Triple Lock Turns Out To Be 1926 Target?

[wyattingraham]

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been on the kind of junior collector's wild ride I suspect many have been on at some point--buying something sight unseen, finding out that it was mismarked, trying to sort out what it is exactly and being alternately disappointed and excited by what it might actually be. To make a long story somewhat shorter, I thought I'd bought a 1st Model Hand Ejector "Triple Lock" in .44 Special; it now looks like I may have ended up with a Pre-War 1926 3rd Model "Wolf and Klar" .44 Special Hand Ejector. And to put the cherry on top, it appears to be the target version, with a 6 1/2" barrel.

In trying to save your valuable time, I did as much research as I could to get to what I think is the right conclusion, but a couple of small details are still whispering in the background. First, the serial number, 29xxx, dating to 1928 is not preceded by an "S", as it's suggested the Wolf and Klar pieces are, however it certainly does not have the under lug of a 1st and it does have the ejector shroud of a 3rd. Second, Supica and Nahas suggest that the front and back straps should be serrated; they are smooth. Finally, the grips do appear to be original and are in wonderful shape, but do not have medallions and aren't numbered in any way.

Could I impose upon the more knowledgeable to weigh in on what they think this one really is? It would also be educational to get your evaluation of condition and value; numbers seem to be all over the board in recent years. Thanks in advance for having a look--it sure has been a fun exercise to learn more about the whole series of these wonderful revolvers.

 

[1Aspenhill]

I would think we would like some more info. Is the barrel serial numbered to the gun? If so, then I would send off for a letter from Roy Jinks to validate it left the factory as a target gun. The gunsmiths from that era were pretty good and could add a front site and rear site and make the work look like factory. Some pics from above the rear site and close ups of the front site would help also.
Hope this helps,
Bill

 

[wyattingraham]

Bill,

Thanks for the reply and here are a couple more shots of the sights and barrel. At the risk of sounding completely ignorant, where can I find a barrel serialization? The frame, cylinder, inner shroud match, as do the assembly numbers for the crane.

Thanks for your interest and help.

 

[opoefc]

1926 target models are a rare item, if they are factory. By all means , get a letter for your gun. Not all 1926 models went to Wolf & Klar. And to make it more confusing, some factory 1926 targets that went to W&K are real but won't letter because the clerk that put in the shipping data, got very lazy and when a large shipment, like 50 guns, of various configurations, including target models, went to W&K the clerk recorded them as all standard service revolvers, regardless of what they actually were ( targets, engraved, blue, nickel, etc.) . To tell if you have a factory target model, pull off the rear sight assembly ( base & all) . If it's factory, then the serial number will be on the bottom of the sight base. If it's not, it's a later conversion to target, after market. Ed.
( If the barrel is serial numbered , it will be in the extractor shroud under the extractor rod.)

 

[wyattingraham]

Ed,

Because I lack the "it's time to go to bed now" gene, I ran down to the basement and popped the rear sight off. Bingo, matching serial number. And to confirm, there is also a match inside the shroud.

 

[Engineer1911]

That S&W is older than me and in better shape.

 

[Hondo44]

I see no clues at this point that it's anything but original. If you went to the trouble to pull the front blade, you'd most likely find that it's numbered and matches as well. The grips are 20 to 29 vintage (no medallions and convex where they would be), the correct vintage. Pre war stocks were serial numbered since 1857 by stamping until about 1900; penciled (or scratched on hard rubber) until 1929, then stamped again. So look in sunlight for smudges of a penciled serial # inside the right stock.

1st scenario: It's a very early number in the known target serial # range so it could be before the fore and back straps were serrated. Remember, these 3rds were made concurrently with the 2nd models and only LATE 2nd model targets had serrations. So likely yours is 'transitional' in that regard (not to be confused with a 'post war transitional' 3rd model 44). Anyone else seen this on an early known 3rd model target?

On the other hand, if it went back to the factory to have the sights installed, the serial # would not have been stamped on the sight parts. However there would be other factory stampings to indicate factory re-work, such as a star in front of the butt serial # and a date on the left side of the grip frame by the 'toe'. But you didn't mention other marks and I don't see any in your photos. So lacking more info I'm inclined to go with the 1st scenario.

The 'S' preceeding the serial number is strictly a post war indicator for the then-new slide-activated hammer block. Your gun is correct w/o the 'S'.

