.455 Hand Ejector 1st Model (Triple Lock) s/n 1911

[linde]

This past weekend I attended a local auction and became curator of a .455 Hand Ejector 1st Model (Triple Lock). Based on Hondo44's research, it is one of the approximately 5800 produced in 1914-1915 under contract for the British government.

Although 105 years old and having survived service during WWI, it retains all its original parts (including stocks) and remains in its original .455 Mark II chambering. The serial number is 1911.

Enjoy the pictures,

Russ

edit: actually chambered in the longer .455 Webley Mk I cartridge . . . better known as the .455 Eley / .455 Colt . . . as were the entire group of 5800 British contract Triple Locks

 

[linde]

.455 Hand Ejector 1st Model (Triple Lock) s/n 1911 (part 2)

some additional pictures

Russ

 

[lamarw]

Congrats - A wonderful score for your collection.

 

[lamarw]

And what an easy serial number to remember if you are a M1911 fan like I am.

 

[LEO918]

Great catch Russ. I really like that serial number.

 

[Chukar60]

Congrats1 after all it has been through I am impressed with the condition.

 

[19leben]

Awesome acquisition. Love that it's original and the serial number is cool too.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Texas Star]

I'm surprised that it has the Sold Out of Service opposing Broad Arrow marks TWICE on the frame. The British did love stamping markings...

Will you shoot it? Does anyone still make MK I .455 ammo with the longer case and higher velocity? Some makers called that .455 Colt in commercial loads. Gave about 750 FPS vs. about 620 FPS for the shorter .455 MK II.

 

[Hondo44]

Hi Russ,

That's a beauty!

Have you shot it yet or intend to shoot it?

 

[S&W ucla]

Great gun!! If you take a hankerin' to shootin' some Huns, Fiocchi makes MkII ammo. They are fun to shoot, very mild recoil.


Fiocchi Ammo 455 Webley Mark 2 262 Grain Lead Round Nose Box of 50

 

[linde]

. . . Will you shoot it? Does anyone still make MK I .455 ammo with the longer case and higher velocity? Some makers called that .455 Colt in commercial loads. Gave about 750 FPS vs. about 620 FPS for the shorter .455 MK II.

Will definitely shoot it . . . have 60 rounds of 265 gr Hornady Mk II ammo on hand and located some 262 gr from Fiocchi.

Commercial Mk II Webley ammo, while not plentiful, is available . . . notice I didn't say cheap . . . but haven't found any Commercial Mk I .455 Colt.

I do plan to reload . . . have 100 cases of new Starline .45 Colt brass set aside to trim .020 off the front of the rim and cut down to Mk I case length. Hi-Tek coated 262 gr .455 bullets are available from my favorite supplier (Missouri Bullet) and I dug out an old book of Pet Loads from Ken Waters to get me started.

Will report back how that goes.

Russ

 

[linde]

. . . Have you shot it yet or intend to shoot it?

Not yet, but this weekend promises to be a great opportunity! I have three boxes of commercial ammo on hand for the occasion.

Thanks for your Triple Lock tutorials and study effort on the .455s . . . it has been a huge help to me as I climb the learning curve.

Russ

 

[linde]

Great gun!! If you take a hankerin' to shootin' some Huns, Fiocchi makes MkII ammo. They are fun to shoot, very mild recoil.

Fiocchi Ammo 455 Webley Mark 2 262 Grain Lead Round Nose Box of 50

Thanks for the link . . . best price I've seen . . . just ordered 3 boxes!

Russ

 

[handejector]

I do plan to reload . . . have 100 cases of new Starline .45 Colt brass set aside to trim .020 off the front of the rim and cut down to Mk I case length.

Will report back how that goes.

Russ

It might not go well. The 455 rim is unusually thin- thinner than the 45 Colt rim. You could turn the rims down- on the front if you do!

 

[linde]

It might not go well. The 455 rim is unusually thin- thinner than the 45 Colt rim. You could turn the rims down- on the front if you do!

I do plan to trim .020" off the rim thickness and take it off the front.

And thanks for pulling the two posts together!

Russ

 

[RoninPhx]

This past weekend I attended a local auction and became curator of a .455 Hand Ejector 1st Model (Triple Lock). Based on Hondo44's research, it is one of the approximately 5800 produced in 1914-1915 under contract for the British government.

Although 105 years old and having survived service during WWI, it retains all its original parts (including stocks) and remains in its original .455 Mark II chambering. The serial number is 1911.

Enjoy the pictures,

Russ

i have one about 300numbers higher than yours. It also has the scottish captains name on the hilt of the frame. I looked him up and he is buried at peakwood cemetery, near freicourt, being killed during the battle of the somme. It was converted to 45colt.
with light loads they still shoot just fine.

 

[RoninPhx]

one other thought, i think the first 5000 with the shrouded ejector rod were made the fourth quarter of 1915. My guy was killed in august 1916. I was not able to determine where he bought the revolver, but most likely through the british officers commisary system. He didn't have it for long, tho.

 

[Messer]

If it was me - I couldn't help but tell folks "I have a 1911 45 made by S&W back in 1914-15".

Congrats on the Nice TL!

 

[linde]

one other thought, i think the first 5000 with the shrouded ejector rod were made the fourth quarter of 1915 . . .

I just learned .455 Hand Ejector 1st Model TL s/n 1911 shipped in December 1914.

The History of Smith & Wesson by Roy Jinks indicates the initial sample of a .455 chambered 1st Model TLs were provided to the British government in the summer of 1914. . . England entered WWI on August 4, 1914 and sent S&W an urgent request for .455 Mk II revolvers . . . the factory completed the initial TL revolvers on September 24, 1914 and by January 9, 1915 the factory had completed 5,461 (some of which were converted from work-in-progress .44 Specials). Shortly thereafter, production switched to the 2nd Model without the ejector shroud or the 3rd locking mechanism that England preferred.

Russ