Holiday "Whatsit?" has arrived/update... 38/455

[mikepriwer]

FYI, The flare in the recoil shield is there for one purpose, and that is to provide a ramp to push the long center pin back into the extractor rod, so that the cylinder can be closed. Once closed, the center pin then falls into the locking hole in the center of the extractor shield, allowing the extractor lug locking pin to fall into the top of the extractor rod.

The triple-lock still has a very different, and more complicated, locking scheme. The ramp function of the flare is moved to a ramp attached to the yoke, which makes the extractor shield flare no longer necessary. The extractor lug locking pin is much more complicated, and it contains both the old extractor rod locking pin, and the new third locking pin.

If there is any interest, I can post pictures of the new parts, and explain in more detail, how the triple-lock scheme works,

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[handejector]

Mike,
The TL does not need the recoil shield ramp (being called a 'flare' here) because the center pin on a TL does not protrude when the cylinder is open.

 

[Hondo44]

This revolver, no longer having the 3rd lock and it's plate with the ramp DOES NEED the ramp on the recoil shield. That also means the extractor rod would need its return spring within the cylinder relocated so it extends the rod to the rear with cylinder opened. But more likely the cylinder and rod are a 2nd or 3rd model along with the frame and yoke.

Question for Mike:

Is the extractor rod knob a separate piece (like a TL) or as I suspect, one piece with the rod like all subsequent N frames?

In the front of the barrel shroud there is a round lock pin. Is the hole for the pin round or is there still a rectangular hole (formerly required for the TL dual locking bar)?

I believe the only TL part on this gun might be the barrel, of course without its TL DUAL locking bar. A .455 with that serial number would not be roll marked.455. Unless it's a rebored to .45 3rd model or very rare factory .45 barrel.

CORRECTION: it's not a TL at all and never was. The serial # should have been the tip off, I don't know where my mind went!! Thinking of a different thread. Sorry, this happens more and more lately......thanks for the help, I need it a lot!

 

[Muley Gil]

This revolver started out as a SECOND model .455, not a Triple Lock .455. The cylinder was later rechambered to .45 Colt and then in 1942, the original barrel and cylinder were removed and a .38/44 Heavy Duty barrel and cylinder were installed.

 

[Mbrgr1]

This revolver started out as a SECOND model .455, not a Triple Lock .455. The cylinder was later rechambered to .45 Colt and then in 1942, the original barrel and cylinder were removed and a .38/44 Heavy Duty barrel and cylinder were installed.

What he said!










......

 

[Hondo44]

This revolver started out as a SECOND model .455, not a Triple Lock .455. The cylinder was later rechambered to .45 Colt and then in 1942, the original barrel and cylinder were removed and a .38/44 Heavy Duty barrel and cylinder were installed.

Unless I'm confused again the .38 barrel doesn't look like a Heavy Duty
.38-44 barrel, it would have an extractor rod shroud.

 

[Mbrgr1]

Unless I'm confused again the .38 barrel doesn't look like a Heavy Duty
.38-44 barrel, it would have an extractor rod shroud.

The shrouded extractor barrel on the gun as it is now is the 38 barrel as is the cylinder, it's been that way since 1942 when it was converted, somehow, the original barrel (455) and cylinder (455) were kept with the gun through the years, which is amazing to me more than the conversion.


I did not mean to confuse anyone, I'll work on my presentation!

 

[Muley Gil]

Unless I'm confused again the .38 barrel doesn't look like a Heavy Duty
.38-44 barrel, it would have an extractor rod shroud.

Jim, are you looking at the photos in post numbers 1 and 13?

 

[mikepriwer]

Lee

The point I was trying do make is that a triplelock does still need a ramp, but it's functionality is a new piece mounted on the yoke, and not on the recoil shield. The relocated ramp pushes the the third locking point forwards, which simultaneously pushes the extractor rod locking pin forwards, because they are both one (redesigned) piece.

 

[mikepriwer]

Jim

The triple-lock extractor rod has a solid knurled end that has a slightly larger diameter than the rod, but does not have a beveled end, as do the earlier and later rods. It doesn't need the beveled end, because it's not used to push the extractor rod locking pin forward. This triple-locking mechanism was only used for the production life of the triple-lock revolvers. When they were discontinued, the locking system returned to what we see on K-frames.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[Hondo44]

The shrouded extractor barrel on the gun as it is now is the 38 barrel as is the cylinder, it's been that way since 1942 when it was converted, somehow, the original barrel (455) and cylinder (455) were kept with the gun through the years, which is amazing to me more than the conversion.


I did not mean to confuse anyone, I'll work on my presentation!

Not your fault, too hard to keep stuff straight jumping around to the photos on this cellphone.

 

[red9]

Here is Second Model #40095, sleeved to .38 Special with a lowered front sight like H. Richard's (Post #18).

Bob
.

 

[Mbrgr1]

I was able (with a little help from my friends) to find the original order for the conversion in 1942,

$23 + was pricey then I'm thinking?, the house lot of Mr. House in Grand Rapids is empty today. I'm digging around in census records to see whats out there.

As Lee said, probably could not buy a 38/44 HD during the war and hatched a plan to get one!

 

[Hondo44]

That's a great end to the story! Glad to see you were able to get the documentation for the pedigree of your revolver. Yes $23 was a lot back then but less than a new revolver. And a great way to acquire a gun that wasn't available at the time.

 

[DARE]

Think the .357 Magnum was still at $60 in 1942. Except of course that you could not buy one. IIRC a .38/44 Outdoorsman had a price tag around $45 at that time. So $23 was about half the price of a new one that you could not get.

 

[fleabus101]

Lee ,
Regarding the spaghetti recipe. Just don't forget to add enuf
Thyme for an authentic Italian Flavor.
And the secret Ingredient from the Andy Griffith episode when he ate 3 Spaghetti
Suppers one night..
The secret Ingredient menttioned by all the cooks..Oregeno..