The First New Century Models
In the thread on the 45 ACP revolvers of S&W I mentioned the one that started it all. I was asked to expound on it so...
In 1905 or so, Smith &Wesson contemplated the US Military would be wanting a new side arm. They had in development the New Century Model, the public unveiling was not until 1907. For the Military Trials of 1906, S&W offered the New Century (Triplelock) Model. The Trial Board insisted on a 45 caliber cartridge. S&W wisely chose the 45 Frankford since it was being supplied by the military for the trials. It soon became obvious that the supplied ammunition was not tested as it suffered a very high failure to fire rate. S&W sought and received permission to supply their own ammunition and had UMC supply either 10000 or 20000 rounds to the Trial Board to be used in the New Century Model.
These are the ballistics as posted by Triplelock on another forum.
“... The so-called "Cal. .45 Ball, Model of 1906" was developed in late 1905 by Frankford Arsenal for use in testing revolvers submitted for the Army trials that began in 1906. The case was rimmed, 0.923" in length, and was loaded with a 230-grain cupro-nickel jacketed round-nose bullet over 7.2 grains of Bullseye smokeless powder. The muzzle velocity was 800
On the same forum, posted by kcwheel,
“... Here are some dimensions taken from Triple Lock SN 09. It is a pre-production item made for the army trials. It has a 6 1/2 inch barrel with no caliber markings. This gun was part of my brother's collection.
Headspace in gun: .055 (cylinder pressed forward)
Cylinder OD: 1.694
Clinder length: 1.580 (1917 cylinder is 1.535
chamber depth: .895
Chamber dia: .477
Throat dia of cyl: .454
The front of the chamber is tapered like any other rimmed cartridge chamber...”
We know the 45 ACP has a case length of .823” so the 45 S&W Special or 45 Frankford is longer than the ACP but shorter than the 45 S&W ( 45 Schofield).
To the best of my knowledge l, there are two of the experimental revolvers still in existence. The odds of me finding one of them are astronomical! I would have better luck building my own!
Does anyone have a junker 455 Triplelock they don’t need?
So, that is the other 45 S&W revolver and the one that started it all.
Kevin
In the thread on the 45 ACP revolvers of S&W I mentioned the one that started it all. I was asked to expound on it so...
In 1905 or so, Smith &Wesson contemplated the US Military would be wanting a new side arm. They had in development the New Century Model, the public unveiling was not until 1907. For the Military Trials of 1906, S&W offered the New Century (Triplelock) Model. The Trial Board insisted on a 45 caliber cartridge. S&W wisely chose the 45 Frankford since it was being supplied by the military for the trials. It soon became obvious that the supplied ammunition was not tested as it suffered a very high failure to fire rate. S&W sought and received permission to supply their own ammunition and had UMC supply either 10000 or 20000 rounds to the Trial Board to be used in the New Century Model.
These are the ballistics as posted by Triplelock on another forum.
“... The so-called "Cal. .45 Ball, Model of 1906" was developed in late 1905 by Frankford Arsenal for use in testing revolvers submitted for the Army trials that began in 1906. The case was rimmed, 0.923" in length, and was loaded with a 230-grain cupro-nickel jacketed round-nose bullet over 7.2 grains of Bullseye smokeless powder. The muzzle velocity was 800
On the same forum, posted by kcwheel,
“... Here are some dimensions taken from Triple Lock SN 09. It is a pre-production item made for the army trials. It has a 6 1/2 inch barrel with no caliber markings. This gun was part of my brother's collection.
Headspace in gun: .055 (cylinder pressed forward)
Cylinder OD: 1.694
Clinder length: 1.580 (1917 cylinder is 1.535
chamber depth: .895
Chamber dia: .477
Throat dia of cyl: .454
The front of the chamber is tapered like any other rimmed cartridge chamber...”
We know the 45 ACP has a case length of .823” so the 45 S&W Special or 45 Frankford is longer than the ACP but shorter than the 45 S&W ( 45 Schofield).
To the best of my knowledge l, there are two of the experimental revolvers still in existence. The odds of me finding one of them are astronomical! I would have better luck building my own!
Does anyone have a junker 455 Triplelock they don’t need?
So, that is the other 45 S&W revolver and the one that started it all.
Kevin