44Spl Triple Lock Spotted: Have SN#, need advice

[Oregon45]

I've spotted a 44spl Triple Lock for sale at the local store; it has the original non-magna diamond grips in rough condition, is missing all of its original finish, has slight pitting on the side opposite the medallion and was converted to adjustable sights. The sights look to be Kings sights, and consist of a tall blade fitted to the base with two pins and a brass insert on top, the rear is a piece of bar stock with two screws, the rear blade is adjustable for windage but the adjustments have no spring.

The action is not tight, but not loose either, the forcing cone has a nick on one side, timing is good and surface rust is apparent but not serious. Nothing some 0000 steel wool wouldn't fix. The crown is not gouged but is smooth, rifling appears sharp. Barrel to cylinder gap didn't look too wide, but I didn't have my gauges with me.

Sn is 369x
Number stamped on the butt is: 856
Grips are numbered to the gun.

Asking price is $750, but it is a consignment gun so the price is negotiable. What would be a fair cost?

 

[Oregon45]

I've spotted a 44spl Triple Lock for sale at the local store; it has the original non-magna diamond grips in rough condition, is missing all of its original finish, has slight pitting on the side opposite the medallion and was converted to adjustable sights. The sights look to be Kings sights, and consist of a tall blade fitted to the base with two pins and a brass insert on top, the rear is a piece of bar stock with two screws, the rear blade is adjustable for windage but the adjustments have no spring.

The action is not tight, but not loose either, the forcing cone has a nick on one side, timing is good and surface rust is apparent but not serious. Nothing some 0000 steel wool wouldn't fix. The crown is not gouged but is smooth, rifling appears sharp. Barrel to cylinder gap didn't look too wide, but I didn't have my gauges with me.

Sn is 369x
Number stamped on the butt is: 856
Grips are numbered to the gun.

Asking price is $750, but it is a consignment gun so the price is negotiable. What would be a fair cost?

 

[moosedog]

It would cost a small fortune to bring it back to near original configuration, and the way you describe it, I would question it as a shooter.
I would offer very low and hope the factory letter shows it went to Elmer Keith.

 

[Bat Guano]

What you have is, at best, a project gun. I know, because in addition to having a nice TL I paid too much for one as described by one of our finer auction houses that happens to be located in Rock Island IL. It is currently undergoing a restoration attempt by a good friend of mine as a labor of love, not for any financially sound reasons.

If I were you I would try to explain why this gun would not have any appeal to most TL admirers, and see if you can get that price down to about $325. I suspect that whoever brought it in got a lot less than that anyway.

You might want to do some pen and pencil work to determine what it would take to make it a decent piece again and factor that in. I suspect you would be ahead to pass on it and watch for a better one for that kind of money in the end.

 

[Oregon45]

The sights are not marked Kings, they look like a set of Kings target sights I have on one of my Colt New Services from the same period.

The 36xx number is stamped inside the crane, and on the cylinder in the same position as a modern serial number.

I am leaning more toward passing on this gun, as much as I like Triple Locks, I don't want a project. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[rburg]

Wait a minute here. If its stamped on the rear of the cylinder too, maybe we've got a mixed number gun. If thats the case, I don't know how to evaluate it.

Triple Locks are a holy grail gun. They only made about 20,000 of them, give or take. The problem is that most collectors aren't going to be happy with one showing significant modifications. The posters description makes me think that using it as a shooter might be iffy, too.

There, that was my Mike Priwer act!

He'll be along soon to agree.

 

[Art Doc]

IMO $250-$300 TOPS as a shooter. Again, IMO, $750 is insane.

Zero collector value at this point as it's badly neglected and damaged and hopelessly butchered.

Your money and your decision. But were it I in the shop you would feel the cold breeze as I PASSED.

 

[Oregon45]

Even if it were wholly original I wouldn't pay 750 for it in the condition it is in. I'm going to pass.

 

[CJ]

Is that Triplelock in Grants Pass? Sure sounds like it.

If so, I've seen it. It was so rough looking that I didn't even bother to ask about it. I'd pass on it for anything more than maybe $250 max. I wouldn't even consider it for a shooter. It's that bad.

 

[Oregon45]

This one was outside of Portland

 

[mikepriwer]

Dick

I agree.

O45

Is that the shop thats in that area about 5-10 miles east of Portland
on 30, where there is a bridge that crosses the railroad tracks ?

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[Oregon45]

No, this one is at a small store in a small town thirty miles south of Portland.

 

[PZ93C]

If it speaks to you, make an offer.

If it doesn't, walk.

 

[j38]

I believe I saw this gun in a shop in Molalla. The "nick" referred to looks like a cut and appears to goe all the way through the side of the forcing cone. The price was considerably higher when I saw it about 10 days ago. It would truly be a project gun if one bought it. Regards, Jerry