Smith & Wesson Triple Lock - Owned & Modified by R.W. Loveless

[bravo2five]

Are you not walking a fine line with the gentleman that gifted you this gun? If you start asking him about proof and value isn't that kind of insulting to him? He would probably be very disappointed (mad) if he thought you were going to sell it.

I thought about that, but have no intention in selling the gun and he'd be welcome to verify any time he wanted. To me, it was a really nice revolver. Then, when I sent pics to my buddy and he told me all about it, I got more interested in finding the history/worth. I even called him later and said, "You realize what you gave me, right?" He said he did and was fine with it.

Overall, I'm pretty upfront/transparent. I am an FFL so I even wonder if he'd expect me to try to sell it, but I have no interest in doing so.

 

[StrawHat]

I hesitate to say this, but, I can type up a page that would say Abe Lincoln did all the modifications.

Buy the revolver, not the story. If the story proves to be true, BONUS!!

Kevin

yes, I am slightly familiar with Bob Loveless.

 

[BC38]

Even though it has been refinished, I have to say that is one of the nicest looking triple-locks I have seen in my time on this forum. Looks to me like whoever did the reblue really knew what they were doing, and did factory quality work.

The Bob Loveless provenance is just a bonus IMO. I would dearly LOVE to own that one, and to have it GIVEN to me as a free gift?!? SCORE!

Nobody could ask for any better than that! AWESOME!

 

[4T5GUY]

I promise I won't keep "adding" to this but…..

I'd definitely try contacting Steve Johnson, (S.R. Johnson Knives.) He is, at least he was very approachable AND still alive. In 1971 he started grinding with Bob at the Lawndale shop. He continued after the move to Riverside until 1974. Johnson-Loveless knifes were some of the very best. Steve told me that he personally took the finished in the white guns/parts to another local shop get them blued. These were mostly Colt 1911 .45 Loveless conversions and there were very few of these. I'm assuming Riverside.

I strongly feel that if yours is what it is, it's early. Jim Merritt, (1982 till Bob died in 2010,) talked to me about the 41's exclusively but that's what I called him about. If Loveless converted and owned yours someone if not many saw it. In his 14 July 1980 Sports Illustrated article/interview it was noted that he was eating his breakfast with a Colt .45 in front of him. I'll bet he had converted it but that part was not noticed or mentioned.

Jim

 

[mrcvs]

4T5guy is spot on. If the gent who gifted you this gun is still with us a more detailed letter along with a signature and possibly even a notary stamp would be a great start. An investment in putting together some provenance on this gun would be amply rewarded. I know that gun would surely be my most prized possession.

All a statement from the donor, signed, and with a notarized signature is just that. I could write on a piece of paper that President Roosevelt gifted my great grandfather a particular revolver, and have it notarized, and the notary just affirms that I am the individual signing that piece of paper and that's my signature. The story cannot be proven. As with this revolver. It's a claim, there's no proof that Bob Loveless ever owned this revolver. The donor could have just made up that story. Without definitive proof of ownership—a sales receipt, record of inventory, etc, it's just a reblued and modified Triple Lock revolver and should be valued accordingly.

 

[handejector]

All a statement from the donor, signed, and with a notarized signature is just that. I could write on a piece of paper that President Roosevelt gifted my great grandfather a particular revolver, and have it notarized, and the notary just affirms that I am the individual signing that piece of paper and that's my signature. The story cannot be proven. As with this revolver. It's a claim, there's no proof that Bob Loveless ever owned this revolver. The donor could have just made up that story. Without definitive proof of ownership—a sales receipt, record of inventory, etc, it's just a reblued and modified Triple Lock revolver and should be valued accordingly.

Maybe.
Maybe Not.
We all crave and admire Roper grips. However, I have never seen a pair that are marked with a trademark nor even a notarized letter that says they are Roper grips, but we accept them as genuine Ropers.
That is because we have examined enough of them to recognize the hand of Gagne. I mentioned above that I can see that the gun is hand polished. (I'm looking at a very large monitor) Even though well done, I can see which way his hand was traveling on most surfaces. If I could compare this gun, side by side with guns known to have been done by him, it would lend more probability that he did it, IF the same polishing was evident. Likewise, comparing widened hammers and that front sight to known work could lend credence. Add the possibility of photographs existing among Bob's effects, or memories of the gun by his close associates, and it is sometimes possible to add probability to possibility.
Maybe.
Maybe Not.

