Need help identifying and old S&W Revolver
- Thread starter Dolf
- Start date
Probably not, since that gun had a century-old vintage sight. But there are companies that specialize in old gun parts, and there may be some members of this forum who have small parts collections that include a sight of the specific height and general type that you need.
You might like to look at this: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...e-lock-target-find.html?490559=#post139264489
That thread has some discussion about early triple lock targets that may provide some information relevant to your friend's revolver. The one that leads off that thread is chambered in .44 Special and has a rear sight capable of elevation as well as side to side adjustment. But the front sight is very possibly the one that would have been installed on the .455 we are discussing in this thread. Such sight blades were manufactured with different heights above the sight base. These sight choices differed by only a few thousandths of an inch, and you would need to know which one is correct for a firearm with a rear sight that could not be adjusted for elevation.
There may be another problem here that I am sorry to bring up, but the pin that retains the current short blade looks oversized and placed too high to me, and the inserted blade does not seem to be seated fully in the slot in the sight base. If you do find a replacement Sheard bead sight (or its equivalent), it might take some careful fitting of the blade to the base and some precise drilling of the foot of the new blade to permit reuse of the current large pin.
There are no close-up photos of the sight in that thread, but the first post has images of the entire revolver that can be enlarged to see the sight profile.
Here are a couple of other links that show Sheard (Marbles) bead sights more closely. The relevant images are included in the top post of each thread.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...4-outdoorsman-home.html?628802=#post140898641
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...get-pictures-added.html?221206=#post136234752
What I am trying to show with these pictures is the basic profile of the sight blade you should try to find, not the specific height or minor features like the grooves you can see on one sight's thin edge. The guns in these two threads were produced in the 1930s, so they are several years younger than the .455 we have been discussing.
Here are a couple of other links that show Sheard (Marbles) bead sights more closely. The relevant images are included in the top post of each thread.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...4-outdoorsman-home.html?628802=#post140898641
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...get-pictures-added.html?221206=#post136234752
What I am trying to show with these pictures is the basic profile of the sight blade you should try to find, not the specific height or minor features like the grooves you can see on one sight's thin edge. The guns in these two threads were produced in the 1930s, so they are several years younger than the .455 we have been discussing.
Wrangler Rich
US Veteran
Christian, one thing that I do before taking a side plate off, is loosening the main spring screw at the base of the grip. This removes the tension on the hammer stud. As the side plate has a corresponding divot in it that aligns with the stud. Un-supported, it could break off.
WR
WR
I believe it was looked up wrong. No doubt a British service revolver #4054 in the British serial # range was produced, however, never with a 7 1/2" barrel, custom Bisley sights and checkered trigger.
First there was a #4054 TL Military model revolver produced in the 44 spl # range but factory chambered in .455. The # (most #s) was duplicated but in the British contract serial # range about a decade later.
No offense to Don Mundell who assists Roy Jinks with historical letters, but I believe it was looked up incorrectly in the shipping records. I would call Roy and have it looked up in the .44 Spl Military 'Triple lock' serial # range, and once he confirms it, request a corrected letter.
Call Smith & Wesson @ 800-331-0852 and choose option 7 on the menu when the 'machine' picks up. The Historian, Roy Jinks, will come on the line if he's not out of town. Give him the serial number, refer him to your letter and the details of your gun, and he can look up the # in the .44 Spl Military shipping records from the factory. That will confirm the correct identity and configuration of your very unique gun.
Also refer Roy to post #28 in this thread. Roy knows Handejector and that he knows as much about these as anyone. Also as he posted, the lanyard ring in the butt is not a S&W lanyard ring like all British service revolvers had. Drilling thru the butt serial # ws not done on the BSRs, but could be a factory installation however only if it has the serial # also stamped on the left side of the grip frame near the bottom. If not, the drilling was not done at the factory. The BSRs had the serial on the butt offset so the # would not be drilled thru.
Let us know what you find out.
First there was a #4054 TL Military model revolver produced in the 44 spl # range but factory chambered in .455. The # (most #s) was duplicated but in the British contract serial # range about a decade later.
No offense to Don Mundell who assists Roy Jinks with historical letters, but I believe it was looked up incorrectly in the shipping records. I would call Roy and have it looked up in the .44 Spl Military 'Triple lock' serial # range, and once he confirms it, request a corrected letter.
Call Smith & Wesson @ 800-331-0852 and choose option 7 on the menu when the 'machine' picks up. The Historian, Roy Jinks, will come on the line if he's not out of town. Give him the serial number, refer him to your letter and the details of your gun, and he can look up the # in the .44 Spl Military shipping records from the factory. That will confirm the correct identity and configuration of your very unique gun.
Also refer Roy to post #28 in this thread. Roy knows Handejector and that he knows as much about these as anyone. Also as he posted, the lanyard ring in the butt is not a S&W lanyard ring like all British service revolvers had. Drilling thru the butt serial # ws not done on the BSRs, but could be a factory installation however only if it has the serial # also stamped on the left side of the grip frame near the bottom. If not, the drilling was not done at the factory. The BSRs had the serial on the butt offset so the # would not be drilled thru.
Let us know what you find out.
Last edited:
Yep, now that's that a correct letter!
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 26,097
- Reaction score
- 46,832
I do too! You just hit a home run. Congratulations.
