5" Triple Lock Research

[LLOYD17]

When I bid on this Triple Lock, I was really just interested in owning a TL again after selling my Target model and the 5" was a nice to have. I knew about the star on the butt and figured it likely came from being refinished. It came wearing later sliver medallion service stocks which I sold to help offset the cost of the TL.

The hammer isn't nickel plated, but I think it's actually wear on the exposed portion due to being left in that position for a long time.

The letter has it shipping in 1913 to one of S&W's biggest distributors in NY which doesn't tell much of a story.

Due to the star there was a chance of tracking down who may have sent it in for the likely refinish. After getting the letter the SWHF was quick to search and find four documents dealing with the requested $5.00 nickel refinish in 1933 as requested by the Nashville PD. Pretty awesome work by the SWHF to turn a mundane shipping destination to a massive distributor into finding out this TL served with the Nashville PD.

Thanks SWHF again for the great info!!! Everyone should throw some donations their way for the great work they're doing in preserving and offering insight into S&W history.

 

[Nightowl]

$5 in 1933 would be $98.17 in today's dollars. That would have been a bargain back then!

 

[Hondo44]

Congrats. That's a sweetheart.

The stocks were probably replaced at the time of the refinish, they are the correct vintage for 1933 and part of the guns provenance. Were they numbered to the gun on the back of the right grip?

You should see the refinish date stamped on the left side of grip frame near the toe with the stocks off.

 

[LLOYD17]

Congrats. That's a sweetheart.

The stocks were probably replaced at the time of the refinish, they are the correct vintage for 1933 and part of the guns provenance. Were they numbered to the gun on the back of the right grip?

You should see the refinish date stamped on the left side of grip frame near the toe with the stocks off.

Though correct timeframe for the refinish the stocks were not added by the factory. They had an early 30’s number stamped and were not fitted to this frame.

There was also no date stamp on this one or the NRM.

 

[andy52]

Congrats. That's a sweetheart.

The stocks were probably replaced at the time of the refinish, they are the correct vintage for 1933 and part of the guns provenance. Were they numbered to the gun on the back of the right grip?

You should see the refinish date stamped on the left side of grip frame near the toe with the stocks off.

The stocks lloyd17 is referring are ser# 41406 and not the number of his TL. They look really nice on my 3rd model though.

 

[Hondo44]

Though correct timeframe for the refinish the stocks were not added by the factory. They had an early 30’s number stamped and were not fitted to this frame.

There was also no date stamp on this one or the NRM [in another post].

Oh good, I should have known you'd be savvy enough to check that before selling grips!

I find it interesting that neither had a date stamp in that period (1933 to 54)!!