.455 British Svc Revolver Research Thread

[Thinnes]

I’ve got.455 Mark II TL. SN 3777. Barrel has patent dates and 3 BV bombs. Stamped Not English made. Numbers matching save for grips. Likely refinish. Each cylinder recess stamped with bombs. Crossed flags, crossed sticks, maybe a bird stamp. Neat gun
Also a 44 TL sn 11423. Numbers match. Came with old ivory grips. Original nickel finish. Pls add. Thanks for doing this. Dave

 

[BC38]

I’ve got.455 Mark II TL. SN 3777. Barrel has patent dates and 3 BV bombs. Stamped Not English made. Numbers matching save for grips. Likely refinish. Each cylinder recess stamped with bombs. Crossed flags, crossed sticks, maybe a bird stamp. Neat gun
Also a 44 TL sn 11423. Numbers match. Came with old ivory grips. Original nickel finish. Pls add. Thanks for doing this. Dave

Got any pictures? We LIKE pictures....

 

[mrcvs]

From this thread, serial number 2231, no markings on the barrel.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...03270-triple-lock-455-eley.html#post141760416

 

[Hondo44]

Thank you. 2231 from somewhere in Europe is a type 2 Triple Lock. I’ll add to the list in post #1.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Thank you. 2231 from somewhere in Europe is a type 2 Triple Lock. I’ll add to the list in post #1.

Italy, city of Rimini
Another one in northern Italy, cal 455 Eley serial number 3270 picture attached
Later i'll report the markings on the barrel

 

[Hondo44]

Marcello,

#3270 - Another Type 2 Triple Lock. I'll add both to the list.
Thank you,

 

[GCH]

.455 TRIPLE LOCK #9337

Got this about 3 years ago at a gun show in Post Falls, Idaho. $600 (the good old days)

6 1/2" Barrel w/ no roll marks except patent dates on top. Re-blue w/ fixed sights. Era matching grips w/ brass inserts.

Production number "1091" on frame and inside side plate. Production number "4501" on triple lock crane, along with "B 5366" and "5366".

"NOT ENGLISH MAKE" on frame at barrel and crossed swords w/ "?28" under thumb piece. Strike out mark on back strap.

See pictures for barrel markings.

Serial number listed on page 205 of 'Smith & Wesson 1857-1945' by Neal & Jinks as one of 666 converted for WW1.

Post-war, converted to .45ACP by replacing cylinder and extractor with number 118267 w/ military Eagle over "S24" (Probably from a 1917).

Serial number "9337" obscured on butt by addition of lanyard loop. Number "9337" on frame under left grip. "B 9337" in barrel shroud.

 

[GCH]

.455 TRIPLE LOCK #9337

More pics..............

 

[GCH]

.455 TRIPLE LOCK #9337

pics................

 

[StrawHat]

"NOT ENGLISH MAKE" on frame at barrel and crossed swords w/ "?28" under thumb piece. Strike out mark on back strap…


Post-war, converted to .45ACP by replacing cylinder and extractor with number 118267 w/ military Eagle over "S24" (Probably from a 1917)….

That New Century would pair well with one of my 45 HE Model 1917s, also marked, “NOT ENGLISH MAKE”.

If it ever needs a new home…

Kevin

 

[GCH]

That New Century would pair well with one of my 45 HE Model 1917s, also marked, “NOT ENGLISH MAKE”.

If it ever needs a new home…

Kevin

I have a pair of Smith 1917s that it sits with, along with a Colt 1917 and three other .44 SP Triple locks.

GCH

 

[StrawHat]

I have a pair of Smith 1917s that it sits with, along with a Colt 1917 and three other .44 SP Triple locks.

GCH

But,…do any of those bear the stamp, “NOT ENGLISH MAKE”?

My 1917 does!

Kevin

 

[Hondo44]

Got this about 3 years ago at a gun show in Post Falls, Idaho. $600 (the good old days)

6 1/2" Barrel w/ no roll marks except patent dates on top. Re-blue w/ fixed sights. Era matching grips w/ brass inserts.

Production number "1091" on frame and inside side plate. Production number "4501" on triple lock crane, along with "B 5366" and "5366".

"NOT ENGLISH MAKE" on frame at barrel and crossed swords w/ "?28" under thumb piece. Strike out mark on back strap.

See pictures for barrel markings.

Serial number listed on page 205 of 'Smith & Wesson 1857-1945' by Neal & Jinks as one of 666 converted for WW1.
(
Post-war, converted to .45ACP by replacing cylinder and extractor with number 118267 w/ military Eagle over "S24" (Probably from a 1917).