 

[Allen-frame]

Congratulations. With matching numbers all around it looks like you have a depression era 44 Target. You lucky dog.
Fill out the form tomorrow and send for a letter.
Hopefully the gun shipped to someone of note. Wouldn't that be groovy.

Good luck
Allen Frame

 

[DCWilson]

Why would a commercial target revolver have a lanyard loop? I agree with others that a letter is mandatory. As you have described it, this feels like an unmodified factory configuration to me, but you need the letter to establish that. W&K? Maybe, maybe not.

In any case, I think this is a more interesting revolver than a target triple lock. I think you are WAY ahead of the game on this one.

Condition looks about 95% to me; I might refine that with a hands-on inspection. It does not appear to be refinished. Value? Over a thousand, I'd say, but how much over I have no idea. The 1926 gurus need to express an opinion on this one.

 

[Hondo44]

If we can believe SCSW about commercial models with lanyard rings it's apparently not unprecedented on these 3rd models in particular, but other N frame models as well. If a frame in inventory was drilled for it, it was shipped with a lanyard ring. Also in that era, it was not uncommon to be individually ordered with one.

 

[lebomm]

It may be just the photo, but I read the caliber marking as "44 S&W RUSSIAN CTG". Is this right? Have the chambers been deepened to .44 Spl? If not, I would think this is something of a rarity. Experts?

 

[JSR III]

lebomm, not sure which photo you are looking at but the closest I could get using the blow up feature plus a magnifying glass, it appears to read .44 S&W SPECIAL CTG.

Perhaps the OP can clarify.

 

[beagleye]

special

Looks like special to me.

 

[Biginge]

Man what a great find and what a great post this is. Congratulations!

Regards
Bill

 

[phenson]

This is a very interesting post. What a great find!

 

[H Richard]

We will be looking forward to the results of your letter. Be sure to include pictures of all area's of the gun when you send in your letter req.

 

[opoefc]

Wyattingraham, "Bingo" Now that you have found all the correct serial numbers in the places they should be on a factory original gun, be sure to tell Roy this, with good photos, in your request for a factory letter. - And, here's the pucker time factor : Hope the recording clerk at the shipping dep't wasn't asleep at the switch the day it was shipped and properly recorded the gun in the ledger as a Target Model. If he didn't, and it's lumped in with a 200 gun shipment, all recorded as standard guns, then the best Roy can do is to say it's not recorded as a target gun, however based on the factors presented (photos) it's his opinion the gun was originally made as a Target Model. I've had to do this drill several times with 1926 Targets, but you might get lucky and the gun was shipped to someone different than W&K. W&K would return standard models to S&W to have them converted to target guns, at a customer's request. This conversion was done in the service dep't and did not need to have serial numbers stamped on hidden parts, as it was a one gun conversion operation and the parts were not mixed with others for bluing, etc and then reassembled, requiring the serial number to be on the parts so they could get back together on the same gun for final assembly. Be sure and post your letter when it's received. Good Luck, Ed.

 

[bettis1]

wyattingraham,

You just hit a home run! The Third Model Targets are significantly more scarce than the Triple Lock Targets. I can't tell you the numbers produced but perhaps Jim Fisher will come on board and he probably has as good a guess as anyone.

Not long ago I was fortunate to find both a 1st Mod. Target and a 3rd Mod. Target from the same source. I had to pay a breathtaking sum for the pair but I cherish both (both 99%ers) and if I had to part with one, it would be the 1st Mod. because I know that the 3rd Mod. would be much more difficult to replace.

Mine is sighted just as yours is but is a later gun (sn547xx) and shipped on Sept. 16, 1940 to John J. Tobler, Union City NJ. It does letter as being shipped with the target sights and Magna grips.

Congratulations. Get a letter, and like Ed said, keep your fingers crossed that it was correctly entered in the ledgers when it shipped.

Bob

 

[Hondo44]

wyattingraham,

For what it's worth the SCSW reports estimates for 3rd model targets
of only around 200. Experienced collectors may have other opinions.

 

[rburg]

wyattingraham,

reports estimates for 3rd model targets
of only around 200.

Wow, 200 seems like an awful lot of them. Many of us figure the 44 3rd model Targets are about as good as it gets. Way fewer than RMs or even 1940 K22s. I think Lee once said the only thing rarer are postwar 3rd model Targets. I've heard those estimated at 50 guns.

Now someone needs to tell us the numbers by length!