Value of Triple Lock Target

[hibbs]

I have been offered a Really Nice Triple Lock Target. Upon very close inspection The only finish wear I can find is a slight ring on the cylinder. All # match and the grips (sunk gold medalions) are perfect. It's a 6 1/5 " blue with Paine front sight and correct rear target sight. I have never seen a nicer one! My question is, what is a realistic value of such a gun? If I buy it ,I will share it with you on the forum.

Thanks, Hibbs
S&WCA 2062

 

[JP@AK]

Good grief! A terrific find. I hope you can get it. Look forward to seeing the pictures!!!

 

[chud333]

Can't help much with price. Over my pay scale.
Well up in 4 figures if not low 5.
Hope to see some pictures.
Outstanding find.

Chuck

 

[mrcvs]

Without seeing photographs, I would say a fair price for both parties involved might be $4000 to $6000, and $6000 could be a stretch, unless it is really, really nice! The barrel length, if measured correctly, is likely 6 1/2".

 

[mrcvs]

I should have asked...what's the asking price?

 

[GunarSailors]

What's the caliber?

 

[mrcvs]

What's the caliber?

These are rarely in anything other than .44 S & W Special.

 

[gripper]

If the gun is truly almost new the real value of the gun will be in the five figures. You may be able to purchase it cheaper if the seller isn't in tune with the current market of such high condition guns. If you can purchase it cheaper and decide to sell you will be very pleased with the return on your investment. If you have to pay full price consider yourself lucky to own one of the very few "as new" Triplelock Targets that exist. Good luck.

Chad

 

[Dan M]

I would expect the range to be $8000 - $10000 for a 99% gun. I sold mine several years ago for slightly less than that but not much. that is a hard gun to find. A minty Triplelock Target, how many can say they own one? not many thats for sure.

Dan
2054

 

[mrcvs]

I would expect the range to be $8000 - $10000 for a 99% gun. I sold mine several years ago for slightly less than that but not much. that is a hard gun to find. A minty Triplelock Target, how many can say they own one? not many thats for sure.

Triple Lock production that was not for British military purposes numbered 15,375, 1907 to 1915. Of that, so I have been told, approximately 10% of production was the Target Model, so this would be around 1500 or so. Recently, I asked Mr Jinks about the production runs of models such as the Triple Lock, and he stated that a run usually was around 2,500 frames. Could it be perhaps that all the Triple Lock Target Model frames were composed all at once, in a run of 2,500, and thus they number 2,500? I never thought of this until now, and I will ask this...

But, no matter which way you cut it, a Target Model is a RARE bird. Having said that, you shouldn't have to give your eye tooth for it. Something that is 100% scares me, suggests often, but not always, expert restoration...

Attached are photographs of one of my Target Models. You can judge the condition of this one, but it is fairly good, and I paid nowhere near five figures for it when I purchased it a few months ago.

 

[GunarSailors]

These are rarely in anything other than .44 S & W Special.

Non target models various calibers included .44 S&W special, .44 S&W Russian, .44-40 Winchester., .455 Mark II, .38-40 Winchester., .45 S&W Special. Twenty-three reported manufactured in .45 Colt; 1226 reported manufactured in .450 Eley; 13,753 reported manufactured in .44 S&W Special and even a few reported in .22 long rifle. I'd be interested to know how many target models were made in any caliber other than .44 S&W Special.

 

[Dan M]

mrcvs while your t-lock is very nice it is not a 99% gun and on a gun like yours I wouldn't pay the prices I mentioned for it but there is a huge difference in pricing for a 96-97 percent gun and one that is 99 percent

As for quantity of targets out there is only relevant when you add the word "like new" to it and then you are probably down to a handful


Dan

 

[Wiregrassguy]

The recently published Standard Catalog, 4th Edition, which had considerable input from the folks on this forum says triple lock targets are worth 3X the standard model and an excellent condition standard model is worth $5000. ANIB standard is worth $12000. That's a wide range but low to high end is still 5 figures.

