My First Triple Lock

[Bearhunter 500]

Well I pulled the trigger at auction today and bought my first Triple lock. Very excited gonna be hard to wait on getting it shipped in. Here is the auction description.

Cal. 44 Spl. S# 4193. Rare 7 1/2" pinned bbl. w/ semi circular blade sight & frame notched rear. Mfg. 1907-1915. 1st model numbered 1-15,375. Matching numbered diamond center period grips properly made w/out medallions. Matching numbered cyl. & extractor. Desirable model & cal. w/ early case colored hammer & smooth faced trigger. Bottom rear of thumb piece removed; likely for easier clearance when unloading. CONDITION: good plus overall appearance w/ cleaned light pitting on both sides of bbl. near muzzle plus spot of light pitting on left side of frame behind cyl. latch. Grip area w/ patina appearance; more pronounced on backstrap w/ upper part of front strap best appearing. Light high point wear & cyl. turn line along w/ pinprick oxidation throughout. Spot of finish loss on right front of ejector housing as if by chemicals. Light impact marks to top of sight. Minor marks on butt of grips being mostly right having sides appearing near excellent. Older factory quality refinish w/ all markings clearly visible. Near excellent bore. https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/6203/221820/114295552_2_x.jpg?quality=80&version=1634820828

 

[Troystat]

Very cool, thanks for showing us.

 

[mrcvs]

I'm impressed! There seems to be a bunch of Triple Lock Target Model revolvers in this serial number range that were produced with 7 1/2" barrels and were likely assembled prior to mid 1910 when the medallion stocks became commonplace. I would letter it once the moratorium on letters ends Monday 24 January 2022.

Please post more photographs!

Edit: I see yours is NOT a Target Model, which is unusual as the aforementioned comment remains true.

 

[IWK2HT]

Very nice, I like that style of grips.
Your very lucky to find one in such good condition

 

[Kansasgunner]

Very cool old Triple Lock! Love the 7.5" barrel.

 

[Modified]

Congratulations! That barrel length is just super cool. You did *really* well on the price too I think (I was watching this one).

The ejector modification + the wear underneath it makes me think someone really liked a high hold with their long thumb resting right there. It looks like someone did a little bit of rounding/removing to make it more comfortable under recoil. I can't say for sure, but that's the only guess I could come up with looking at it. I love guns that have been used and well loved, like this one clearly has.

I wouldn't be surprised if this one has been back to the service department a time or two, will be curious to see if they stamped anything on the frame under the stocks when you have it in hand.

 

[Nightowl]

From only the one photo, it looks like original finish to me. Perhaps someone can educate me on the tell tales that indicate a refinish?

 

[mrcvs]

From only the one photo, it looks like original finish to me. Perhaps someone can educate me on the tell tales that indicate a refinish?

I have posted several left lateral views of other Triple Lock revolvers for comparison. The easiest way, usually, to denote a reblue is to open the cylinder and assess the cam, but, at the very least, a right lateral view is necessary. From a left lateral view, the most evident indicators of a refinish are flush pins, one immediately forward of the top of the stocks and one just beneath the cylinder, these having been flattened during buffing. Also, the semicircular raised section on the frame immediately behind and to the rear of the cylinder is less distinctive. Again, from buffing. Compare the OP's revolver, as follows, with my attached photographs.

S&W TRIPLE LOCK 44 HAND EJECTOR REVOLVER. |




Firearms & Military Artifacts

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| Online Auctions | Proxibid

It's surprising that the OP's revolver has been refinished as the case colouring remains fairly strong, especially on the hammer.

 

[RKmesa]

Well I pulled the trigger at auction today and bought my first Triple lock. Very excited gonna be hard to wait on getting it shipped in.

Looks like a very fun gun. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

 

[Valmet]

Very nice! While all TLs are cool, they're especially cool in .44 Spl. Well, any gun in .44 Spl is cool in my book

 

[Bearhunter 500]

Thanks for the encourgement.

Thanks for all the positive comments. As soon as I get this in my hands I will take some detailed pics. I think the pins are flat and from all information I have gathered that is one of the major indicators of reblue.

 

[Hondo44]

Thanks for all the positive comments. As soon as I get this in my hands I will take some detailed pics. I think the pins are flat and from all information I have gathered that is one of the major indicators of reblue.

Unless it was factory refinished after the war, which was the new protocol after WWII on new guns and refinished pre war guns.

 

[Truckman]

I missed my first Triple Lock this morning by mere seconds......Ben

 

[mrcvs]

Unless it was factory refinished after the war, which was the new protocol after WWII on new guns and refinished pre war guns.

Then it should have a month and year date code under the stocks. Is this the case? Such as 10 55 would be October 1955.

 

[Hondo44]

Then it should have a month and year date code under the stocks. Is this the case? Such as 10 55 would be October 1955.

Yes, if it was factory refinished with flattened pins it would have a post war date stamp.

The unknown part is, if it has no factory refinished date, then it could have been refinished by anyone else before or after the war and would typically have had the pins flat polished by who did the refinish.

 

[delcrossv]

Very nice TL. You'll love how it shoots.