.455 Triple Lock value

[Skizzer]

Howdy,
New to the site and excited to be able to participate.

Interested in learning more about Triple Locks and would like to eventually acquire a shooter grade. Had heard that .455's are a rarer caliber, but not as in demand. Could anyone give me an a very rough feel for how much less a .455 is worth. Realize this will be highly variable, but a crude measure for someone new to the model would be very helpful.

Thanks!

 

[mrcvs]

I would value a Triple Lock in .455 Webley a solid 25% less than a counterpart in .44 S & W Special.

If you want a "shooter" and a Triple Lock and like the .455 Webley, I would suggest you consider a .455 Webley with chambers altered to accept .45 Colt. These can be acquired, with decent condition, in the $850 range. Note that these modified revolvers can also accept .45 ACP, except that you don't want to fire these in a Triple Lock as they are too powerful for a Triple Lock revolver.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

I agree to the 25% lower value of a .455 Triple Lock over the more common .44 Special. That said, I would like to some day find a .455 TL in .455 Webley or one converted to .45 Colt, to go with my .44 Special TL.

Many years ago, I passed on a .455 TL that had been converted to .45 ACP. The price was only $135. I had the money in my pocket, but the rent was due. I did the responsible thing and passed on it. I shoulda bought it and begged and/or borrowed the rent money. Ah, 20/20 hindsight.

At that time, I was not aware of the difference in the chamber pressures between the .455 and the .45 ACP.

Click on this link and there are two sections on Triple Locks-one under the .44 Special and one under the .455.

Notable Thread Index

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Welcome to the Forum.

I agree to the 25% lower value of a .455 Triple Lock over the more common .44 Special. That said, I would like to some day find a .455 TL in .455 Webley or one converted to .45 Colt, to go with my .44 Special TL.

Many years ago, I passed on a .455 TL that had been converted to .45 ACP. The price was only $135. I had the money in my pocket, but the rent was due. I did the responsible thing and passed on it. I shoulda bought it and begged and/or borrowed the rent money. Ah, 20/20 hindsight.

At that time, I was not aware of the difference in the chamber pressures between the .455 and the .45 ACP.

Click on this link and there are two sections on Triple Locks-one under the .44 Special and one under the .455.

Notable Thread Index

$135 = Rent or $135 = Triple Lock ? Me and the Triple Lock would have spent some time camped under a bridge if needed .

 

[Hondo44]

Skizzer, welcome to the forum.

I agree with members above on the estimates for a 455 TL.

However, I'll add that the 25% differential will vary with condition. In the best condition, I see prices varying a great deal more with 44 TLs going for many thousands. While the 455 TLs can get expensive they'll
usually top out below ~$3000.

We see most shooter grade 455s under $1100 or so and down to half of that if converted to 45 Colt or 45 ACP and 45 Auto Rim.

If you find one and have time, take a photo and post it here. We'll be happy to evaluate it and comment on the price.

Would you rather find one already converted to a more common cartridge?

 

[Skizzer]

I would value a Triple Lock in .455 Webley a solid 25% less than a counterpart in .44 S & W Special.

If you want a "shooter" and a Triple Lock and like the .455 Webley, I would suggest you consider a .455 Webley with chambers altered to accept .45 Colt. These can be acquired, with decent condition, in the $850 range. Note that these modified revolvers can also accept .45 ACP, except that you don't want to fire these in a Triple Lock as they are too powerful for a Triple Lock revolver.

Thanks very much for the info. Just what I needed to help me plan, as well as gauge potential purchases. I did not know that .45 ACP had significantly higher pressure than a .455, not that I know much about .455's.

I'd be happy w/a .455 or any other TL cal for a shooter, altho I confess a slight preference for the .44.

 

[Skizzer]

Welcome to the Forum.

I agree to the 25% lower value of a .455 Triple Lock over the more common .44 Special. That said, I would like to some day find a .455 TL in .455 Webley or one converted to .45 Colt, to go with my .44 Special TL.

Many years ago, I passed on a .455 TL that had been converted to .45 ACP. The price was only $135. I had the money in my pocket, but the rent was due. I did the responsible thing and passed on it. I shoulda bought it and begged and/or borrowed the rent money. Ah, 20/20 hindsight.

At that time, I was not aware of the difference in the chamber pressures between the .455 and the .45 ACP.

Click on this link and there are two sections on Triple Locks-one under the .44 Special and one under the .455.

Notable Thread Index

Thanks for the advice - much appreciated! Heartbreaker on your .455 tale, but certainly wish I had that strength of character! I too didn't realize the .45 ACP pressure would be that high. What about the .45 Colt? I'll look it up, but would have thought if the ACP was a problem then the "Long Colt" would be too. Thanks also for suggesting the links - good info!

 

[Skizzer]

Skizzer, welcome to the forum.

I agree with members above on the estimates for a 455 TL.

However, I'll add that the 25% differential will vary with condition. In the best condition, I see prices varying a great deal more with 44 TLs going for many thousands. While the 455 TLs can get expensive they'll
usually top out below ~$3000.

We see most shooter grade 455s under $1100 or so and down to half of that if converted to 45 Colt or 45 ACP and 45 Auto Rim.

If you find one and have time, take a photo and post it here. We'll be happy to evaluate it and comment on the price.

Would you rather find one already converted to a more common cartridge?

Jim,
Thanks for additional points on value. All this is very helpful to me and awfully difficult (slow) to glean from just watching auctions and scanning the few TL's offered elsewhere.

i'm still forming my preferences on TL's, but at this point would be happy w/about any caliber. That said, always prefer the most original I can get, but I am only after a shooter.

