I just acquired a Triple Lock, Serial Number 14104 which I believe to be factory target pistol. I have several questions. The rear sight is machined into the top strap and has the pistol's serial number stamp (tiny letters) on it (inside) The grips are checkered with gold medallions. The left one has the serial number written in pencil. The pistol has the star on the butt by the serial number meaning a factory return. The date 3.20 is stamped on the left side of the grip strap. The number 32 also on the inside of the left grip strap. Nothing is stamped on the inside of the right grip strap.
Questions - the front sight blade is marked King on the left side. Did the factory ever install these or is it aftermarket? The barrel, and cylinder are serial numbered to the frame. The S&W address is on the top of the barrel, but there is no S&W logo on either side plate. Is this correct for this time period?

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Joseph L. Lyon

I just acquired a Triple Lock, Serial Number 14104 which I believe to be factory target pistol. I have several questions. The rear sight is machined into the top strap and has the pistol's serial number stamp (tiny letters) on it (inside) The grips are checkered with gold medallions. The left one has the serial number written in pencil. The pistol has the star on the butt by the serial number meaning a factory return. The date 3.20 is stamped on the left side of the grip strap. The number 32 also on the inside of the left grip strap. Nothing is stamped on the inside of the right grip strap.
Questions - the front sight blade is marked King on the left side. Did the factory ever install these or is it aftermarket? The barrel, and cylinder are serial numbered to the frame. The S&W address is on the top of the barrel, but there is no S&W logo on either side plate. Is this correct for this time period?

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Joseph L. Lyon

You should send for a letter, to confirm the original shipping configuration.

The gun is years too early to have been shipped with a King front sight blade.
In later years, the factory would install King blades if the gun was ordered that way.

I would have expected the side-plate to have a large logo. I suppose its possible
that it was shipped without it, but it seems more likely that the sideplate was
replaced, for one reason or another, perhaps when it went back on 3/20 . My two
TL's have the large logo on the sideplate.

If you do request a letter on the gun, don't be too surprised if it letters as
an M&P, and not target sights. It would be possible that, if it was originally
an M&P, the factory could have added the target sights on 3/20, or perhaps even
later. They might well have numbered the sight leaf to the frame at that time.

The combination of the King front sight blade, the lack of a logo, the 3.20 stamp
on the grip straps and the * on the butt make me a bit suspicious about the gun.

Later, Mike Priwer

"If you do request a letter on the gun, don't be too surprised if it letters as
an M&P, and not target sights. It would be possible that, if it was originally
an M&P, the factory could have added the target sights on 3/20, or perhaps even
later. They might well have numbered the sight leaf to the frame at that time."

If this is a triple-lock there should be no way that it could have been a M&P at one time. What caliber is it?

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OFT/NRA LIFE MEMBER

The pistol's caliber is 44 Special, and it is a Triple Lock. It certainly is an N frame so I'm a bit surprised that it might letter as an M&P.

I sent off the request for a letter this afternoon, so now the wait begins.

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Joseph L. Lyon

By using the term "M&P", Mike merely meant the gun might letter with "FIXED" sights. We "old dudes" often say "M&P" when describing fixed sighted guns. The 44 N frames were called the "44 Military" in later catalogs. The 38 K frames were called the "38 Military" in the earlier catalogs- NOT "M&P".
Having been around collectors since the 60's, I know for a fact that fixed sight guns have always been referred to as "M&P" when talking about fixed sights. Merely an accepted colloquialism, even if not technically correct.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Us youngsters also say "M&P" when referring to fixed sights !

Later, Mike Priwer