 

[Bald1]

Lee is on to something here.

 

[mrcvs]

Maybe.
Maybe Not.
We all crave and admire Roper grips. However, I have never seen a pair that are marked with a trademark nor even a notarized letter that says they are Roper grips, but we accept them as genuine Ropers.
That is because we have examined enough of them to recognize the hand of Gagne. I mentioned above that I can see that the gun is hand polished. (I'm looking at a very large monitor) Even though well done, I can see which way his hand was traveling on most surfaces. If I could compare this gun, side by side with guns known to have been done by him, it would lend more probability that he did it, IF the same polishing was evident. Likewise, comparing widened hammers and that front sight to known work could lend credence. Add the possibility of photographs existing among Bob's effects, or memories of the gun by his close associates, and it is sometimes possible to add probability to possibility.
Maybe.
Maybe Not.

A photograph of this revolver with Bob Loveless, now this is credible provenance.

A Roper set of grips just looks and feels like it's a set of Ropers. Of course , you never know "for sure". But that's not reworking of an existing object, such as a manufactured revolver.

 

[A10]

This might be interesting to some of my fellow knife nuts.....Mr. Loveless was preeminent and groundbreaking in his knife designs. His drop point hunter is cited as changing the industry.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDJ6_Xq5KMc[/ame]

 

[mrcvs]

I'm going to take a contrarian stance here, and it might not prove popular.

This is a modified from original and reblued Triple Lock revolver, plain and simple. As you can see, Bob Loveless was a knife maker.

Bob Loveless - Wikipedia

Not a gunsmith. Plus, once you modify a revolver from original, it's forever ruined. Who cares whether or not you ruined it forever, I did, Bob Loveless did, a skilled gunsmith did, or the Pope did, for that matter? I wouldn't pay even a one cent premium over the value of this being a non factory reblued and modified Triple Lock revolver.

Others may value this revolver differently, for reasons not apparent to me.

 

[410bore]

I'm going to take a contrarian stance here, and it might not prove popular.

This is a modified from original and reblued Triple Lock revolver, plain and simple. As you can see, Bob Loveless was a knife maker.

Bob Loveless - Wikipedia

Not a gunsmith. Plus, once you modify a revolver from original, it's forever ruined. Who cares whether or not you ruined it forever, I did, Bob Loveless did, a skilled gunsmith did, or the Pope did, for that matter? I wouldn't pay even a one cent premium over the value of this being a non factory reblued and modified Triple Lock revolver.

Others may value this revolver differently, for reasons not apparent to me.

So......with that stance......I suppose a King Super Target Triple Lock would be of ZERO interest to you......am I correct?

 

[Muley Gil]

I'm going to take a contrarian stance here, and it might not prove popular.

This is a modified from original and reblued Triple Lock revolver, plain and simple. As you can see, Bob Loveless was a knife maker.

Bob Loveless - Wikipedia

Not a gunsmith. Plus, once you modify a revolver from original, it's forever ruined. Who cares whether or not you ruined it forever, I did, Bob Loveless did, a skilled gunsmith did, or the Pope did, for that matter? I wouldn't pay even a one cent premium over the value of this being a non factory reblued and modified Triple Lock revolver.

Others may value this revolver differently, for reasons not apparent to me.

That's fine. More goodies for the rest of us.

 

[mrcvs]

So......with that stance......I suppose a King Super Target Triple Lock would be of ZERO interest to you......am I correct?

Well, we have things that interest us, and things that don't. So, yes, given many other things float my boat, the interest in this is minimal. I have to pick & choose…I can't have it all.

 

[A10]

I'm going to take a contrarian stance here, and it might not prove popular.

This is a modified from original and reblued Triple Lock revolver, plain and simple. As you can see, Bob Loveless was a knife maker.

