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EcoCharlieZulu
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I was overwhelmed by all the S/N locations in original TLs. Mine is -evidently- not one of them.
Please, is this an authentic H.E. Triple Lock?
- Thread starter EcoCharlieZulu
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Here is a roll mark from a 1935 .357 Magnum to compare.
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EcoCharlieZulu
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Laser engraving on a fake revolver that showed up in Argentina around 2000? Hmmmm... Allow me to be a little sceptical
The OP’s butt serial number reads right side up with barrel pointed to the left.
All S&W butt numbers read with barrel pointed to the right until 1942.
All S&W butt numbers read with barrel pointed to the right until 1942.
I think the 'S&W' on the bbl and the Logo on the LH sideplate have been added.
The bbl marking when looked at very closely looks like an acid etch with hand engraving clean up.
The letters don't match in height especially the 'S's. The vertical bars of many of the letters are less than vertical. The tips or ends of the elements of letters very often have a spear point shape. Sure sign of a v-point chisel being used to cut/recut the letter portion and done carelessly if trying to mimic a roll-die.
The Logo looks like maybe a stamp and some hand engraving involved.
If you look closely again, the process of placing the Logo on the sideplate took a couple trys.
There are the faint partial stamp marks of the circular outline of the logo in the 2oclock position
Plus a little of the bars of the 'E' in the word Trade at about 1oclock just above the word TRADE.
Way outside of that there is another divot of a sort. That my have been left over from the orig mfg's logo, though just a guess on that. There has been a lot of filing and metal removal in that area through.
On the inside of the grip strap frame on the RH side,,a factory work mark of 1 45 (?)
Is it a for real mark, a purposely done fake mark, or maybe something done by the orig mfg if othr than S&W.
The ser# looks like a Spanish revolver # to me.
No caliber marking
The grip pin placement has been noted.
Just some stuff I see.
The bbl marking when looked at very closely looks like an acid etch with hand engraving clean up.
The letters don't match in height especially the 'S's. The vertical bars of many of the letters are less than vertical. The tips or ends of the elements of letters very often have a spear point shape. Sure sign of a v-point chisel being used to cut/recut the letter portion and done carelessly if trying to mimic a roll-die.
The Logo looks like maybe a stamp and some hand engraving involved.
If you look closely again, the process of placing the Logo on the sideplate took a couple trys.
There are the faint partial stamp marks of the circular outline of the logo in the 2oclock position
Plus a little of the bars of the 'E' in the word Trade at about 1oclock just above the word TRADE.
Way outside of that there is another divot of a sort. That my have been left over from the orig mfg's logo, though just a guess on that. There has been a lot of filing and metal removal in that area through.
On the inside of the grip strap frame on the RH side,,a factory work mark of 1 45 (?)
Is it a for real mark, a purposely done fake mark, or maybe something done by the orig mfg if othr than S&W.
The ser# looks like a Spanish revolver # to me.
No caliber marking
The grip pin placement has been noted.
Just some stuff I see.
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EcoCharlieZulu
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Oh, didn´t know about that. Thanks for sharing. I will go and check another old gun i own... a .38 Hand Ejector
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EcoCharlieZulu
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Thank you so much for the meticulous analysis, pal
Jim Watson
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Might the 1 45 on the grip frame indicate a January 1945 overhaul?
S&W rework dates are on the left side of the grip frame on all I have seen.
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Eddie Southgate
Member
With two different grips ? That's a bit weird . Dave Keith has built a few non TL's into TL lookalikes but if he did one the fit and finish was dead nuts perfect and marked by him if I remember correctly. That 3rd lock looks like it's not as well fit as it should be but it could be from polishing the frame like the sideplate. I still wouldn't mind having it either way , looks like it would be a good shooter and if original it's messed with enough to where it wouldn't bother me to have the barrel shortened so it would carry easier in the woods. Does not look foreign to me at all.
Sebago Son
Member
One of the New Century "Triple lock" revolvers in my collection is 15,011. It was from a 'parts clean-up' run from the British Contract and was assembled between Christmas and New Years, 1917. You will note that the serial number is far lower than the example you have provided.
Grip pin is off and the pin holding the front locking bolt/third lock plunger is wrong. On a TL, there are two pins in the front of the underlug. This only has one towards the too sharp corner of the underlug (but same set-up as the verified Spanish copy).
Good to hear it shoots great! That’s a fun one.
Good to hear it shoots great! That’s a fun one.
cgt4570
Member
It looks an awful lot like a real Smith TL, but the .44 Special was NEVER a U.S. service cartridge! The roll marks don't make any sense. The "and US service cartridge" roll mark was only used on early .38 Spl revolvers because they would also safely chamber the slightly shorter .38 Long Colt cartridge that was the military standard before the .45 ACP. The short lived .44 American cartridge was obsolete by the time your gun was produced. You have a real head scratcher.
