Engraved Triple Lock

[hsguy]

Here are some pictures of and engraved TL I picked up. I know nothing about the engraver except I am sure it was done some years post-factory. The gun was refinished and the hammer and trigger appeared to have been fire-blued. The engraving looks nice and is full coverage but is certainly not world class. I could find no signature for the engraver. The gun sports ill-fitting what I think are ivory grips. The gun is 44 Special and shipped in March of 1910. Mechanically it is excellent and I see no signs of it being fired after refinishing. If anyone recognizes the engraving style please feel free to post. Sorry for the poor pictures, took a few quick snaps before the sun set. I am getting a light box to help improve my photos. Photobucket was being recalcitrant but I beat it into submission. How's that Lee?

 

[johnsonl]

Your grips are beautiful. Ivory has a tendency to shrink over time.

 

[handejector]

John,
That's just dandy!
I love it. Interesting engraving style that I don't recall ever seeing.
Grips are definitely ivory. Probably elephant. With better pics I might be able to say for sure.
Will you letter it?
_____________________________
Translation for other southern guys:
recalcitrant = sho nuff ornery

 

[hsguy]

Thanks johnsonl and Lee. I will letter it and get better pics when I get a light box set up. It is a neat looking gun that struck my fancy.

 

[wheelman44]

Great score!!!! would love to find a beauty like that

 

[handejector]

You took the big words out!
I was so proud I knew 'em!

(I was only ribbin' you)

 

[hsguy]

You took the big words out!
I was so proud I knew 'em!

(I was only ribbin' you)

Lee, I had no doubt you would know them. I took them out because once I cleared the cookies the pictures up-righted themselves, never knew cookies were were so heavy. Thought I was going to have to route the photos through New Zealand so they would show upright in this hemisphere. Maybe that's why Sip didn't post holiday photos, didn't want us to have to do headstands to see them. No fun being computer semi-literate.

 

[bamabiker]

I'm sure no engraving expert but I do know what looks good to me and I just saw it. Beautiful gun and grips.

 

[cgt4570]

Those grips are beautiful and have lots of potential. It looks like they have enough meat to be fitted to a K frame. I doubt they are from the purchase period of the gun since they are in the shape and style of late WW1 1917 grips.
BTW, the grip screw enters from the wrong side.

Here's a pic of my TL target wearing similar grips:

 

[dewey]

Those are ivory for sure. Have some just like 'em.
Very attractice piece.

 

[LOBO]

The engraving looks just fine to me. I like the style. You have an absolutely beautiful S&W!!

 

[A10]

What a beauty! Definitely not S&W factory engraving but a very nice period job!

 

[dacoontz]

John, that ones a beauty. I'd be proud to own that one. Will look forward to what the letter tells you.

 

[Muley Gil]

"semi-literate."

Hey now! My parents were married (just not to each other).

 

[semperfi71]

Very nice Triple-Lock. Some day, some where, I hope to find a good shooter.

 

[opoefc]

Interesting style of engraving - reminds me of work done in China or occupied Japan after WW2. Definitely not S&W factory work. The engraver had a steady hand, I don't see any mistakes, and he (or she) stuck to the pattern throughout the gun. Nice gun. Bring it to Boise. Ed.

 

[rhmc24]

Here (before & after) is my engraved TL, my engraving, my nickeling, my eagle. Grips I had made in Africa ca. 1951 by local carvers copying original grips my Dad sent me. The TL I bought, cold blued, OKC gun show 1982 for $135.

 

[handejector]

Here (before & after) is my engraved TL, my engraving, my nickeling, my eagle. Grips I had made in Africa ca. 1951 by local carvers copying original grips my Dad sent me. The TL I bought, cold blued, OKC gun show 1982 for $135.

rhmc,
Do you mean you personally did the engraving?
That is a beautiful piece.

 

[rhmc24]

Thanks for compliment. Yes, I confess it was my work. In the '70s I wanted to learn to engrave and bought Meek's book from Brownells. I followed it as closely as possible and for a few years I engraved anything that stood still long enough. I had been in 'restoration' of old, 16-1700s guns for a few major collectors and dealers and needed to engrave now and then. Otherwise all my engraving has been on my own guns.

 

[hsguy]

Thanks for compliment. Yes, I confess it was my work. In the '70s I wanted to learn to engrave and bought Meek's book from Brownells. I followed it as closely as possible and for a few years I engraved anything that stood still long enough. I had been in 'restoration' of old, 16-1700s guns for a few major collectors and dealers and needed to engrave now and then. Otherwise all my engraving has been on my own guns.

Great job, the gun and grips look wonderful. I would love to see some close-up photos of the gun. As a person with no artistic talent I enjoy admiring the work of others.

 

[Deacon KC]

Those are both wonderfully handsome revolvers. Congratulations on such fine examples.

 

[handejector]

Thanks for compliment. Yes, I confess it was my work. In the '70s I wanted to learn to engrave and bought Meek's book from Brownells. I followed it as closely as possible and for a few years I engraved anything that stood still long enough. I had been in 'restoration' of old, 16-1700s guns for a few major collectors and dealers and needed to engrave now and then. Otherwise all my engraving has been on my own guns.

Ah-Hah!
That went "CLICK" in my head.
We may have a mutual friend.
PM coming.

 

[pharmer]

Thanks for compliment. Yes, I confess it was my work. In the '70s I wanted to learn to engrave and bought Meek's book from Brownells. I followed it as closely as possible and for a few years I engraved anything that stood still long enough.

You bought a BOOK and you can produce work like that. I wish I could do that with one of the hundreds of "$How $to $make $Millions" books. Nice. Joe

 

[rhmc24]

Meeks' book has very accurate and detailed instruction. I have seen few books, or complex instructions of any kind for that matter, as in his book. He described techniques and tools. I first learned Meeks' various techniques to cut curves, how to produce various effects, etc. I tried to copy designs from the book of Nimschke's guns engraving. This TL was my second gun to engrave. The first was a Colt 1860 Army that had been nicely restored, refinished, cylinder re-rolled, etc., I coped Nimsche exactly, gave it to my, then new, Son in Law.

 

[logictox]

Beautiful gun and great score. I guess I've been lucky with my ivory grips. This is a pair I picked up in 1972 and they have been on 4 carry weapons over the years. Currently on a Series 80 that I carried about one year.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Might want to soak that ivory in some mineral oil over night soon before they dry out much more.

 

[A10]

Here (before & after) is my engraved TL, my engraving, my nickeling, my eagle. Grips I had made in Africa ca. 1951 by local carvers copying original grips my Dad sent me. The TL I bought, cold blued, OKC gun show 1982 for $135.

I'd be happy to double your purchase price for you! Very nice work, you could almost do that for a living!

 

[rhmc24]

Re 'Ivory Grips' treatment. I think applying olive oil, mineral oil or preferably some kind of animal fat product such as bacon grease has little effect on the ivory. It is a product that won't absorb much, if anything applied to it. It can be colored, damaged by products that will attack other animal products such as leather, your/my skin, etc. One such that I have used (very sparingly) is potassium permanganate. I think the often recommended treatments have a benefit to the user, making him/her feel that they have "done something". In my 50-60 year's ivory handling I give them the same care as the rest of the gun. Some ivory things, non gun, I just ignore.

 

[JSR III]

I have never been one that is attracted to engraved guns. I do however, appreciate the talent that it takes. Especially the repeated work on the cylinder flutes. It is much harder to compare strokes when looking at one side of the gun and then the other. But when you can merely turn the cylinder and compare the engraving on each flute, then one's talent is easily seen or not seen.