Triple lock resque-update
- Thread starter andy52
- Start date
I paid too much for a 4" TL from a well known auction site some years back. Exterior was not too bad but mechanically it was too far gone and bore was bad. "Buyer beware" is no joke...
A very talented friend of mine offered to hand polish and blue the gun as closely to original as possible and did an amazing job. So now I have a nice 4" non-shooting display TL, rescued from the scrap heap. It IS very pretty.
But I sure am snakebit when it comes to auctions! Never again.
A very talented friend of mine offered to hand polish and blue the gun as closely to original as possible and did an amazing job. So now I have a nice 4" non-shooting display TL, rescued from the scrap heap. It IS very pretty.
But I sure am snakebit when it comes to auctions! Never again.
First World Problem
Picked up the TL today it's extremely dirty so next it gets a good cleaning. The best I can tell it hasn't been refinished there's no B stamped on it anywhere. The roll marks are pretty clear considering it's age and condition. Here's a few pics and the last one is rather interesting. While inspecting the gun I noticed some additional stamps on the butt right below the serial number, it appears to be ODIN ALEX VA. what that means I have no idea.
Attachments
ODIN Stamp
Could it be an import stamp? Sure looks like!
Could it be an import stamp? Sure looks like!
jebstuart
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Odin was/is a firearms importer in Alexandria, VA, not unlike Interarms (also in Alexandria). I know they were there as late as the very early 80's. I worked in D.C. and stopped by both spots periodically to dig through stuff. It was usually pretty tough going - much rust and arsenal wood repair, but a gem could be found sometimes.
But now then, that implies that your TL left the U.S. at some point and imported back. You may assume that the country from which it was imported back, did not require proof, if you see no proof mark's. British, Canadian, Australian (all likely places) would have required a pass through a proof house. I would be thinking about a letter now.
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I think you are correct, I just did some research on Odin Alex VA. There were importers of mainly Mexican guns confiscated in the 70s gun ban down there. Now I really know I have to have this TL lettered to see where it was shipped to. I suppose it could have crossed the border back in the day or maybe some cowboy sold it for "whatever" hint, hint in a border town.
jebstuart
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
That makes sense to me, and explains the lack of proof marks. Having lived in a boarder state for almost 30 years, I have, at times, conducted a stiff trade with Mexico myself.
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I don't think I would do a thing to that revolver except clean it. Old is old, original is original and character comes from both together. A letter could be enlightening, maybe??
Agreed! I am fairly certain this one is not refinished, and it looks like the nickel should on a well used specimen. The "TRADE" as located on the sideplate appears a little weak, but all other markings, especially the barrel markings, are quite crisp. So I suggest that the "TRADE" might be a little weak compared to other examples, but not because of previous polishing and refinishing.
Clean it and apply Renaissance wax. That's it! Because this has an unusual and original 5" barrel, it should be left as is, original. Of course, this would be the case if this had a standard barrel length, but the case for maintaining originality is enhanced due to the scarcity of Triple Lock revolvers with original 5" barrels.
Please post your letter once received.
ODIN, that takes me back! Yes they were importers of firearms that had been confiscated in Mexico in the early 1980's. I grew up and lived in NOVA and had a couple of ODIN imported guns, one was a four inch Python that had been hard chromed, one side of that Python was perfect, the other had severe road rash, like it had slid out of a car at 40 MPH, price was right though!
I will post the letter when I receive it I'll probably send off the form Monday.
Now that I've seen the TL I'm leaning to not refinishing it, once I get the crusty built up oil cleaned off I'm thinking it will look just fine. The plastic Franzite grips got to go, I haven't found any to replace them yet but I will sooner or later.
I've gone down the "rescue" road a few times with firearms, automobiles, and real estate. I'll stick with Smith & Wesson .44's. They're easier to manage and don't have accountants and clients attached. And, they're mine to hold and cherish.
usmc2427765
US Veteran
This is one that could tell a story. This revolver did not spend it's life in someones desk drawer or night stand and may have been the " big dog" in a fight or two. I assume you will letter it?
If you can tell me where to get vintage grips for a Triple Lock anywhere near $100 I'd appreciate it.
If you can tell me where to get vintage grips for a Triple Lock anywhere near $100 I'd appreciate it.
Try ebay. A set of pristine grips will run $200 or more. You want well used. These are found in the price range I suggested. You want to search for N frame wood grips and make sure they have the gold medallions. Also can check the ads in this forum or post one yourself on this forum describing what you are seeking.
If you can tell me where to get vintage grips for a Triple Lock anywhere near $100 I'd appreciate it.
Tom,
For the correct vintage grips for a TL, you first need to get a letter which will indicate.
Those TLs shipped 1908 thru sometime in 1910 will not have gold medallions, just a cocave flattened area where the medallions were installed from 1910 to ~1920 on all frame sizes with walnut checkered stocks.
The hardest to find are the early stocks w/o medallions; only a couple thousand in the N frame size were made. Gold medallion stocks are not hard to find since about 90,000 were produced. There's two pair on a popular internet auction as I post this.
Absolutely could have been in a gun fight sometimes in it's life and very likely that it was. I posted the results of the letter and info that I've found a few days ago.
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Correct! Triple Locks produced generally pre mid 1910 did not have medallions. They are rarer than hen's teeth!
The ones with medallions, as described above, are much more common.
Note that you will find later N frame grips without medallions that are convex in this area. These are much more common and not to be confused with their earlier and much rarer concave cousins.
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