Triple Lock Target

[Piper1410]

Hello everybody, I have a Triple Lock Target that i acquired several years back. Not sure of the date it was manufactured or shipped and was hoping someone could help me out, thanks. The serial number is (32xx)

 

[andy52]

I'm no real expert but I think it would be 1909 on your triple lock.

 

[andy52]

We really like to look at gun picture here and many would be interested in seeing your triple lock target.

 

[rct269]

Mine (#3976) shipped February 23, 1909.

I'm told mine was a first year (1908) gun. It stands to reason yours is too---although reason may or may not enter into the equation.

Ralph Tremaine

As an aside, mine is a 7 1/2" version; and Jinks opined at the time (letter is from September 2000) that between 250 and 500 7 1/2" targets were produced. While a spread of that size sounds suspiciously like "I don't know.", his best guess is a damn sight better than mine or anybody else's I know. The prevailing wisdom suggests perhaps 1,500 targets were made---also that 6 1/2" versions constitute the vast majority of those. "You pays your money, and you takes your pick.".

 

[S&W ucla]

It's hard to place a date on them. My target #2637 shipped July 1910. You should get a letter, Triple locks, and targets in particular, are really special guns. Usually 44 special, but other calibers were made, what's yours? Please post pics and details

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Hard to tell without getting a historical letter. My 5" TL .44 Special is 1330, but shipped in 1910.

 

[Old TexMex]

Welcome to the Forum.

Hard to tell without getting a historical letter. My 5" TL is 1330, but shipped in 1910.

I say everyone that has one should post pictures

 

[Piper1410]

It's hard to place a date on them. My target #2637 shipped July 1910. You should get a letter, Triple locks, and targets in particular, are really special guns. Usually 44 special, but other calibers were made, what's yours? Please post pics and details

It is the .44 Special. I will put up some pictures as soon as I can.

 

[SVT28]

Nice catch OP! Can't wait to see what the letter says. Triple lock targets in 44 special are something else.

This thread needs more pics!

Serial #270X that didn't ship until 6/24/1910 but letters as having non medallion stocks.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[rct269]

Nice catch OP! Can't wait to see what the letter says. Triple lock targets in 44 special are something else.

This thread needs more pics!

Serial #270X that didn't ship until 6/24/1910 but letters as having non medallion stocks.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Yours letters with non-medallion stocks because that's what's what. Those on your gun hail from September 1935 to some time before WWII.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[SVT28]

Ralph - I've been hunting for a pair of original stocks for quite some time now and have been unsuccessful in my quest. Maybe one day...I mean they are probably the hardest pre war N frame stocks to find other than special factory grips made out of material other than wood.

Roy was nice enough to confirm in my letter that serial inside of the prewar magnas match to an unregistered magnum. I have also been searching for that gun as well.

SVT28

 

[Piper1410]

Here is a couple of photos.

 

[rct269]

Ralph - I've been hunting for a pair of original stocks for quite some time now and have been unsuccessful in my quest. Maybe one day...I mean they are probably the hardest pre war N frame stocks to find other than special factory grips made out of material other than wood.

Roy was nice enough to confirm in my letter that serial inside of the prewar magnas match to an unregistered magnum. I have also been searching for that gun as well.

SVT28

Well, some of the special factory grips made out of material other than wood may prove to be impossible---or whatever may be more elusive than that. I can speak only to those made from ivory, but my quest for wisdom on my "factory" ivories on my other TL ended like this: "Smith & Wesson did not offer ivory grips for their "N" frame revolvers. The ivory grips were generally added by the distributor or dealer to fill a special order." (Roy G. Jinks, February 14, 2017)

Oh yeah!! Well what does he know?!! More than you or I know----that's what!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[andy52]

Here is a couple of photos.

I'm sure there are many here that would like to own one like that including me.

 

[S&W ucla]

Very Nice!! Is that a 6.5" or 7.5" barrel? It looks a little long, 7.5"s are a bit scarcer.
Either way, you really should letter it

 

[Piper1410]

Here is a better picture

 

[Hondo44]

Ralph - I've been hunting for a pair of original stocks for quite some time now and have been unsuccessful in my quest. Maybe one day...I mean they are probably the hardest pre war N frame stocks to find other than special factory grips made out of material other than wood.
SVT28

You're right, the non medallion stocks for the TLs are scarce. They must have the concave upper rounds. There's lots of non-medallion N frame stocks used between 1920 and 1930 but they have a convex upper round. Easy to make convex at the top if you get desperate.

In contrast, there's over 85,000 N frame Service stocks with recessed gold medallions from between ~ 1910 and ~1920, thanks to all the British 455 Service revolvers, late TLs, and pre 1917 44 2nd Models.

 

[iskra]

Concerning Hondo44 remarks below:
...the non medallion stocks for the TLs are scarce. They must have the concave upper rounds. There's lots of non-medallion N frame stocks used between 1920 and 1930 but they have a convex upper round. Easy to make convex at the top if you get desperate.

In contrast, there's over 85,000 N frame Service stocks with recessed gold medallions from between ~ 1910 and ~1920, thanks to all the British 455 Service revolvers, late TLs, and pre 1917 44 2nd Models.
__________________
Jim

S&WCA #819

Jim, Not desperate... Yet! Would the following stocks on my TL Target, sn 10xx, be correct.?

 

[Hondo44]

Jim, Not desperate... Yet! Would the following stocks on my TL Target, sn 10xx, be correct.?

Yes, most likely, unless the gun happened to have shipped late, after ~1910. There's always the possibility of anomalies with S&W, especially with TLs. Only a letter will confirm for sure.

 

[handejector]

Ralph - I've been hunting for a pair of original stocks for quite some time now and have been unsuccessful in my quest. Maybe one day...I mean they are probably the hardest pre war N frame stocks to find....

They truly are. I've owned literally THOUSANDS of pairs of vintage grips.
I've seen the dished N frame checkered grips for sale TWICE in my life.
Guess where those two pairs are?

Roy was nice enough to confirm in my letter that serial inside of the prewar magnas match to an unregistered magnum. I have also been searching for that gun as well.

SVT28

What's the number? I happen to have a Non-Reg without original grips....

 

[Bakebfr480]

Looks like it has been re-finished.

 

[Piper1410]

Looks like it has been re-finished.

No, its all original. I know of its history back to 1955 when it was purchased from the original owner and registered as a keepsake. It was bought as a flawless piece and has spent the last 60 years in a safe untouched.