ago prior to the auction instead of rigidly setting my upper limit at $1500.

But, at least a member of this forum seems to have gotten it and at least I just didn’t run up his bid. &#55357;&#56832;

nicfarion · Dec 18, 2021

Under the grips there appears to be rust and where the barrel connects to the frame some corrosion too. This still a good buy? I feel like I’d want to see under the grips and corrosion a little more.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

2152hq · Dec 18, 2021

I have a feeling it's Nickel over Nickel as far as plating goes.
(Though a few spots look more like chrome,,white instead of the mellow color of nickel. )

Orig nickel, then wriggle cut engraved,,then at some point touched up with another flash plating of nickel.

The last pic of the closeup of the bbl..
click on it then enlarge it by clicking on it again.
Look especially at the last line ,,the pat dates.
There is a lot of fine pitting underneath nickel plating.
That particular plating I think was the second plateing.

Then look below that line and you can see an edge where the orig plating peeled off. The orig nickel plate was generously thick as to be expected. Pealing leaves an edge if not further buffed down and smoothed out.

The bare steel that the orig nickel peeled off of is lightly pitted & now Nickel plated once more,,,that again is what I believe to be that second touch up plating the gun received.

Also the Wriggle cut engraving if done into the orig engraving would have cut right through the orig nickel plate and left the cuts 'in the white'
Prime surface for rust and in the least discoloration., and there is some corrosion on other points on the gun.

Also the Wriggle cuts leave a very deffinate 'feel' on the surface. Sharp burrs from the stab & pick up cut that the flat graver does as it's walked along.
These aren't polished off if done 'through the Blue or Plating' as you would scratch the finish obviously.

The wriggle cuts do look as though they are nickel plated over IMO.

Just what I see,,doesn't mean a lot. It's just pics I'm looking at.

Neat gun,,who doesn't love a TL..

quinn · Dec 18, 2021

I think David found the proverbial acorn. If a letter shows that one shipped in nickel to Wolf & Klar it would be easily worth triple what he paid for it in my humble opinion. I found my blue 4" TL on Morphy auctions so I haven't been watching lately. (Which may have saved David a few bucks)

mrcvs · Dec 18, 2021

quinn said:
I think David found the proverbial acorn. If a letter shows that one shipped in nickel to Wolf & Klar it would be easily worth triple what he paid for it in my humble opinion. I found my blue 4" TL on Morphy auctions so I haven't been watching lately.

Wordsmith,

Will you get a letter on this one and post once received?

I thank you in advance if you elect to do this.

wordsmith · Dec 20, 2021

I won't send for a letter, Ian, the future owner can have the joy of doing that. We'll clean the gun up, have the hammer & trigger re-case colored by Turnbull's and add proper grips. Hopefully, depending on how quickly it arrives here, we'll have the parts back from Doug's in time to take it to the Las Vegas show next month -- just have'ta wait and see what happens.

DC

mrcvs said:
Wordsmith,

Will you get a letter on this one and post once received?

I thank you in advance if you elect to do this.

mrcvs · Dec 22, 2021

I had the opportunity to look at this revolver this morning.

It is, without a shadow of doubt, not buffed, and doesn’t appear to be refinished, either, except the hammer and trigger are nickel plated or chromed, and not case coloured. Had I had it in hand prior to the auction, I would have gone higher.

I congratulate you, wordsmith, you have a great eye!

Flygas · Dec 22, 2021

mrcvs said:
I congratulate you, wordsmith, you have a great eye!

It’s almost like he knows a little bit about Smith and Wessons!

Wiregrassguy · Dec 22, 2021

Flygas said:
It’s almost like he knows a little bit about Smith and Wessons!

Naaaaah!

Recent auction sale of a nickel Triple Lock revolver with a 4” barrel

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