Triple Lock...should I get it? Hmmm...

[EarlB]

Saw my first Triple Lock today. .44 Special caliber. It isn't a collector piece, just a shooter. 10K serial number range. It has been nickeled - the finish itself is quite good but they did over polish things to the point that some of the writing on the barrel is hard to make out, and I can't find the S# on the barrel - though I believe it to be original. The number on the cylinder matches. Very nice condition so no pitting or rust. Correct grips ? (pre war N Frame service grips, gold medallion). I didn't take them off to check for numbers. They were asking $995. I didn't get it yet, don't normally buy refinished guns but that one might be an exception.

Earl

 

[mrcvs]

Not too long ago, I would have said $995 for a refinished gun seems a bit high, but based on what these have been bringing lately, the price might be reasonable. I'd offer $800 and see if you can't meet in the middle.

 

[S&W ucla]

The barrel SN is difficult to see, it's in the ejector rod KNOB recess and in small #s. Good light and a magnifier, you'll probably find it.

 

[daddio202]

I have seen this before. Triple locks are about the only S&W revolver still worth about 1k refinished these days. How bad do you want a triple lock is the question to ask. Not many opportunities to get one for less than a thousand dollars. Heck I have seen poorly refinished ones with rust bubbling up go on GB for over $750. You must make sure it is good mechanically and not missing any parts. Totally up to you if you want a shooter grade triple lock but that is about the going prices for them refinished. Prices will probably only go up in the future.

 

[EarlB]

Aha, I was not looking in the right place then. Not to mention at 55 my eyes are krap. I may make a run at it next week. I do love 44 Specials and mechanically it looked good It could hold a spot until I get something better.

The barrel SN is difficult to see, it's in the ejector rod KNOB recess and in small #s. Good light and a magnifier, you'll probably find it.

 

[andy52]

It's always a **** shoot when buying any TL. Here's one I got about 6 months ago it's not refinished but it's been road hard and put away wet.
But after I got it the lineage started to shine through with a little research.

Triple Lock letter came today

PS the purchase price was 755.

 

[handejector]

Your money, your choice, but I don't feel good about advising you to buy it. I have trouble warming up to refinished guns. You may get your money back when/if you sell, but you'll never have an original gun.
So, if you want free advice, pay more and buy a nice original gun, or put that thousand dollars into an original gun that is in a condition to be worth $1000.

I'd rather have a 70% original gun than a refinished gun. Even on a worn old gun, the craftsmanship that polished those guns to a high luster while keeping the flats FLAT and the edges SHARP and all lines STRAIGHT with no wavering is truly a thing to behold.

 

[rubiranch]

I'd rather have a 70% original gun than a refinished gun.

Me too. My Schofield was reblued and the stocks shellacked. I wish that it had been left alone.

 

[EarlB]

True. I'd feel different though if it is a factory refinish. I may go back and ask them to remove the stocks. Earl

Your money, your choice, but I don't feel good about advising you to buy it. I have trouble warming up to refinished guns. You may get your money back when/if you sell, but you'll never have an original gun.
So, if you want free advice, pay more and buy a nice original gun, or put that thousand dollars into an original gun that is in a condition to be worth $1000.

I'd rather have a 70% original gun than a refinished gun. Even on a worn old gun, the craftsmanship that polished those guns to a high luster while keeping the flats FLAT and the edges SHARP and all lines STRAIGHT with no wavering is truly a thing to behold.

 

[handejector]

I would not care if the Factory did it since you said this-

It has been nickeled - the finish itself is quite good but they did over polish things to the point that some of the writing on the barrel is hard to make out,

I'd never be satisfied with the gun. I would be satisfied with a worn old gun that I could still read.
To each his own.

 

[EarlB]

I made it sound worse than it is handejector, the biggest reason it's hard to read is my damn eyes.

I would not care if the Factory did it since you said this-



I'd never be satisfied with the gun. I would be satisfied with a worn old gun that I could still read.
To each his own.

 

[The Gila Bender]

Normally I don't buy refinished guns and when I do they don't hang around very long. Except for two refinished TL's. One is a Target, factory re-blue with diamond B stamped on the grip frame, star stamp on the butt. The other is a .455, decent nickle refin (not factory that I can see) but original components and all numbers match, stocks maybe not. I'm glad to have both. Having said that I'm not so sure I'd buy a TL with a less than nice refinish and crisp markings/stamps. See post #35 in this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...01-triple-locks-post-yours.html#post139953868 I lucked into an original finish TL in June 2016 for $750 and (after spending for gunsmith service, correct stocks, and a letter) it's one of my favorites because it has the original and authentic finish, warts and all. And it shoots just fine.

