Smith & Wesson .45 of 1906 vintage?

[BobWright]

For the handgun trials of 1906, Frankford Arsenal was directed to produce a .45 Caliber cartridge that could be used in either a revolver or an autoloading pistol. The resulting cartridge has a very small rim and extractor groove. It was noted that "Smith & Wesson complained that the rim was too small to work well in their revolver." As a matter of note, this cartridge was immediately superseded by the M1906 cartridges dedicated to pistol or revolver use.

This brings the question to my mind, what was the Smith & Wesson entry in those tests? I'm certain it was an N-Framed double action, similar to the New Century. But a Triple Lock? Note this was prior to the British .455s and the M1917 revolvers.

Anybody have any information?


Bob Wright

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Bob

Most sources say the Triple Lock first appeared in 1908. I have one that Roy Jinks told me shipped in 1907.

I don't have an answer to your question, but I just copied it to the Smith and Wesson forum. Perhaps somebody there has an answer.

Hmmm...This may help.

According to Neal and Jinks:

"Up until the early 1900s the company would fill most reasonable requests by dealers or individuals for special calibers, barrel lengths, etc. For this reason it is quite possible the collector may find models chambered in calibers not listed in this book."

"In 1908 or 1909 the company seriously considered introducing a model that was to be called the "45 Special". This cartridge was designed for use in the 44 Hand Ejector First Model*. The cartridge was a revolver cartridge developed for military use at the Frankford Arsenal. The project progressed so far that the company actually made boxes for the gun, but it was never commercially sold."

My suspicion is that S&W was probably already working on the Triple Lock when the Army made this request, so it might have been fairly easy to supply one chambered for the specific 45 caliber cartridge.

Just a guess.


* Triple Lock

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Here is one of the answers I got from a very knowledgeable guy on the S&W Forum.

"S&W entered two T-Locks in the 1906 Trials, one of which had 5 1/2 in. barrel. The only T-Lock ever made in that barrel length. It was returned to S&W after the trials however it's location is unknown to collectors today. The other T-Lock entered was destroyed in the rust test. It's location is also unknown today. No record of the serial numbers of the two guns has been found, however based on known T-Locks in .45S&W Special caliber, the two trial guns probably had serial numbers under # 13."

By the way, I just asked the question on the S&W Forum when did S&W first start working on a 44 caliber Hand Ejector. It is common knowledge they were first offered for sale in 1908, I am curious when Smith first started working on the idea.

By the way, this well worn Triple Lock actually shipped in 1907, at least that's what Roy Jinks told me. The serial number is very low, under 200. Notice the caliber call out on the barrel. Smith had not yet come up with a stamp that said 44 S & W SPECIAL CTG. Worn as the finish is, this old girl still locks up tight and shoots great.




Sheesh

Just answered my own question. According to Jinks' book 125 Years With Smith and Wesson, work started on a 44 caliber Hand Ejector in 1905.

Perfect timing for the 1906 trials.

 

[BobWright]

After reading yore post I remembered the part about having the boxes made up. As I recall, these boxes were used for the first .455s sent to England and still bore the stamping of ".45 Special." This during the WW I era.

Ain't this study fascinatin'?


Bob Wright

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Hi Bob

Yes, Daniel Wesson was a famous skinflint and hardly ever threw anything out. So the boxes were saved until they could be used. Interestingly enough he died in 1906, but I think his 'economy' had become institutional by then.