Does anyone know, or wish to guess, of out of the 15,376 original Triple Locks produced, how many exist today. It just seems like, to me, for a relatively low production gun, a fair number surface on the internet, either in dialogues or for sale. It could be, due to its unparalleled popularity, they are more often bragged about or searched out than a less popular firearm of similar production of the same era (1908 - 1915).
.44 Hand Ejector First Model (Triple Lock) question
- Thread starter mrcvs
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
There are at least 109 of them. Larry G. has (at least) 108----and I have 1. Although, now that I think about it, David Carroll has another handful or so for sale----or did have last time I looked.
Ralph Tremaine
Ralph Tremaine
ME! ME! I got one. ...But, in .455 converted to .45 Colt.
bmg60
Member
Hi
You can add my 21 to the list.
Jim Fisher
Triple locks
In collection
1. 3 7 ½ inch Targets
2. 2 5 inch Targets
3. 1 4 inch target
4. 2 6 ½ inch targets
5. 1 Silver plated 6 ½
6. 1 Nickel 6 ½
7. 1 5 inch Nickel
8. 1 45 colt 6 ½ blue
9. 2 6 ½ blue 455,s
10. 2 6 ½ blue 44,
11. 1 4 inch blue 44/40
12. 1 4 inch nickel 44
13 2 6 ½ blue 44
14 1 6 ½ king 44/40
You can add my 21 to the list.
Jim Fisher
Triple locks
In collection
1. 3 7 ½ inch Targets
2. 2 5 inch Targets
3. 1 4 inch target
4. 2 6 ½ inch targets
5. 1 Silver plated 6 ½
6. 1 Nickel 6 ½
7. 1 5 inch Nickel
8. 1 45 colt 6 ½ blue
9. 2 6 ½ blue 455,s
10. 2 6 ½ blue 44,
11. 1 4 inch blue 44/40
12. 1 4 inch nickel 44
13 2 6 ½ blue 44
14 1 6 ½ king 44/40
Last edited:
I have 3. Only one of them has any original finish. 15000 may seem a small number but there were other models in the Century series and the first model did not sell out at the time. Any one that really wants one can buy a TL. Be prepared to accept some condition issues though. Guns get hard to find when only 300 were made would be my guess. I like shooting mine.
Dennis,-------------"Guns get hard to find when only 300 were made-------------."
You lost me! Only 300 of what were made?
Ralph Tremaine
You lost me! Only 300 of what were made?
Ralph Tremaine
Last edited:
05CarbonDRZ
Member
I have two,A .455 converted to .45 Colt and a .44spl both 6 1/2".
Scuttlebutt
Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2012
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 1
I have (1) 44 special, nickel, 4" barrel #100xx. with mother of pearl handles. Was thinking about selling it, but still shooting it.
I think he's just saying that when a gun of any type/brand was made in numbers of 300 or less, that's when they become hard to find.
I believe he means that if 300 (or less) of any prticular firearm were made, it is difficult to find one or more of them, no matter what the firearm is. Just a guess...
Scuttlebutt
Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2012
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 1
I have one, 4" nickel with mother of pearl handles, # 100XX. Was thinking about selling, but still shooting it. Not sure if posting right.
I have one also. It is a 5" and it has been parkerized. Paid too much for it, but boy howdy, it is a real shooter!
rburg
Member
Someone needs to debunk these ugly rumors. First the one about how many were made, then others discussing their .45 Colt caliber guns that were rechambered, redrilled, whatever. One of the problems seems to be our willingness to accept the published numbers. So we've all read the number 15,375 or whatever. Except they made 2 of each serial number between 1 and 5000. The first ones were legitimate New Century Triple Locks. The 2nd 5000 were made for the Brits, or Remington Arms their stateside contact. And then we seem to have ignored the minor number or club guns, government test models, etc. If you read this forum you'll even see some of them in pictures.
And then the issue comes up about the production dates. I really don't understand that stuff, particularly with S&Ws. We can kind of guess they were making them about 1905 or 6 and we do know that the factory didn't produce or ship them in numeric order. As you start lettering them some seem to come up later, like after WWI when they finally escaped.
I've owned a few over the years, and I've still got a 4" Nickel gun. Its nice. And its less than perfect so it was cheap to buy. And I've even carried it concealed a few times. Its a worthy gun.
And then the issue comes up about the production dates. I really don't understand that stuff, particularly with S&Ws. We can kind of guess they were making them about 1905 or 6 and we do know that the factory didn't produce or ship them in numeric order. As you start lettering them some seem to come up later, like after WWI when they finally escaped.
I've owned a few over the years, and I've still got a 4" Nickel gun. Its nice. And its less than perfect so it was cheap to buy. And I've even carried it concealed a few times. Its a worthy gun.
Grayfox
US Veteran
I have one. A 5" .44 Special. Not much finish left, but still a great shooter. 
Triplelock
I am lucky to have found 4, all in .44 S&W Special caliber, 2 are 6 1/2" ( 1 nickel and 1 brown) and 2 in 4" with both lettering as nickel guns. Three of the 4 are refinished and one had to be restored mechanically by David Chicone, Jr. All are excellent shooters. Here are a few photos.
I am lucky to have found 4, all in .44 S&W Special caliber, 2 are 6 1/2" ( 1 nickel and 1 brown) and 2 in 4" with both lettering as nickel guns. Three of the 4 are refinished and one had to be restored mechanically by David Chicone, Jr. All are excellent shooters. Here are a few photos.
Green Frog
Member
Delta-419, no matter how I count them, I come out to 3 guns pictured, not 4. Does that mean the other one is taking the pictures? 
Seeing this thread doesn't make me feel any better, though. At least 15,000 of them built and I still can't find/afford one!
You'd think Life would be more fair to a sensitive, hardworking amphibian like myself.
If anybody has an old 44 TL Target laying around doing nothing (barrel length and finish not a consideration) just drop me a line and I'll hop right over to be your new best friend.
Froggie
Seeing this thread doesn't make me feel any better, though. At least 15,000 of them built and I still can't find/afford one!
You'd think Life would be more fair to a sensitive, hardworking amphibian like myself.If anybody has an old 44 TL Target laying around doing nothing (barrel length and finish not a consideration) just drop me a line and I'll hop right over to be your new best friend.
Froggie
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2007
- Messages
- 27,669
- Reaction score
- 21,360
To answer the original question, short of a coordinated effort and lots of collector cooperation, any guess as to a survival rate is not possible objectively. Even with this it is possible that a large percentage (80%?) of existing examples would not be recorded.
44 special Dave
Member
to bmg60
Jim,
I seem to remember seeing a picture of a triple lock in 7 1/2" target in 44/40 with the original holster.
I may be getting senile but I thought you posted the pic?
To comment on Op's question. It probably seems like there are more that just a few dozen out there because this is a collector's forum. We're more likely to 95% of the whatever % have survived.
Dave
Jim,
I seem to remember seeing a picture of a triple lock in 7 1/2" target in 44/40 with the original holster.
I may be getting senile but I thought you posted the pic?
To comment on Op's question. It probably seems like there are more that just a few dozen out there because this is a collector's forum. We're more likely to 95% of the whatever % have survived.
Dave
Similar threads
