help identify these handguns please

[Dimis]

My girlfriends grandmother had passed away in november and they just got around to cleaning out the house and came accross a pair of guns that her grandfather had stashed in a back closet

i wasnt there to handle the guns and her uncle is a bit a of a jerk and a snob so ill never even lay eyes on them again but she snuck a picture of each to me because she didnt know what they are

the revolver is chambered in 44 special (from what she said)

and the pistol is 22 but didnt say anything else

i wouldnt even want to know value because it would break her heart if they are worth anything she kind of had her hopes up to keep them herself

 

[gun addict]

your pistol looks very much like a .32acp Ruby or browning. And i highly doubt that old S&W is in .44 magnum

 

[Jim Watson]

The autopistol is more likely a .32, it looks like one of the numerous Spanish "Ruby" pistols. There were 46 small Spanish companies turning out generally similar .32s for France during WW I. This looks like one of the type. Maybe a post war model with shorter butt for concealment. Cash value and shooting enjoyment are not high.

The revolver is a different story. It is a Smith & Wesson .44 New Century Hand Ejector, commonly known as the "Triple Lock" because of the extra cylinder latch versus earlier and later models. About 15,000 made from 1908 til 1915. The gun appears to be in decent though not great condition, and is a desirable piece worth a good deal of money.

 

[highorder]

a desirable piece worth a good deal of money.

Indeed.

The last S&W Triple Lock I saw in person (2005?) was in similar condition and sold for $1600, if I remember correctly.

 

[tipoc]

It appears to be a Triple Lock. 44 Spl. Generally considered one of the finest revolvers ever made.

tipoc

 

[HoosierQ]

Holy mackeral! A triple lock. The Holy Grail of old double action revolver finds.


Sorry you won't get to keep them. Nice contribution to history.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Aah...For pete sake gun addict...He didn't say it was a "magnum". Now you have embarrassed us Missourians...

 

[highorder]

For those that missed it, the OP doesn't own or even possess these guns.

Too bad, that triple lock is worth some scratch!

 

[David E]

And i highly doubt that old S&W is in .44 magnum

Yeah, seeing as how the OP said it was chambered in .44 SPECIAL...........

 

[rcmodel]

Maybe I could borrow the Triple-Lock long enough to tighten the strain screw before it falls out!
It really needs it.

Yea!
And forget to give it back afterward!

rc

 

[Dimis]

Rc if only i could touch them... as i stated before they were herlooms and her uncle is now the proud owner and seeing his disposition toward me is fairly unfavorable i highly doubt i could even see them under glass let alone hold them

the girlfriend claimes that the pistol distinctly said 22 long rifle

were there any revolvers made in that style that could go by another name?
she says the barrel said 44 special "something" service revolver and that there was a "TM"

 

[gun addict]

Aah...For pete sake gun addict...He didn't say it was a "magnum". Now you have embarrassed us Missourians...

awwee hell......(go sits in the corner)

 

[highorder]

were there any revolvers made in that style that could go by another name?
she says the barrel said 44 special "something" service revolver and that there was a "TM"

Good or bad (for you) it's a triple lock, and a nice one.

The strain screw does need adjusting.

 

[Jim Watson]

Yup.
I can't debate your memory of her memory of the caliber of the Ruby type auto, even though neither of my books shows one in .22.

But a Triple Lock is utterly distinctive.

 

[Dimis]

thanks guys i appreciate all the help i was kinda just praying it wasnt a triple lock

not truthfuly worried about the pistol too much anyway

 

[Jim Watson]

A horrible thought occurred to me in the middle of the night. Well, it wouldn't be horrible for the OP and girlfriend because it would depress the value of the guns held by the funny uncle.

There WAS a Spanish copy of the Triple Lock known as the TAC .44; made by Trocaola, Aranzabal y Cie in Eibar. Spain. I cannot find a picture of one to know if it is a close enough copy to fool the eye if markings are not visible. But it is something to think about and maybe a collector to comment on.