 

[mrcvs]

mrcvs while your t-lock is very nice it is not a 99% gun and on a gun like yours I wouldn't pay the prices I mentioned for it but there is a huge difference in pricing for a 96-97 percent gun and one that is 99 percent

As for quantity of targets out there is only relevant when you add the word "like new" to it and then you are probably down to a handful


Dan

Agreed, mine is not 99%, but it is north of 90%. How much north of this is open to debate.

I just cannot see spending several thousand for that extra few percent. In the Standard Catalogue of Smith & Wesson, 499th edition, a Triple Lock is recorded as having sold for in excess of 30K. Obviously, someone valued this firearm a lot--you just won't ever see me dishing out that kind of money for a Triple Lock.

 

[Toyman]

I bought this triple lock target 44 special 6 1/2 barrel in 2008.
Based on the prices being bounced about I have less in it than supposed value today.
I bought a triple target in 1982 from a S&W collectors member with an ivory bead front sight for $625. I don't remember what I sold it for

 

[hibbs]

I should have asked...what's the asking price?

Sorry about the missing details. The cal.is .44 S&W SPC., The barrel is 6.5" and the asking price is in the high four digit range.

 

[opoefc]

For some years past I helped another S&WCA member acquire upper scale T-Locks as they came available at gun shows and various sales. The goal was to have a display of 100 T-Locks for the 100th anniv. of the model for the S&WCA Symposium in 2008. Unfortunately the Symposium was in Sturbridge MA that year, and being out of state residents, the MA DOJ denied a permit to bring handguns into MA., w/o a fee of $100 per handgun, so we passed and brought the display to the meeting in Tucson, AZ. in 2010. By then the pile contained 105 T-Locks. Target models of various calibers were in the display, including a factory engraved example that had received and offer of $35,000 which was not accepted. There are two types of target models - originally shipped as such and T-Locks returned to the factory for conversion to target configuration. Be sure you know the difference before you pay market price for a factory target and get a conversion. T-Lock frames are all the same and a frame is modified during production to become a target frame. Ed.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

For some years past I helped another S&WCA member acquire upper scale T-Locks as they came available at gun shows and various sales. The goal was to have a display of 100 T-Locks for the 100th anniv. of the model for the S&WCA Symposium in 2008. Unfortunately the Symposium was in Sturbridge MA that year, and being out of state residents, the MA DOJ denied a permit to bring handguns into MA., w/o a fee of $100 per handgun, so we passed and brought the display to the meeting in Tucson, AZ. in 2010. By then the pile contained 105 T-Locks. Target models of various calibers were in the display, including a factory engraved example that had received and offer of $35,000 which was not accepted. There are two types of target models - originally shipped as such and T-Locks returned to the factory for conversion to target configuration. Be sure you know the difference before you pay market price for a factory target and get a conversion. T-Lock frames are all the same and a frame is modified during production to become a target frame. Ed.

Ed, ever hear the expression "**** in the punch bowl"? That's what it is ever time you bring up that subject on someone's thread. We all know you were wrong then and your wrong now. Did you stop and ask all the other out of state folks that attended that meeting how they got their guns into Massachusetts? Please admit your wrong and get over your mistake. You've beaten that poor horse to death! By the way, when are YOU hosting a symposium in California? One more thing, what is the Massachusetts DOJ?

 

[Dan M]

Don and Ed,
well we can show them here right? there was lots of scary rumors floating around the ole interweb then, Hell I was excited they were in Tucson as I got to put my grubby fingers on a whole bunch of them as the display was right next to mine. I don't think DBWesson will mind if I post them.


Dan

 

[rct269]

Please pardon my ignorance---I have but one Triplelock---fairly early---#3976, shipped February 23, 1909.

The photos attendant to Larry's display show hammers with and without anti-chafing bushings. Mine has them. When did they stop---or are these photos of subsequent models in the .44 HE series? And I ask that because I have a gnawing memory I have such bushings in my 2nd and possibly in my 3rd also. If push comes to shove, I may have to get off my butt, and take a look for real. In other words, confusion reigns supreme!!

Ralph Tremaine