Please help with .44 5 screw

[Brillo]

I just had this pistol passed down to me from my mom. It was carried by my granddad in the 60s and 70s when he was an Alabama State Trooper. I don't want to sell the gun. I would just like to know a little about the gun that my granddad used to carry. There's a lot of history with this gun and him. I have attached a picture of the gun and the serial number is stamped on the bottom... 67XX... I x'd out the last two numbers. Can someone please help me with this? Thanks in advance.

 

[JP@AK]

A four digit serial number? Is this a Triple Lock?
If so, it is wearing later stocks.
JP

 

[Oyeboteb]

More images, ( less glare ) and showing both sides and from closer up.

Too hard to tell enough otherwise!

 

[Brillo]

I'm not sure. I just kinda got into guns, that's why my mom passed it down. I do know that when my grandfather passed away, my grandmother sent it to Smith and had them clean it up and check it over. When they received it, they called her and tried to buy it from her but she wouldn't sell it. I think it's a pretty old gun. I just want to find out about it so when I pass it down to my son, he'll have some history of it.

 

[Brillo]

How would I tell if it's a triple lock? It's in a shadow box sealed up.

 

[Brillo]

Here is another pic with less glare I hope. I would hate to break into the shadow box and take the gun out.

 

[Green Frog]

It's easier to tell from the other side whether it's a Triple Lock, but maybe somebody else can say definitively. The low number and the shroud around the ejector rod (under the barrel) tends to point that way also. I agree that the grips are replacements, but they would probably have already been old at the time it took the trip you mentioned back to S&W. Another thing that sort of puzzles me is why a police officer in the '60s and '70s would have carried a revolver that was already about 50 years old.

I wholeheartedly agree that you should keep and conserve the gun and everything associated with it through your grandfather's career. However, you have more determination than I do if you can resist taking it out and shooting it! It seems a shame to leave our grandfather's faithful companion imprisoned when it didn't do anything wrong!

My condolences on the loss of your grandfather but congratulations on being made the custodian of such a treasured piece of family history! And of course, welcome to the board... nice entrance!

Froggie

 

[dacoontz]

It's a triple lock. You can see the locking lug just under where the barrel meets the frame. I wonder what the factory did as the finish looks very righteous from the pics. No dishing around the screws and the side plate fit looks okay. If that is an original finish nickel 4 inch triple lock than it doesn't surprise me that someone at the factory tried to buy it off you. What did they offer you?

I should add that if I am correct and it is indeed a triple lock, then those diamond magnas are likely transitional N frame magnas and I am sure someone on the forum would trade you straight across for similar condition period correct grips/stocks.

 

[Brillo]

He carried it because the Sheriff he was working for carried it. The Sheriff's wife bought it for him and he carried it. He was serving a warrant, and when he approached the house, he was shot and killed. His wife wanted my granddad to have it because the sheriff considered him a son. My granddad carried it to remind him of the sheriff. Then when me granddad became Lieutenant of the State Troopers he was mentoring a young trooper that always wanted to carry it. My granddad finally let him carry it for a few days. That trooper pulled someone over and was shot and killed as he approached the car. So 2 officers have been killed in action without being able to pull the gun out. After that, my granddad put it up and never carried it again. I don't know that he knew much about the gun and how old it is. That's why I'd like to know some history about it.
Thanks for the reply.

 

[Brillo]

Not sure what Smith offered her. She never told me and she has passed away now. I do know there is no amount of money that would have taken for it being that it was my granddad's and the history of the 2 fallen officers.

 

[murphydog]

Here is a photo of the right side of a Triple Lock. There is a small metal wedge at the underside of the ejector rod housing; can you see this on your grand-dad's gun?

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...ock-serial-689-factory-lettered-page-4-a.html

If so, it cannot be a later model.

 

[dacoontz]

If it is an original finish triple lock 4 inch than it has a ton of value based on that alone. With it's history and provenance, it is priceless. Thank you for sharing it with us and the story behind it.

I'm sure there's gentlmen here that would love to have the serial number for our SWCA database as it is a historic Smith.

Could you take a better picture, without any glare, of that spot where the bottom aspect of the barrel meets the frame? If you see a "C" like cut into the frame than that's the locking lug that is only seen on triple locks (hence the name).

Great gun!!!


EDIT: Ditto to what Alan said.

 

[bob1956]

I have a set of period correct grips that we could come to terms on if you are intrested. It would be nice to return that show piece to its factory shipped configuration. if intrested PM me.

 

[murphydog]

And here is a link to finding out more history about the gun from the factory:

Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

 

[chud333]

Sounds like it's a good thing it is being kept in that
shadow box. If indeed it is an original nickle 4" triple
lock that is a very valued gun. A lot of guys on here
would love to have a chance at one like that.
Since it was your grandpas no money could ever replace
it so just enjoy it as is. You might consider putting it away
except for special occasions to show family/friends. I don't
believe i'd hang it on the wall, too easily stolen if your broken
into.

Chuck

 

[BUFF]

Brillo:

I agree with dacoontz, it's called a Triple-Lock popularly, but is called the .44 Hand Ejector First Model, or New Century. It was the first of what became the large N frame and was introduced in 1908. Yours was likely shipped in 1909 or 1910. Most were chamberd in .44 Special but a handful were chambered in .38-40, .44-40 and .45 Colt. There were less than 16,000 First Model made before S&W simplified the cylinder locking system and eliminated the ejector rod shroud on the bottom of the barrel, in 1917. 4 inch barreled Triple-Locks are pretty scarce, most were made with 5 or 6-1/2 inch barrels.

Not only do you have a tremendous family heirloom on your hands, the gun has pretty good dollar value as well.

 

[JP@AK]

I agree with most of what has been written here. This is a wonderful old revolver and a great family heirloom. Take good care of it.
Handing it down to your son someday is a terrific idea. Do what you can to document its individual history, along with research on the Triple Lock generally. By that, I mean try to get some documentation about the two officers who lost their lives in the line of duty carrying this gun, the use by the Sheriff (including his name and years of service) and the exact period the gun was carried by your grandfather. If you can find a photo of him in uniform, keep it with the gun or in some other safe place so it can accompany the S&W as it is handed down through the family.
Thanks very much for sharing this revolver and its story with us.
Regards,
JP

 

[Muley Gil]

"Another thing that sort of puzzles me is why a police officer in the '60s and '70s would have carried a revolver that was already about 50 years old."

Froggie, my first police revolver, which I bought in 1976, was a reblued 1917. David Carroll, a well known dealer in fine S&W firearms, was a Jefferson County, Alabama deputy sheriff into the 1980s, and he carried a 1926 .44 Special. A friend of mine, now a retired police lieutenant, started as a patrolman in 1980, and he carried a post WW II 1926 .44 Special.

Being old didn't mean a large caliber revolver wasn't a viable police duty gun.

 

[Brillo]

Pictures

Yall have me very interested in the gun so I took it out of the shadow box and I want to clean it again before putting it back in there. What is the best solution to used to clean this? Also I have more pictures I took with it out so maybe yall can tell me more about it. Any information is greatly appreciated. And thanks again for the compliments on the gun and everyone's help.

 

[Brillo]

Another pic.