Congrats!!
You have a very nice example of a ".44 Hand Ejector-1st Model" also marketed as the .44 Military and nicknamed the Triple Lock by collectors. AND YOU GOT IT FOR A BARGAIN BASEMENT PRICE!
Value is between $1000 and $2000; depending on finish history, so we need more info from you to pin that down, see below.
FINISH:
1. First is to establish if the original finish was blue or nickel. 'B' or 'N' stamp: ahead of pre war serial #s on the barrel flat (or in shroud), rear face of yoke, on rear face of cyl by itself, behind the extractor star, and by itself on right side grip frame on commercial guns (only on left side grip frame on post war models) indicates an original Blue finish or an original Nickel finish based upon the corresponding letter. The occasional absence (more prevalent after 1930) of either the 'B' or 'N' can also indicate that it left the factory nickeled. (Also not to be confused with a larger B behind the barrel serial # for the Bright blue optional finish in the post war era - early ‘50s when satin blue was standard.)
“I've seen nickel Triple Locks with N stamps. I've seen them without it, too. Pre-war nickel guns MAY have an N, or they may simply lack B's. Regards, Lee Jarrett”
If the gun was originally shipped with a nickel finish, that's a little better value wise than if shipped blue.
So tell us what you see?
2. Is there a star on the butt of the grip frame following the serial #?
Stars indicate return to the factory for something; rework or refinish, etc. The star on the cyl could mean a replaced cyl at the factory.
Stars are usually accompanied by a date stamped using all numerical digits on the left side of the grip under the grip. Please check for that. We can't help you w/o good information and careful observations. NOTE: Observing stampings for accuracy or even existence, especially on penciled stocks, requires magnification, bright light, and an attitude that it is there!
As observed above, the 4 line address on the right, front frame side was a bad post WW II practice at the factory until it was stopped, but it is certain evidence that the factory got the gun back at least once.
However the polished flat pin head shown on the left frame side just in front of the left grip top indicates it was refinished at least once out side of the factory. That pin is supposed to have a domed head and will still have, when factory refinished. So we likely have at least two refinishes.
SERIAL NUMBERS:
Here are the 6 (or 7 on Triple Locks) pre war fixed sight frame serial # locations which are also the locations remaining after WW II thru ~1956 to look for (not including the 3 stamped serial # locations for pre war and early post war Transitional models with pre war target sights):
1. Gun butt - or forestrap on I frames/single shots with grips that cover the butt
2. Barrel - bottom of barrel or in extractor shroud
3. Yoke - on rear face only visible thru a chamber with a flashlight
4. Extractor star - backside
5. Cylinder - rear face
6. Right stock only* - on back (except most post war target grips because individual fitting not required), penciled on Triple Locks
7. Mid-lock cam plate – “Triple Locks” only, in any caliber (up to all 5 digits).
* Stamped since 1857, stock #s, almost exclusively on right panel only, changed to penciled #s c. 1900 and back to stamped #s in 1929. Pre war penciled S/Ns are in the top half of the stock near the backstrap and read with the stock oriented with the back edge down. Sometimes a photo like this one is needed to “see” the penciled # as shown below:
Your grips have the genuine gold plated over brass indicating it was shipped after 1910 when the medallions were introduced on the walnut stocks, (if they have the matching serial #).
BACKGROUND:
The Triple Lock is the Holy Grail and very first N frame (large) Hand Ejector and .44 special Revolver! Officially it's a ".44 Hand Ejector 1st Model 1908 Military - New Century". It was introduced in 1908 along with the brand new .44 S&W Special cartridge. It has the unique feature of a third cyl lock in front of the cylinder, a feature not seen before or since. This revolver is the pinnacle of S&W engineering design and craftsmanship. Only 15,375 were made, most chambered in .44 Spl and a few in other calibers, until discontinued in 1915 and replaced with the 2nd Model which did not have the 3rd lock or the barrel shroud.
An additional ~6000 were made as the “.455 Hand Ejector 1st Model” chambered for the .455 Mk II cartridge under contract with the British Commonwealth for WW I, for a grand total of ~20836 Triple Locks.
The three locks are under the barrel in the extractor rod shroud, back of the cyl, and the 3rd lock, hence the nickname "Triple Lock", in the yoke at the front of the cyl. They all release simultaneously with a push of the cyl release thumb piece. The locking pin is sprung to the front, opposite from any other N frame, therefore there is no 'divot' in the TL recoil shield unlike all other N frames.
The front and middle locks are shown below. The TL craftsmanship is superb and a marvel of precision hand fitting, the panache of yesteryear that we will never see again:
TLs have a classic old feature to keep the cyl open when loading/unloading and prevent it from slamming closed if the gun is tipped to the right slightly and scratching the recoil shield with the extractor star.
Important Note: if you remove the yoke beware of the cyl detent pin and spring! If you aren't aware, it can launch across the room to no man knows where! If it's missing, that's likely what happened to it.
Plunger shown here in bottom of yoke and has a spring underneath it:
Looking forward to your additional information,
