Triple Lock Turns Out To Be 1926 Target?

[wyattingraham]

All,

I greatly appreciate the swift and valuable feedback. This is a fantastic community and I hope that with a few more adventures like this one under my belt, I can actually contribute something back to someone else one of these days.

I spent the evening getting some additional shots together for my submission to Mr. Jinks. Hope to get that in the mail tomorrow and will certainly post the evaluation I get back from him. However the story ends, it sure has been an intriguing ride. Someone could really catch a fever for this collecting thing.

 

[peyton]

Please tell us the story on how you got to own the revolver, we like stories!!

 

[lowhog]

A factory target w&k would have on the frame, a 6 line serrated backstrap and forestrap.I don't see this on your revolver.

 

[tango-papa]

Please tell us the story on how you got to own the revolver, we like stories!!

I'll second that motion!

tp

 

[wyattingraham]

After a couple of weeks of waiting, but really not all that many weeks, I have my first letter from Mr. Jinks. It arrived while I was at work and I almost made my wife open it and read to me over the phone. Fortunately, more mature heads prevailed (hers, not mine) and I opened it when I got home. The letter is linked below, but here's the quick synopsis:

On the count of model, it is indeed a .44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model.
On the count of shipped to, it was indeed sent to Wolf & Klar of Fort Worth on May 3, 1927.
On the count of original target, it is not. It appears that both the rear sight and butt swivel were added later.

I am still extremely happy to have found such a fascinating revolver, mis-marked as a 1st Model "Triple Lock," and to have gone through a great learning process. Of course, I have a few new questions for the committee.

As the rear sight is properly serialized, is that a legitimate indication that the gun was returned to S&W for that additional work? If not, who/why would it have been done?

How would the addition of "after market" sights and swivels affect the gun's value?

To be fair to my inventory list or a future buyer, what would be the most ethical way to refer to this revolver?

 

[Hondo44]

W/o re-reading the entire thread, did anyone suggest looking under the left grip down near the 'toe' of the grip frame for a month and year date? If the rear sight is numbered and matches your gun #, there is a star by the serial # on the butt and there is a date stamp, I'm of the opinion it could be a factory rework. W/o a rework date or star I'm not convinced it's not a factory target.

The main rule with S&W guns is that there are no rules. I understand that it's not impossible that the shipping clerk did not take the time to record the target sights or lanyard ring because of such a large shipment. Bottom line is there may not be a way to positively confirm whether or not it was shipped as a target. Let's see what others opine.

 

[DCWilson]

This may be heresy, but I am not convinced that the factory shipping records are 100% accurate on configuration details. If there happened to be a last minute special order for a .44 with adjustable sights and a lanyard loop, maybe a gun was pulled from inventory, returned to the floor, modified, and sent back for order fulfillment. Maybe the gun was shipped in the basic 1926 configuration, but a potential customer at the W&K counter said, "I'll take it, but send it back for a couple of additions." In that case, the gun shipped as the letter describes, but was modified as a dealer return before being sent back to Texas for a particular customer. I would not expect to see a star on such a revolver, because from the company's point of view it is still new, never having been delivered to a final customer.

When the company records for 1927 are digitized, this is a gun that I would definitely have researched in the SWHF data base. Actually, on the off chance it was returned for work a decade after it was shipped, I might ask for a SWHF serial number search right now; records for the late 1930s have been digitized.

That numbered rear sight speaks to me more loudly than the letter does. I think you have a very interesting revolver, and I would keep pushing the research as far as I could take it.

EDITED TO ADD: I see Jim has similar thoughts but expressed them more simply than I did.

 

[JSR III]

The first series of photos shows no date code stamp on the left lower frame that I can see. My vote is for factory original with loose factory record keeping.

 

[bmg60]

Hi
Just to add some more information to the thread I have a 6 1/2 fixed sight 1926 that was shipped a month earlier in a shipment of 45 revolvers and the letter does not show the butt swivel. but it has one.
Jim
I would agree with the rest I think it is a original Target.

 

[j38]

I don't know how I missed this post when it first came out but am very glad to find it now - and congratulate you on finding a very special old six-shooter. I concur with the other posters who would love to hear more about how you came onto this gun.

Thanks,

Jerry

 

[bettis1]

Put my vote in the "Original Factory" column. (I try to vote with Fisher and Cornett every time that they agree with me)

Ed let us in on the most likely explanation very clearly back in his post #4. As Roy has told us many times, historical accuracy was the last thing on the mind of the clerks who entered these things.

Bob

 

[bigmoose]

documentation

wyattingraham,

As far as your inventory list or for a future buyer, print out this entire thread and keep it with your list. After all, you have some of the most knowledgeable folks in the S&W collecting community giving their opinions.

Nice revolver, by the way. Thanks for sharing.

bigmoose

 

[zywina]

Guys about lanyard loops on target model, this is not uncommon on Colts as well as S&W's that went to British Common Wealth Countries such as my own beloved Canada, just a left over of British Military shooting. And many of these guns were ordered from US firms then shipped up here, just my observation, cheers Dale Z in Canada!

 

[tftech1]

Here is a quick thought about the lanyard loop on this very interesting pistol. From what I have seen, the early factory-installed and most aftermarket loops were installed by merely drilling the butt right through the butt serial number, a bad practice in my opinion. However, by the time the serial number of this one (about 29xxx) came along, the factory wised up and started offsetting the butt serial numbers when lanyard loops were installed. Which configuration is yours (drilled through or offset)?

 

[rburg]

(I try to vote with Fisher and Cornett every time that they agree with me)

So are you ever real comfortable when they vote against you or don't agree with you? Very infrequently I admit to being wrong. But if I had those guys on the other side, I'd be tempted to take a real long and hard look at my conclusions!

 

[bettis1]

Dick,

If I ever found myself on the opposite side of those two (and/or you), my best ploy would be to attempt to set one against the other and then step back and wait to join with the survivor.

Bob

 

[zywina]

My serial numbers on my 2 S&W MKII HE 455's serial number is to one side, but the lanyard loops are offset from dead centre also. ANd one of these is a Target model, I have no other guns with lanyards other than a Colt OMT that has a factory lanyard, but it is drilled centre of but? Anyone care to discuss where there serial number on the targeted HE with lanyards are drilled? cheers Dale in Canada!

 

[DBWesson]

I am sure that it is an original 1926 pre-war target.
Ser. # 29378 has a lanyard ring and target sights April 20, 1927 and letters the same as yours.
Ed's last 1926 pre-war target with lanyard ring was 100 numbers from 29378 and his lettered the same the first time. The second letter said it was a target after Roy looked at the gun. So I am with the majority of the go to members. There was a lack of detail as far as the factory records of the guns to Wolf and Klar was concerned.
D.B.

 

[wyattingraham]

So many great responses here that I hesitate to single any one in particular out. I will say though that I think bigmoose makes a perfect point on everyone's behalf--you folks are the experts and your collective thoughts will go definitely go into the personal registry on this one. My sincere thanks.

To clean up a couple of details, it doesn't have any star markings and the serial number is offset with the lanyard ring inserted in the center.

A couple of you have asked for the story behind the acquisition and I hate to say it, there isn't much of one; I bought it, rather uneventfully albeit at several factors cheaper than .44 HE 3rd Model Target, at auction. That said, I've put on my snooping hat and hope I can uncover a little more history. I will also look into the digital records DCWilson suggests--either now or when the late 20's are available. If I find anything interesting, I'll certainly post it here. Thanks all.

 

[zoisrus]

Any updates?