 

[Hondo44]

Earl,

If you don't want to be disappointed, get by there to decide soon. It may not be there in a week.

Here's where to look for the serial #. You can just see two tiny digits where the knob nests in the barrel shroud. It reads sideways going up and down:

Photo credit: bmcgilvray

Preceding that # may be a B if blue was the original finish. If there's an N instead of a B or no letter at all, the gun was originally a nickel finish.

 

[mrcvs]

Normally I don't buy refinished guns and when I do they don't hang around very long. Except for two refinished TL's. One is a Target, factory re-blue with diamond B stamped on the grip frame, star stamp on the butt. The other is a .455, decent nickle refin (not factory that I can see) but original components and all numbers match, stocks maybe not. I'm glad to have both. Having said that I'm not so sure I'd buy a TL with a less than nice refinish and crisp markings/stamps. See post #35 in this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...01-triple-locks-post-yours.html#post139953868 I lucked into an original finish TL in June 2016 for $750 and (after spending for gunsmith service, correct stocks, and a letter) it's one of my favorites because it has the original and authentic finish, warts and all. And it shoots just fine.

Likewise, I, too, have just about zero interest in refinished firearms. The only exception to this is a Triple Lock I own, which has remained in my possession far longer than would otherwise be the case for the following two reasons: 1) It is an original nickel Triple Lock with a 4" barrel, of which less than 100 or less than 125 (I've heard both) were originally produced; and 2) Because condition is not a concern and because it has the shortest available barrel length for a Triple Lock, it is my ideal concealed carry weapon.

It's pictured below, individually, and along with a 5" and 6 1/2" Triple Lock, all with nickel finish.

 

[rubiranch]

Kind of like buying a car that's been repainted or had the engine replaced.

I wouldn't buy either one but a lot of folks would.

 

[noro]

Earl,

JMHO but how much do you want a Triple lock? You gotta remember that the're not being made anymore, and over 100 yrs old. Are you content to wait for another to emerge? Should you buy it and later move it for another, you still would find a big demand for it. They certainly aren't turning up everyday.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Negotiate and buy

I think a little negotiation is in order, and then buy it. At that price, if you change your mind about owning it you can easily resell it in the next few years and make a nice little profit. I have been looking for a TL for a while now, and although they made quite a few, they seem to be hiding out there somewhere! A shooter-grade would be fine for me, or a .455 British contract version, but you've got to find one. Like some others, I would prefer to have an original finish, but a nice refinished gun is acceptable in certain circumstances. Have you been following the one being auctioned on GB and ending today? I'm sure that quite a few of our fellow Forum members are bidding on it, but it's entering the stratospheric price range of Registered Magnums! Let us know what you decide, and good luck.

 

[22hipower]

I share the aversion to re-finished guns but have kept three a long time. One is a four inch 1950 44 Military and the nickel is so good that quite a few knowledgeable folks (some here) thought it was original finish; took a letter confirming it was originally blue and shipped to John Jovino's shop to settle the discussion. Another is a pre-war Colt 1911 38 Super also in nickel. A third is a commercial 1917 S sn also in nickel which is one of the 900 or so made up after WWII and is seven numbers away from the very last 1917 produced. And recently added a factory refinish 3.5 inch 357 Magnum from 1950 which has a tighter and smoother action than any of my newer S&Ws. Yes, all four refinished, and I'm not looking for more but if I stumbled on a nice refinished Triple Lock at the right price I might add another. Now Earl, just where in north Texas did you say that TL is?

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Reconciler]

Earl,

I saw that gun too, I was at that location on Thursday picking up some powder and bore brushes. I stared at it for a few minutes but never asked to handle it. Even though it is refinished the gun has a lot of appeal and after all it is a Triple Lock. I would have bought it myself except I have purchased 3 Colt SAA's in the past 2 weeks and depleted my gun funds.

 

[Bobbysixkiller]

I wouldn't mind having a refinished triple lock. You could use it for a nice woods gun and not worry about hurting the original finish. If I found it here local I'd have it in my safe