Triple Lock sn# 2747 chambered in .22 Long Rifle

[Hondo44]

Great proof mark info, thanks.

Maybe I misunderstood what you wrote about the Not English "Made". I understood that it was not stamped until the firearm was being exported by the government. Please clarify.

Thanks,

 

[2152hq]

I miss typed 'Made' there,,should be Not English 'Make'.
Thanks for catching that.
I'll correct the mistake.

'Not English Make' was marked by the Proof Houses in England.
It was applied on any foreign mfg firearm received at the proof house.
Everything went through the proof house.

English Proof Law did acknowledge some other country's proof laws, Commonwealth and a few European countrys generally just to confuse things further.
In those cases the 'Not English Make' would be the only mark applied at the time.
This shows up mostly on commercial sporting arms brought into England from the few 'acceptable' Countrys in Europe to be sold during that time.


A simple 'England' stamp is often seen on both surplus and commercial firearms.
That was a export/import ID stamp for Country of origin.
You commonly see Spain, Italy, Germany, W.Germany, Austria and others stamped in the metal or even the wood sometimes.
That hasn't been used much passed the late 1950's I don't believe.

 

[Hondo44]

I've stumbled across a few .22 conversions myself. I've also posted before about a S&W 1917 converted to .22, but I don't think I've ever shown pictures. I bought it at a gun show in 2007. The seller also had a Colt 1917 similarly converted and I did not get it - probably should have. Here are some pictures. You can click on the pics for larger versions.

It's hard to tell from the picture but the underside of the ejector star has the same serial number as the frame and barrel, 30133. So it's the original ejector but modified with a plate added to it. The cylinder appears to be sleeved and with a ring added around it on the breech end, for correct head spacing. The hammer nose is original but modified in shape, and the breech face has been modified as well.

Tom,
Thanks for posting excellent pics of another neat conversion. It's interesting to compare the two. I like the simpler way your firing pin was adapted. I would pop out the recoil shield and replace with the Smith 22 version. The old centerfire hole is just another entrance that allows crude to get in there. JMHO though.

The star plate seems to have extra work involved compared to the OPs conversion. But still very creative and very professional craftsmanship.

Thx for showing that one!

 

[gripper]

Gentleman, Thanks for showing your conversions. I appreciate the proof mark info as well. We may never know when my Triple Lock was converted or why it was choosen for the conversion. Speculation would lead me to believe my gun was considered a used, surplus, military gun and at the time held little or no value for the sportsman or target shooter, especially being chambered in .455. So obviously a good canidate for a project as opposed to a 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd model chambered in .44 or whatever was available at the era of the conversion. Who knows when the work was done. It could have been done pre or post WWII. In any case the gun was done by a gun savvy individual that knew he could turn an unspecial gun at the time into something unique.
I appreciate everyone's interest, information, and participation in this thread. It all makes for some interesting reading.

Chad Gripp

 

[Tom K]

Chad, I just noticed your avatar pic. Would it be fair to say that you have an interest in Triple Locks?

 

[gripper]

Chad, I just noticed your avatar pic. Would it be fair to say that you have an interest in Triple Locks?

Tom, I do like Triple Locks, but I think everyone that hangs out on this section of the forum likes them also or at least has an appreciation for that third lock. For a gun that was made a century ago and with tooling we now could consider almost crude to todays standards, I think the Triple Lock is an incredible piece of work.

Chad

 

[pilgrim6a]

Looks like a 'Notable Thread' to me!
Well done to all above. I love threads like this.
One of those sneaky things that entertain and teach at the same time.
I think I'll drop a line to the great ape on that 'Notable' thingy.

 

[opoefc]

The American Rifleman magazine for Nov. 1953 has a letter from Mr. John Hammer, Secretary of the Florida Gun Collector's Assoc., with a picture of a S&W Triple Lock revolver. The gun is in .22RF caliber, has a 6.5 in. barrel, blue finish, with a ten shot recessed chambers cylinder. Bead type front sight and adjustable for windage, but not elevation, rear sight. The letter states that officials at S&W could not furnish any info. on the gun but suspected it was made up on special order. The picture also shows the gun does not have the groove on the left recoil shield that allows the locking bolt at the rear of the cylinder to slide home without catching on the frame.
When I saw this letter, I called Mr. Hammer, got the name of the gun's owner, called him and got the serial number. I called Carl Hellstrom, at S&W, and asked for more info. As I recall, I got a call back that said ten guns were made on a special order invoice, for target purposes, and they would send me a copy of the invoice. I'm still waiting. Ed.

 

[Buford57]

I had planned to make the Princeton show, but plans changed. Now I'm not sure whether to be thankful I didn't go and be tempted by something I clearly can't afford, or regretful that I didn't get to see it in the "flesh".

Congratulations on a superb purchase.

 

[Sebago Son]

And Parts Is Parts...

Interesting re-use of a Remington 742 rear sight....

 

[clang444]

Now I'm really sorry I missed te Princeton Show last weekend, but my son had football games both Sat & Sun.

Thats is a really neat .22. Spend the extra money and have an 18 shot cylinder custom made for the gun. If thae can get 10 rounds in a K frame, they gotta be able to do 18 rounds in an N frame...

 

[jamned]

1917 Conversion

Here is a 1917 I picked up that was converted to 22 lr. Quite an extensive bit of gunsmithing. The barrel looks like it came from a 22 rifle. I posted this gun a few months ago. Got some interesting response with some really great guns. Even a Colt SAA with a similar conversion. Jim Nedela.

 

[Hondo44]

This is one of those very interesting conversions that focus on reducing the bullet jump to the barrel rifling. Although I've never seen one with so much creative effort to cover the huge gap from short cylinder to front of cyl window!

 

[mrcvs]

And this was mentioned in another similar thread, but well worth resurrecting!

 

[handejector]

And this was mentioned in another similar thread, but well worth resurrecting!

I think he means here-


Questions about .455 webley to 22lr conversion revolver