What are your thots on pressure levels of the various available calibers, original or not, for the TL? Since I understand we're dealing w/cylinders lacking any special heat treatment I assume some additional caution might be indicated?

Really appreciate the help.

Mike

 

[Hondo44]

Thanks for the advice - much appreciated! Heartbreaker on your .455 tale, but certainly wish I had that strength of character! I too didn't realize the .45 ACP pressure would be that high. What about the .45 Colt? I'll look it up, but would have thought if the ACP was a problem then the "Long Colt" would be too. Thanks also for suggesting the links - good info!

The 45 ACP was designed to reliably cycle the 1911 45 auto slide; about 20,000 PSI. To allow it's use in the S&W Model 1917, the cyl was heat treated. All S&W cyls were heat treated by 1920.

So that's the issue with the TL 455s. The 455, 45 Colt (standard factory loadings), and 45 Auto Rim (also 44 Spl) are all only 15,000 PSI max.

If one reloads 45 ACP, the pressure just needs to be kept to 15,000 or less and can be used safely in a converted 455.

Just FYI: Having said all that above, many 455s have been converted to 45 ACP and shot with hard ball. I've never heard of any catastrophic failures. But the damage doesn't have to be explosive, it's usually accumulated damage over time resulting in stretched chambers, frames, loose guns, etc. Therefore I recommend against it and wouldn't do it with my gun.

 

[Skizzer]

Skizzer, welcome to the forum.

I agree with members above on the estimates for a 455 TL.

However, I'll add that the 25% differential will vary with condition. In the best condition, I see prices varying a great deal more with 44 TLs going for many thousands. While the 455 TLs can get expensive they'll
usually top out below ~$3000.

We see most shooter grade 455s under $1100 or so and down to half of that if converted to 45 Colt or 45 ACP and 45 Auto Rim.

If you find one and have time, take a photo and post it here. We'll be happy to evaluate it and comment on the price.

Would you rather find one already converted to a more common cartridge?

jIM,

Meant to especially thank you for the offer of checking-out potential purchases I'm considering. That would be particularly helpful! Again, much appreciated!

Mike

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! I perceive a higher differential between the .44 and .455 triple locks. The 44s seem to be about 2-3 times what a .455 goes for. That may be because most of what I've seen over the last 4-5 years were modified guns...mostly for .45 Colt. The type of conversion may also play a part with the quick and dirty shave the cylinder face bringing less than the cylinder chambers being counter sunk for .45 Colt so .45 Webley can still be shot. Nevertheless, I'm proud that I bought my .455 a few years back. May have paid too soon but not too much.

 

[rufgr]

I recently purchased a triple lock 455 that was finished challenged but had a perfect bore, timing and lock up. I paid $1500 and don't regret it. To me being a reloader and bullet caster there is no big difference in in a 44 and a 455. I made cases from 45 Colt by reducing the length and thinning the rims. I shoot this gun frequently and do about as well as I do with any of my other N frames (85-90 on the 25 yard slow fire target).

 

[Muley Gil]

I recently purchased a triple lock 455 that was finished challenged but had a perfect bore, timing and lock up. I paid $1500 and don't regret it. To me being a reloader and bullet caster there is no big difference in in a 44 and a 455. I made cases from 45 Colt by reducing the length and thinning the rims. I shoot this gun frequently and do about as well as I do with any of my other N frames (85-90 on the 25 yard slow fire target).

I don't have any .455 cartridge cases to compare with, but you might try some .45 Cowboy brass to trim. They are shorter than .45 Colt cases.

 

[steelslaver]

I bought a bunch of new Starline 455 brass a year or so ago from Midway. It shows now as being in stock for $48 a 100. way easier than trimming and working the rim.

 

[shouldazagged]

Welcome, Skizzer, to the best gun forum I've ever found.

As you've already seen, there are a lot of fine, very knowledgeable people here who are glad to help.

Stick with us, you'll be glad you did.

 

[steelslaver]

PS. My 455 TL has been reamed to 45 colt using recesses so the larger OD 455 cases still work. Also have a 2nd model 455. Neither will be leaving my safe soon.

 

[jlemay69]

.455 Webley Mk II Commercial Ammo

Fiochi loads .455 Webley Mk II ammo.

 

[GRI]

Keep in mind that .455 triple locks were primarily a British WWI issued pistol and they can have substantial value beyond that of a normal triple lock. They will be found, more often than not, with British unit markings to include machine gun and air corps units.

 

[The Gila Bender]

S&W .44 HE 1st MOD TRIPLE LOCK .455 COMMERCIAL just sold for $2,825 on GB. S&W .44 HE 1st MOD TRIPLE LOCK .455 COMMERCIAL C&R - Revolvers at GunBroker.com : 806511892

This one is mine, refinished but in original .455 caliber. Gun show purchase in January 2014 for $1,200. She's purdy nice, even with the blue thumb latch.

 

[Skizzer]

The 45 ACP was designed to reliably cycle the 1911 45 auto slide; about 20,000 PSI. To allow it's use in the S&W Model 1917, the cyl was heat treated. All S&W cyls were heat treated by 1920.

So that's the issue with the TL 455s. The 455, 45 Colt (standard factory loadings), and 45 Auto Rim (also 44 Spl) are all only 15,000 PSI max.

If one reloads 45 ACP, the pressure just needs to be kept to 15,000 or less and can be used safely in a converted 455.

Just FYI: Having said all that above, many 455s have been converted to 45 ACP and shot with hard ball. I've never heard of any catastrophic failures. But the damage doesn't have to be explosive, it's usually accumulated damage over time resulting in stretched chambers, frames, loose guns, etc. Therefore I recommend against it and wouldn't do it with my gun.

Thx Jim! That does clear things up.

Mike