Triple Lock Shooter

[Dosgatos]

I've been looking for an older .44 Special Shooter and missed out on two 2nd Models, both of which went for more money than I thought they were worth. Shooters, after all! I'd almost given up hope when I fell into this First Model Triple Lock, which was the least of my expectations!

This is an early gun dating from 1910-11. The barrel has been cut to 4", and it has obviously been refinished - the markings are heavily buffed and the hammer & trigger have been nickeled. It came with a set of plastic faux stags, but I had this nice set of faux ivories which will do until I find a set of suitably worn grips for it. The action was pretty good as it came, but I found that the cylinder lock and rebound slide, along with its spring, were caked with dried-out grease. Cleaning and stoning the action made it cycle smoothly and lock up perfectly.

I think the original finish was nickel, judging from the small "N" under the left grip, and the finish inside the barrel lug. What do the experts think?

If anyone has a set of worn medallion (or non-medallion) grips they are willing to part with, please contact me.

Thanks!

 

[Big Fred]

I can't help with the grips, but that looks like a pretty sweet shooter.

 

[DCWilson]

Not bad! If you have a mind to push it closer to an original appearance, it can't be too hard to strip the nickel from the hammer, trigger and latch plate, then get them case hardened (or use some process that will approximate that appearance).

This is way better as a stylish shooter than the Second Models you didn't get. Congratulations.

 

[lebomm]

+1 on the style note and congrats !

Larry

 

[Rick_A]

Nice find. Get out and shoot it and report back.

 

[Tide Fan]

Not bad! If you have a mind to push it closer to an original appearance, it can't be too hard to strip the nickel from the hammer, trigger and latch plate, then get them case hardened (or use some process that will approximate that appearance).

This is way better as a stylish shooter than the Second Models you didn't get. Congratulations.

Congrats on a nice triple lock.

Does nickeling on the hammer and trigger indicate whether or not a factory refinish? I also have a nickeled TL that was refinished at some point, but no nickel on hammer or trigger. Just curious whether this was an option of the gun owner or standard practice by whoever did the refinishing.

I'm also looking forward to shooting mine once I get the nerve.

 

[j38]

Very cool! I like the looks of it - and would shoot it before I did anything else with it. Enjoy,

Jerry

 

[DCWilson]

Congrats on a nice triple lock.

Does nickeling on the hammer and trigger indicate whether or not a factory refinish? I also have a nickeled TL that was refinished at some point, but no nickel on hammer or trigger. Just curious whether this was an option of the gun owner or standard practice by whoever did the refinishing.

I'm also looking forward to shooting mine once I get the nerve.

The factory protocol for refinishing involved leaving the hammer and trigger with color case hardening. Only the frame, cylinder assembly and barrel were given a new blue or nickel treatment. This is such a hard and fast rule that a nickeled or blued hammer and trigger are not only undeniable evidence of a refinish, but evidence that the refinish was done by somebody other than S&W who didn't observe the factory refinishing conventions.

 

[bubbajoe45]

Very nice. I have a similar one. Sure looks like it's been polished a bit, but exactly what you were looking for. I shoot mine using Trail Boss reloads - clean, accurate, although a little more expensive.