S&W triple lock/1st mdl hand ejector questions

[gunnie]

i have a S&W triple lock in a 45LC chambering. there are NO X'd out .455 markings on the bbl, just 45LC...

the question is, it has british proof marks on it, the half moon front sight has been cut out on the back somewhat, and a gold dot sits at the top of sight. it has no adjustable rear sight, as described in some literature i have read about a target model exported for british competition use. the trigger has an overtravel block on the rear of it, that i can't detect any seam for, as if it had been brazed/silver soldered in place. the color case hardening doesn't seem to be altered in any way either, and i would think the heat of modifying this would do so. it also has no lanyard loop on the grip frame.

i realize i'd need to write S&W's custom shop to find if this was a custom order, but i am stationed on the other side of the planet now and this will have to wait. [sandbox] does anyone have any info about the so called target model sent to the british?

IE: a description of the front sight, trigger, rear sight, proof marks. don't recall exact year of mfg, but think it was 1915, or 1916.

thanx beforehand,
gunnie

 

[Dienekes]

Suggest you post an inquiry over at www.smith-wessonforum.com in the pre-1945 section.

I know something about TLs--have two--but there are some real experts over there.

Stay safe over there.

 

[gunnie]

thanx Dienekes

did that very thing, methinx it was from the shipment made from leftover parts noted in below posting...

Member

Posted 25 March 2008 07:28 AM Hide Post

This is one of the guns that Supica mentions in his book. After production had ceased on the 1st Model several hundred (like 340 or something like that) were assembled using left over guns and parts from the British 455 order. They were converted to 45 Colt for the American market (some suspect a factory conversion but Roy has no knowledge one way or the other) and the entire lot was shipped late (like the 29th) in December of 1917 to Shapleigh Hardware in St. Louis, a major S&W distributer at the time.

This one has been poorly reblued and has the wrong stocks but it shoots fine and I figured it was worth the $295 I paid for it on GunBroker a couple years back.

same from this thread:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/540103904/m/7641008092/p/1

that would explain the british proof marks, and standard fixed sights. guess i need to get it papered by S&W when i get back to the states.

thanx again
gunnie

 

[SaxonPig]

I bet the serial is in the 12,000-13,000 range, right?

They had several hundred left over 455s the Brits didn't want so they bored them to 45 Colt and sold them to Shapleigh Hardware in St. Louis.

Mine is 12,700 and was shipped 12/29/17 to Shapleigh. I imagine yours was shipped the same day or close to it.

 

[rswartsell]

Very nice Saxon,

How does it shoot? I assume you avoid the hotter .45 Colt loadings?

 

[SaxonPig]

250 lead @ 800 FPS. Untempered cylinder and no need to hot rod this thing.

Not a target grade revolver. Could probably hit a man at 50 yards if he didn't move around too much.

 

[gunnie]

SaxonPig

i THINK it was in the 1,300 range, but would hafta see it again before i could be firm on that'n. one thing i was wondering about, am pretty sure the caliber stamping read: "Calibre .45 Long Colt", [first word is not a typo] is yours marked the same?

pls advise.

gunnie

 

[SaxonPig]

I don't believe the barrels are stamped Long Colt or even Colt. Mine simply reads .455. If the one you describe says otherwise it would have to be an original 45 Colt TL (and I understand maybe 21 were made) or someone has changed it.

 

[gunnie]

SaxonPig,

thanks for the input bud, you can imagine how this might have brightened my day.

gunnie