Triplelock!!!

[Jack Flash]

I'm glad you bought it. Good luck getting it all fixed up.

Don't throw those grips away. They really don't look all that bad. If you don't want them, you could no doubt sell them in this Forum's Classifieds for a few bucks, and someone would really like to have them!

 

[keith44spl]

We're sure proud for you.......Well done!


.

 

[flagman1776]

Well done. I wonder if that latch would have been on it originally.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Well done. I wonder if that latch would have been on it originally.

Here's the thumb latch on mine for comparison. BTW, those stocks are Jay Scott plastic on wood. I doubt they have very much value.

 

[daddio202]

The latch??? Again you guys have lost me. I went back to the op pictures and the latch to open cylinder looks like a normal latch. Back to Wiregrassyguy picture and it looks identical to op latch. What difference am I missing? By the way congratulations to 22lrfan for getting the gun! An opportunity was fully taken advantage of and I am sure you will not regret it.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I don't see a difference either. But there are different styles of thumb latches. My eyes aren't sharp enough to discern them I guess.

 

[Memphis]

Please rest assured you did the right thing on that purchase. Do NOT have buyers remorse. All of the above posters have a LOT of knowledge and experience. This TL should make your Christmas a lot sweeter. Just seeing the pics did it for me. I still long for a shooter grade garden variety example for my stable. You Sir have found the shorter bbl more desirable one.
Merry Christmas!

Roger

 

[22lrfan]

I have absolutely no regrets. I finally had time to sit down and look it over closer and I'm liking it more and more. I'll post some more photos later.

 

[steelslaver]

Glad you got it. I would have never left the shop without it the first time.

But, I do suspect a refinish. I have a 1917 commercial that looks great witth a good refinish. It came with those exact same grips. Someone else on the forum posted a picture of a nice looking refinished gun and it was also sporting those grips. Its like somebody had a bunch of older S&W, and had them reefinished by the same guy and they got tthe same grips.

 

[daddio202]

To me it surely looks like an original barrel. They would never have any leftover 44 spcl trpl lock barrels with patent dates perfectly centered and moved to side so they could fit in 1947 when it went back. A letter for that gun is in order!! If original configuration the op hit the jackpot. Only a set of grips is needed. The sky is the limit for an auction on that one but if it were mine I would never sell it just as I have never sold any gun to date.

 

[rgm36]

Even if the gun is refinished - it was still worth more than twice what they were asking!!!!!

It was wise to buy it - congratulations

I don't understand those who thought the price warranted hesitating.

I know a gun dealer who sells candy bars for $1.00 at his gun show table for his daughters charity. He said had a guy ask him to sell half of a candy bar for .50 cents!

 

[Jack Flash]

... I don't understand those who thought the price warranted hesitating. ...

To be fair, after the pictures were posted everyone said "Buy It!"

 

[Modified]

The gun is certainly refinished, but worth every penny.

Excellent buy, on what should be a real treasure for you.

 

[The Gila Bender]

A 1947 factory refinished, possibly re-barreled, early Triplelock? Geez, sign me up. In 1947 S&W was working overtime cranking out N-frames to meet postwar demand. This is one awesome custom! The barrel stamping and monster dingbats are wa-ay cool. Yeah, you done good! Get it lettered. And slap a set of 1947 high-horn magnas on it. It's a post war transition period hot rod. Enjoy!

 

[DCWilson]

Great score! I agree on original barrel and probable refinish.

I completely agree with Jim about a factory refinish. I have a Target TL refinished by the factory in 1926, barely a decade after it shipped, and the finish on it looks measurably less glossy than one might expect in a new gun of that decade. Non-factory refinishers often blued the third-lock latch plate on a TL rather than leaving it alone or restoring the standard case hardening, as factory standards required. Also the unflattened dome of the trigger stud and the care to buff lightly on the rollmarks, not to mention the tight sideplate seam, all suggest to me company treatment.

I am hugely envious.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

And slap a set of 1947 high-horn magnas on it.

I think he meant sharp shouldered. I agree! Magnas would be better grips than the original service grips.

 

[Bobbysixkiller]

Glad you picked it up. You know they don’t make em like that anymore. Great find.

 

[22lrfan]

I got the rust off the three spots and the metal is pitted in all three spots. Other than that there is hardly a mark on it other than a faint turn line. I was going to clean it but there was nothing to clean. Looking at the cylinder and forcing cone area I can't see any evidence that its been fired since being reworked. What do y'all think?

 

[22lrfan]

It has a square stamped under the extractor star and on the grip. I can't tell what the month is in the rework date.

 

[22lrfan]

One more picture. The serial number is stamped on the barrel inside the ejector rod housing.

 

[CptCurl]

Nice revolver. You certainly made the right choice.

Curl

 

[flagman1776]

Well done. I wonder if that latch would have been on it originally.

I'm officially envious. A 44SP is on my wish list.

I asked about the latch... it was a question... because I'm confused about which guns got flat latches. Was it only J frame snubbies?

 

[alwaysoutdoors]

Refinish is irrelevant for the money....

 

[Muley Gil]

I'm officially envious. A 44SP is on my wish list.

I asked about the latch... it was a question... because I'm confused about which guns got flat latches. Was it only J frame snubbies?

Some of the .38 M&P Airweights (K frame) had flat latches.