Bob Loveless - Wikipedia

Not a gunsmith. Plus, once you modify a revolver from original, it's forever ruined. Who cares whether or not you ruined it forever, I did, Bob Loveless did, a skilled gunsmith did, or the Pope did, for that matter? I wouldn't pay even a one cent premium over the value of this being a non factory reblued and modified Triple Lock revolver.

Others may value this revolver differently, for reasons not apparent to me.

Elvis Presley was just a singer.....have you seen the price of his guns?

 

[series guy]

History has proven that the right name connected to an item can have great affect on its value. A Davis built PPC revolver, a Clark built Model 41, or maybe a Swenson 1911. This type of gun may not be your cup of tea but that does not mean that they don't have a significant value. As mentioned earlier Loveless modified Model 41s bring a healthy price due to Bob's skill in metal working. It's fine to have a narrow focus in your collecting but you can't allow that to carry over into someone else's interests.

 

[mrcvs]

Elvis Presley was just a singer.....have you seen the price of his guns?

Elvis Presley is a household name. Plus, he was larger than life…and so are his guns.

 

[410bore]

History has proven that the right name connected to an item can have great affect on its value. A Davis built PPC revolver, a Clark built Model 41, or maybe a Swenson 1911. This type of gun may not be your cup of tea but that does not mean that they don't have a significant value. As mentioned earlier Loveless modified Model 41s bring a healthy price due to Bob's skill in metal working. It's fine to have a narrow focus in your collecting but you can't allow that to carry over into someone else's interests.

EXACTLY - he may not like them or desire one, but you cannot ignore the demand in an item which equates to value. This is the same principle for any collectible (modified or famously owned aside).

 

[M_conrad_0311]

Personally, I am a huge fan of Bob's knives. I happen to own some very nice knives from several masters. Bob is one maker that I have yet to own an example from. A Loveless knife is a "grail" knife for many.They continue to climb in value every day. I would absolutely love to own one of Bob's knives. I would also say that the triple lock is my favorite Smith and Wesson. If I were allowed the opportunity, I would be ecstatic to own a Loveless modified triple lock. If Bob means something to you, then the revolver is priceless. If Bob is someone that you have to Google, then it is just a messed. up made over 44. If the gentleman who gifted it to you is special to you, then the 44 is again priceless. If that old big iron were in my collection, it would be shot, carried, and displayed with one of Bob's exceptional knives!

As others have suggested, that 44 would benefit from associated verification, even if it is only to benefit your children. You may be surprised as to what stories may be told about that wonderful piece. However, do not be surprised if there are none, andit is just another old fantastic hole punch.

 

[mrcvs]

Personally, I am a huge fan of Bob's knives. I happen to own some very nice knives from several masters. Bob is one maker that I have yet to own an example from. A Loveless knife is a "grail" knife for many.They continue to climb in value every day. I would absolutely love to own one of Bob's knives. I would also say that the triple lock is my favorite Smith and Wesson. If I were allowed the opportunity, I would be ecstatic to own a Loveless modified triple lock. If Bob means something to you, then the revolver is priceless. If Bob is someone that you have to Google, then it is just a messed. up made over 44. If the gentleman who gifted it to you is special to you, then the 44 is again priceless. If that old big iron were in my collection, it would be shot, carried, and displayed with one of Bob's exceptional knives!

As others have suggested, that 44 would benefit from associated verification, even if it is only to benefit your children. You may be surprised as to what stories may be told about that wonderful piece. However, do not be surprised if there are none, andit is just another old fantastic hole punch.

I had to Google Bob Loveless to even know about him. But I'm not a knife collector.

 

[T44spl]

It seems that there are two things that need to be established to place any premium in value on this TripleLock. One is proof of ownership by Bob Loveless and the second would be proof that he performed the work on this gun. We do know from expert observation by experienced forum members that the work was expertly done by a skilled metal craftsman.
So at this point in time the OP has to establish this through irrefutable provenance.
Regardless it has provided a lot of stimulating dialogue and that's one triplelock any one of us would be glad to call his own whether you already have zero, one or ten.