An interesting.455 more pictures added

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Thought you may be interested in see this TL it's in .455 has a 7 1/2" barrel adjustable sights and a front sight I've never seen before checked trigger the front and back straps are also checked I believe the stocks are originally to the gun be not number to it 45 Colt will not fit in cylinder.
It's been reblue at some time and not that well little to much polishing but looks not to bad.
Only markings under the stocks is 11.11 that I think is a date returned for some kind of repair work.
Ser. # 3960
Any comments would be appreciated
 

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A few more pics

More pics of the front sight and stocks
 

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Nice. Looks like someone had a target gun made.
 
Somebody went to a lot trouble to checker the front and back of grip frame and trigger on a Triple Lock!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Here's a couple pics one of the right side and the left side

Yes, unfortunately refinished, but it IS a Target Model with a 7 1/2" barrel and the desirable early non medallion stocks. Also, a Target Model is uncommon, one in .455 Webley is rare. I'm not sure how much of a premium would apply to your revolver because it's an unusual chambering for a Target Model. This is because .44 S & W Special is usually the more desirable chambering. But where else are you going to find one of these, refinished or otherwise?
 
You should definitely letter that gun. Since we know it shipped before 1911, it is numbered in the 44 HE serial number range. BE SURE you tell Roy about that frame date when you letter it. The checkered trigger and gripstraps are almost certainly Factory work. Send pics of ALL the features to Roy- the checkering, the frame date, and the front sight.
The front sight is likely a later replacement.
In my opinion, you have an original 7-1/2" 455 Target with Factory checkering on trigger and gripstraps. It may be the only one ever made in this configuration!
How about some closeups of the hammer spur. It appears altered.
 
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Well I'm always a sucker for trying to make something out of nothing when it comes to serial numbers. The last time was with a couple of single shots, #'s 4807 and 4826 I figured could have been made on the same day----and here we go again. Roy almost seemed happy, certainly very pleased with himself when he told me the completion dates were six weeks apart----said "This certainly establishes that they were not produced in the same production lot of Perfected Single Shot Pistols." And it certainly did, but all I did was ask.

My first ever Triple Lock Target came to live here a little over 20 years ago-----and was sold just a short while ago. Its number is 3976, ostensibly a first year gun---shipped early in the second year (February 23, 1909). It too carries a 7 1/2" barrel, is a .44 Special, and also has a front sight that would do a sail boat proud. The front sight has always been a mystery. It's of the gold bead variety, struck me as a Sheard design, but a very knowledgeable gunsmith with Southern Precision swears and be damned it's an early King. It's numbered to the gun, so it's an early something---whatever it is.

So now we have a couple of TL's with close serial numbers, both targets, both with 7 1/2" barrels----never mind they're different calibers. I wonder if they were made on the same day?

Ralph Tremaine
 
That's a dandy.

Went back to the factory for rework, refinish, or both Nov 1911, but non-factory refinished since then.

I agree with Lee: Looks like factory checkered trigger and bordered/checkered front/back straps. But with later front sight blade and modified hammer spur that had a wide spur attachment with a set screw.

That one needs a factory letter when the moratorium is lifted. But since the work was done before 1920, there won't be any archived work orders available from the S&W Historical Society to tell us what was done at the factory on 11/11.

Does the grip have a number that doesn't match the gun?

Or look like it's not numbered? If so, take off the right grip and look on the back near the top for a sideways penciled serial # matching the gun's serial #. You'll need to get it outside in daylight to see it if it's there.

How about a photo showing the top of the rear sight and the hammer spur?
 
Now that I look at the checkered backstrap and inside of the grip, metal portions approximately parallel to the backstrap, it does look factory. It looks very similar to the pattern of another Triple Lock that was posted within the past year or two and that one lettered as such, IIRC. I searched for that thread to no avail, but found this one, which I forgot about. A Target Model Triple Lock revolver, also with a 7 1/2" barrel and also in .455 Webley that letters as such.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...g-old-s-w-revolver.html?637777=#post141005502
 
The front sight makes it look like it's suppressor-ready, but I can't quite make out the barrel threading.

Seriously, may well be a unique specimen. Can't wait to see how it letters!
 
Hi and thanks to all for the great comments I plan to letter it as soon as the moratorium is withdrawn
I'll try to get out tomorrow and take some better pics it's just been raining here constantly the last few days but I may be able to get out between the showers
I have looked on the inside of the right stock but I can see anything so I'll try and see if outside light may help
 
More pictures added

I've added the pics of the rear sight and the hammer
I've look carefully for a penciled ser# on the right stock and could not find one, looking at the hammer closely I can see some differences from a second model I have, it look as if the end has been removed I would guess to add what ever was held on with the set screw.
Thanks again for the comments, I've found them very informative
Ted
 

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Hi,
I used to live in Ontario, and I'm very curious how you managed to find this treasure? There seems to be a lot less nice dealers there than there once was. But, many of the shows were quite good. I frequented the Oshawa shows and Ajax shows. There were also a few big annual shows in the downtown Toronto area that were very good.

By the way, for those members that live stateside (ie: the vast majority of us), the restricted weapons permit needed to purchase a revolver came with many stipulations, requirements, and hoops to jump through. Amongst those, you needed to either 1) belong to an approved shooting club, or 2) belong to an "bonafide" gun collectors association. In any case, the result is that both clubs and shows can be found that are of very high quality with really great members. Finding nice stuff was easier once you got to know people. Certainly there was no internet!
At least that's what I remember from a few decades ago!
 
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