Triple Lock info.

[reitejl]

I was wondering if somebody could give me an idea of when my triple lock was manufactured, the ser # is 30XX and there is a star stamp on the butt which explains the faint S&W monogram on the side plate. It's a 6 1/2" not 6", 44 Special with the original grips. Having problems posting pics I'll try again later it is also stamped 2 26 on the left side of grip frame.

 

[bmg60]

Hi
I have a couple in that serial range and they were shipped in 1910 first 6 months.
Jim Fisher

 

[ranger]

Good Afternoon,
Just saw your post and notice you stated the revolver has
a 6" barrel. If I'm not mistaken, triplelocks were never offered with a 6" barrel, should be 6 1/2".
Regards,
Richard

 

[DCWilson]

Reitejl and Ranger, welcome to the forum.

Ranger is right about the 6.5" barrel.

Reitejl, can you post pics? We love pics here. Particularly of fine guns like TLs.

The star indicates a return to the factory for service. If you pull the stocks, you may see an encoded service date on the left side of the grip frame, like 10.26 for October 1926.

 

[reitejl]

S&W Triple lock

Here's a couple of pics of the ol girl.

 

[DCWilson]

That's a good-looking TL. Congratulations on having it in the family.

 

[mbliss57]

That is a very nice TL!! I think (no I know) I want one. That will be a challenge but one worth pursuing.

 

[rhmc24]

When would s/n 498 have been made?

 

[murphydog]

When would s/n 498 have been made?

Almost certainly shipped in the first year of production, 1908.

Now you owe us some photos!

 

[rhmc24]

OK here it is - a nice shooter, refinished with perfect bore. Very sharp markings & good color on hammer and trigger. Cost me $1100 few weeks ago. I have replaced the grips with stag magna types and these are up on a non-gun auction site. Actual s/n is a few digits away from 49x.

 

[DCWilson]

That's a sensitively refinished TL, to judge from this side. I don't see rounded frame corners or flattened studs. The refinisher left the hammer and trigger with case coloring, which shows compliance with S&W's refinishing standards. Did he leave the cam plate with case coloring? I have one refinished TL where the non-factory refinisher handled the hammer and trigger properly, but blued the cam plate for the third lock. Can't always get everything right!

 

[rhmc24]

The only thing wrong I see with this refinish is its more satin blue and high polish. Cased parts still cased. Looked too good to be true and I had phone talk with the sell. Still skeptical I bought it and it looks unfired since refinish. Six mos ago I also got a 5" S&W factory refinish in nickel about the same description, same money. Both better than expected. Others not so good, one sent back.

 

[hsguy]

Almost certainly shipped in the first year of production, 1908.

Now you owe us some photos!

Alan, I am not sure about that, as with many things S&W they are hard to predict. I have TL s/n 373 which shipped in March of 1910.

 

[Hondo44]

This one is a refinsh as well. Hammer and trigger correctly left alone but the triple lock plate was blued. After these photos I took out the plate and stripped it with naval jelly. Then coated with oil and touched it with Oxpho blue. Took just enough spotty blue thru the oil to look case hardened. $700 w/o grips last year.

 

[reitejl]

Took the TL out to the range Sunday and I was mentoring a young man whom is my sons best friend since they were lil ones and I've hauled this kid to highschool rodeos and 4H horse shows and ropings since 1998 and now he is a young man in the military who is hungering for knowledge in the love of wheelguns. At work he shoots a SIG 226 & 228 and a pair of Colt M4's in 14" and 10" barrel length. I feel so honored to have this young soldier come to me for help and to learn about fine wheelguns and handloading. I also helped him with welding and fabrication as that is my occupation and he has built a couple Jeeps so far. The point of this post is after going through my safe getting ready to hit the range he picked up my 24-3 several times and expressed his severe case of revolver envy, That lil Lew Horton 44 is one of my favorites but this young man is a real source of pride for me and I love him dearly and matter of fact he was staying with us the morning my youngest son passed away, his birthday.... I handed him that 44 snubby and told him It's yours and the look on his face was priceless, he repeatedly exclaimed he could not take it and after several NO ****'S I informed him he would accept it or face the wrath of my wife...... I am proud to say I can still outshoot him with that lil antiquated 44 snubby, for now cuz I know he is gonna be practicing..... We shot some one hole groups with the ol triple lock and that young Navy SEAL is in love.

 

[Hondo44]

The only thing wrong I see with this refinish is its more satin blue and high polish. Cased parts still cased. Looked too good to be true and I had phone talk with the sell. Still skeptical I bought it and it looks unfired since refinish. Six mos ago I also got a 5" S&W factory refinish in nickel about the same description, same money. Both better than expected. Others not so good, one sent back.

Your refinished gun looks great, good enough to be a factory job. Does it have a star on the butt and a date on the left side of the grip frame?

I have a 22/32 that was factory refinished in 1953 and it has the same satin finish of yours and of new production guns in that early post war period.

 

[Hondo44]

Reitejl and Ranger, welcome to the forum.

Ranger is right about the 6.5" barrel.

Reitejl, can you post pics? We love pics here. Particularly of fine guns like TLs.

The star indicates a return to the factory for service. If you pull the stocks, you may see an encoded service date on the left side of the grip frame, like 10.26 for October 1926.

David,
Don't I recall seeing Lee's post in another recent TL thread that said 6" were available on TL?

I have TLs, mostly the usual 6-1/2" barrel length. Some of these have S&W letters from Roy Jinks. I noticed that all of my letters mention TL barrel lengths of 4", 5", 6", 6-1/2", and 7-1/2" on page 1 where the introductory background "boiler plate" information appears. I have or have seen all of these except the 6" barrel length. What do the Forum members know about the 6" barrel length TL?

Posted here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha.../230713-were-there-4-barrel-triple-locks.html

 

[Hondo44]

Good Afternoon,
Just saw your post and notice you stated the revolver has
a 6" barrel. If I'm not mistaken, triplelocks were never offered with a 6" barrel, should be 6 1/2".
Regards,
Richard

reitejl said: "It's a 6 1/2" not a 6 inch".

 

[murphydog]

Alan, I am not sure about that, as with many things S&W they are hard to predict. I have TL s/n 373 which shipped in March of 1910.

John;

You are correct. Why didn't the factory ship them in nice neat order to make us look smart a century later?

 

[reitejl]

Thanks Hondo44 and yes it does have the star stamp on the butt and 2 2 5 stamped on the left side of the grip frame.