.455 Webley Triple Lock Revolver

[Hondo44]

Maybe I’m confused in that the Triple Lock IS Mk I but all commercial brass is MK II as it’s shorter and can also fire in Mk I revolvers, but if Mk I brass was available, it’s versatility is not as great, being only able to service in Mk I revolvers?

I had thought Triple Lock revolvers were Mk II and Mk I came later. I thought I remembered it as such as it was counterintuitive, the reverse of what one might expect???

455 Webley MKII - Large Pistol - Brass Cases

MK #s were always used in numerical order; i.e., the Mk I nomenclature was always first with Mk II and later marks used subsequently for later/improved models or cartridges. Although the 455 triple locks were considered the Mk I by the British, only the 2nd model, the Mk II model was stamped with the Mark #, and stamped Mk II by the British.

Mk I or II for the 455 service revolvers is different and separate from nomenclature for the 455 cartridge Mark #s. In other words the Mark #s for the guns and those for the ammo do not correspond.

Although intended for use with the 455 Mk II cartridge, as posted above, S&W agreed to chamber all the British service revolvers to chamber and shoot the longer semi-obsolete 455 Mk I cartridge for the flexibility afforded under battle field ammo supply issues.

 

[mrcvs]

MK #s were always used in numerical order; i.e., the Mk I nomenclature was always first with Mk II and later marks used subsequently for later/improved models or cartridges. Although the 455 triple locks were considered the Mk I by the British, only the 2nd model, the Mk II model was stamped with the Mark #, and stamped Mk II by the British.

Mk I or II for the 455 service revolvers is different and separate from nomenclature for the 455 cartridge Mark #s. In other words the Mark #s for the guns and those for the ammo do not correspond.

Although intended for use with the 455 Mk II cartridge, as posted above, S&W agreed to chamber all the British service revolvers to chamber and shoot the longer semi-obsolete 455 Mk I cartridge for the flexibility afforded under battle field ammo supply issues.

I revised the title of this post to Mk I and stand corrected.

 

[mrcvs]

Hondo44,

From a thread of yours I bumped:

“2. “455 Mark II Hand Ejector-1st Model” Triple Lock #1 thru at least #5802* (previously thought to be 5461, and several higher #s in this range shipped commercial).
* “The serial numbers in the .455 Hand Ejector series 5721 - 5802 are all .455 second series triple locks and were all shipped commercial generally to Canada dealers. Hope that this helps.” Roy After this shipment there were some of this model sold commercially all in the 5502 - 5857 range, but including a few military issues in that range as well.”

This was my source of confusion and why I thought Triple Lock revolvers were Mark II. I’m guessing this should be Mark I?

 

[Hondo44]

No, that's S&W's reference to the cartridge. Their revolver model names in collector terms most always begin with the Cartridge, in this case the .455 Mk II.

The "Hand Ejector 1st Model" is the description of the gun. Similar to the TL in 44 Spl: ".44 Hand Ejector 1st Model".

 

[mrcvs]

This was getting to be too much like what came first? The chicken or the egg?

And so it was easier to just refer to it as .455 Webley, and the thread title was revised as such.

 

[22hipower]

I have a Triple Lock s/n 3989 and two Mk IIs and all three have the Crossed Pennants in the same places: LHS top front of body and rear face of cylinder. The inspector's stamp is on the LHS top rear of the body on the TL and just above the LHS stock plate on the Mk IIs.

Peter

I think I'm clear now on what to call each model, until the next post probably, but I don't think we've addressed my earlier question about the TLs having stocks with medallions. . . .or not. The Standard Catalog, 4th edition, shows a TL .455 on page 196 without medallions. Lee says that all of the .455s had medallions. I don't have a TL 455, not that I wouldn't like one. But should I find one for sale which stocks should it have, medallions or no medallions?

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Hondo44]

Medallions!
The one shown in the book is incorrect.
All 455s made for the British military contract both TLs and 2nd models had them.

Regular production TLs made before the 1st half of 1910 did not have them.

 

[mrcvs]

Medallions!

All 455s made for the British military contract both TLs and 2nd models had them.

Regular production TLs made before the 1st half of 1910 did not have them.

That’s an important distinction. ALL .455 Webley revolvers made for the British government had medallion stocks, but not all .455 Webley revolvers had medallion stocks. A really nice example of a Target Model Triple Lock revolver with non medallion stocks sold last month at auction for big bucks. I wanted it badly, very badly, indeed, but at least two others wanted it much more badly than I did, as the high bid was considerably greater than as high as I was willing to go.

Special Order Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector First Model (Triple Lock) British Target Revolver |




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Winning bid was $7500 and that doesn’t even include buyer’s premium. My bid was only 40% of the winning bid. What’s the definition of trounced?

 

[22hipower]

Winning bid was $7500 and that doesn’t even include buyer’s premium. My bid was only 40% of the winning bid. What’s the definition of trounced?

What a great gun, can certainly see why you wanted it. Steep price indeed, but when will we see another one?

Jeff
SWCA #1457