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
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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
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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
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05CarbonDRZ
Member
I have two,A .455 converted to .45 Colt and a .44spl both 6 1/2".
Scuttlebutt
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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
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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
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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
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
One here. This was sent back to the factory in 1949 and again in 1950. Target sights were added then. It was my most accurate .44 special when I tried about 4 of them off the bench
I would be interested in the cylinder throat size of the triple locks. It is supposed to be a very accurate revolver, and throat size has an affect on accuracy. Later .44 Smiths seem to have a throat size around .432. So I am wondering if that was the standard back then too.
Interesting question. I went and checked mine just now. My TL throats check in at .4315". (edited to correct number. I don't know what happened when I posted, but it wasn't correct. It is now)
All my other N frames in 44 are from before the endurance upgrades at which time the throats were tightened from .432" to .430" in 44 caliber S&W's. The original throat size of.432" which was std from the start of the 44 magnums matched the original Remington (and later Winchester) lead factory bullets, but are a couple thousandths too large to give the very best accuracy with later ('60's and later) jacketed bullets which were designed to match groove diameter of the barrel, and most lead bullets made since that time frame as well. Most guns with .432" throats will shoot very well with lead and even a lot of jacketed, but those made with .430" throats are really good shooters as a rule.
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My triple lock guages at .432" in each chamber.
bmg60
Member
Dave
You are correct I have 3 7 1/2 Targets
1 blued 44Special
1 Nickel 44 special with a Extra Cyl in 44 Russian shipped in 1906 as a protype
1 Blued in 44/40 shipped in 1910 to seattle.
Jim
Most of my triple locks were purchased before every body started looking for them. I bought my first one in 1975.
Heres the story on the 44/40 7 1/2
Century Old Triple Lock Target 7 1/2 in 44-40 Cal.
Two years ago a fellow member of the SWCA perused my display at a Washington Arms Collector show in Puyallup, and took note of my interest in rare variations in S&W revolvers. Sometime later, an elderly gentleman approached him about selling an heirloom revolver. After meeting the gentleman and inspecting his revolver, he contacted me about adding it to my collection.
The revolver is an original parts matching Triple Lock Target in .44-40 Winchester with 7 ½" barrel. The package included a period correct shoulder holster and a box of ammunition. It was ordered by the 83 year old gentleman's father, and shipped on February 28, 1910 to a hardware store in western Washington—one hundred years ago today. It has been in the family until now.
His father was an avid hunter, and after taking delivery, carried the revolver throughout a lifetime of adventures, including taking mountain lions. He wanted a handgun in the same chambering as the rifle he used while hunting, something more powerful than a .44 Special loading.
The revolver shows carry wear, and is definitely not a safe queen, but it is one of the rarest S&W revolvers ever made. In my long experience as a collector, this is the first revolver of this type and caliber that I've seen. I am very happy I was able to acquire it. I have other .44-40s-- Triple Locks and 2nd models, but this one stands alone.
I f anyone has factory documented information on similar guns that I can provide when I display it, please let me know.
Enjoy the information and the picture, this could be the only 7 1/2 Target made in this Caliber.
Jim Fisher
Heres the picture of the gun.
You are correct I have 3 7 1/2 Targets
1 blued 44Special
1 Nickel 44 special with a Extra Cyl in 44 Russian shipped in 1906 as a protype
1 Blued in 44/40 shipped in 1910 to seattle.
Jim
Most of my triple locks were purchased before every body started looking for them. I bought my first one in 1975.
Heres the story on the 44/40 7 1/2
Century Old Triple Lock Target 7 1/2 in 44-40 Cal.
Two years ago a fellow member of the SWCA perused my display at a Washington Arms Collector show in Puyallup, and took note of my interest in rare variations in S&W revolvers. Sometime later, an elderly gentleman approached him about selling an heirloom revolver. After meeting the gentleman and inspecting his revolver, he contacted me about adding it to my collection.
The revolver is an original parts matching Triple Lock Target in .44-40 Winchester with 7 ½" barrel. The package included a period correct shoulder holster and a box of ammunition. It was ordered by the 83 year old gentleman's father, and shipped on February 28, 1910 to a hardware store in western Washington—one hundred years ago today. It has been in the family until now.
His father was an avid hunter, and after taking delivery, carried the revolver throughout a lifetime of adventures, including taking mountain lions. He wanted a handgun in the same chambering as the rifle he used while hunting, something more powerful than a .44 Special loading.
The revolver shows carry wear, and is definitely not a safe queen, but it is one of the rarest S&W revolvers ever made. In my long experience as a collector, this is the first revolver of this type and caliber that I've seen. I am very happy I was able to acquire it. I have other .44-40s-- Triple Locks and 2nd models, but this one stands alone.
I f anyone has factory documented information on similar guns that I can provide when I display it, please let me know.
Enjoy the information and the picture, this could be the only 7 1/2 Target made in this Caliber.
Jim Fisher
Heres the picture of the gun.
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ElToro
Member
I picked this one up a couple years back in 44. Somebody cut it down a long time ago and was nice enough to add pre war magnas and re shape the sight. It's surprisingly accurate for what it is.
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I was fortunates to acquire this 6 1/2" .44 Special Target a few years ago. It is still the most $ I have ever paid for a S&W although I've sold one for more money.
Of course, I have no regret. It is a fine shooting revolver but the sight combination is difficult for my eyes to see and I'm not about to rework the sights. This is a three digit special order with butt swivel removed for shooting with the Sanderson grips.
Seems to me, the problem is not so much finding a triple lock as it is finding a good one.
Of course, I have no regret. It is a fine shooting revolver but the sight combination is difficult for my eyes to see and I'm not about to rework the sights. This is a three digit special order with butt swivel removed for shooting with the Sanderson grips.
Seems to me, the problem is not so much finding a triple lock as it is finding a good one.
44 special Dave
Member
Thanks for the picture and the background of the gun.
When I first saw the picture I thought: "bet that's the only one ever in that configuration"
Heck they probably made more triple locks in 45 special (aka 45 frankford)
I know some of those were "club" guns. And I do believe it is frankford not Frankfort.
Thanks again
Dave
When I first saw the picture I thought: "bet that's the only one ever in that configuration"
Heck they probably made more triple locks in 45 special (aka 45 frankford)
I know some of those were "club" guns. And I do believe it is frankford not Frankfort.
Thanks again
Dave
I also have a 4" nickel TL. Good shooter with Trail Boss and 240 gr. LSWCFPs. They are not as rare as a LH 24-3 3" Combat if there are plus or minus 15,000 of them.
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