Serial number "9337" obscured on butt by addition of lanyard loop. Number "9337" on frame under left grip. "B 9337" in barrel shroud.

Very interesting gun, thanks for posting!

You clearly have one of the 666 type 1 TLs converted to .455 Mk II cartridge from brand new unsold .44 Spl TLs in inventory and therefore in the .44 serial # range. The lanyard swivel drilled through the butt # and stamped on side of the grip frame also confirms it. We haven’t seen many of the 666 and when we do see them they’re often modified in some way like yours because they’ve been around the longest. The grips are likely original and may still show the matching serial # penciled on the back side of the right grip. The medallions are brass but gold plated.

Obviously so has the cyl and extractor star.
Where exactly is the 4501 stamped on the yoke (crane is a Colt part name)?
What # is stamped on the backside of the yoke only visible by looking thru a chamber?
And what # is stamped on the cam plate for the middle lock?

 

[GCH]

The grips are likely original and may still show the matching serial # penciled on the back side of the right grip. The medallions are brass but gold plated.

The assembly # also known as the work number 5366 should be on the yoke, the yoke cutout in the frame and inside side plate, (the B is a separate inspector or fitters stamp). So your side plate #1061 has been replaced. Obviously so has the cyl and extractor star.

Where on the frame is the #1091 stamped?
Where exactly is the 4501 stamped on the yoke (crane is a Colt part name)?
What # is stamped on the backside of the yoke only visible by looking thru a chamber?
And what # is stamped on the cam plate for the middle lock?[/QUOTE]



I should have said the medallions are gold colored. No pencil marks are visible inside the grips.

See the pictures for location of the stampings for your first two questions.
Backside of "yoke" number is "B 5366". (I always thot "B" stood for Blue).
Cam plate number is "5366".

 

[Hondo44]

Your right, the B stands for blue finish when in front of a serial #. That’s why I asked for clarification of exactly where on the yoke the 5366 #s were. So you have a yoke and cam from another TL; so parts of 3 different revolvers.

 

[GCH]

Your right, the B stands for blue finish when in front of a serial #. That’s why I asked for clarification of exactly where on the yoke they were. So you have a yoke and cam from another TL; so parts of 3 different revolvers .

A Frankenstein. I wonder if any of the work was done at S&W?
Doubt it, since there are no marks under the grips.

 

[Hondo44]

That’s why the 4501 assembly # on yoke doesn’t match the two other assembly #s 1061 in frame cutout and side plate. So the side plate is original after all.

No way to tell which serial # range the yoke and cam came from; can be from a 44 Spl or .455 Type 1 TL.

No, definitely not done by S&W. You’re right the factory would have stamped a reworked date depending on the time period the work was done.
But also would have stamped the serial # matching the gun on the new replacement parts.

Thx again, I’ll add your TL to the database and update it in post #1 in the near future.

 

[Hondo44]

GCH,

Your TL #9337 - shipped in 1914.

Replaced yoke and cam from TL 5366 which can be from a 44 Spl or .455 Type 2 TL (no way to tell which serial # range it’s from).

Also the extractor rod knob is homemade and not an original TL knob.

 

[Hondo44]

But,…do any of those bear the stamp, “NOT ENGLISH MAKE”?

My 1917 does!

Kevin

Kevin,

You have a WWII Era British proof marked 1917s: About 20,000 1917s were sold to Britain and will have British proof marks, see post #11 here: Model 1917 odd barrel markings - can you help?

France fell in May, 40.
330,000 Brit and French soldiers pushed into the sea at Dunkirk.
Battle of Britain beginning, invasion looked imminent.
Roosevelt ordered "surplus" arms to be sold (probably very cheaply) to Britain, including 20,000 Mod 1917s that were delivered between June and Sept.
See Pate's book, page 19
You guys never seem to remember this when a 1917 with Brit proofs shows up. Write it down.

The “NOT ENGLISH MAKE” on your gun is an export mark which means it came back across the big pond officially.

Here's a strange one:

1917 converted to 455: Need help in identifying and value of a war relic
It could be from WWI or one of the above from WWII, converted afterwards to 455 in England for use by a citizen, then proofed as it would be, to be exported back to the USA. Whereupon, it was converted back to 45 ACP.
See the London stamp, arm over NP stamp, mentioned in post #4 & #7 above: http://www.nramuseum.org/media/940944/proofmarks.pdf

 

[Hondo44]

FYI: I have updated the databank in post #1 of this thread today.