What would you expect to pay for a good condition Triple Lock in 45 auto rim? Is 45 Auto Rim the same as 45 ACP? Are these older guns still OK to shoot today? Would they handle 230 gr. Hydra shoks or lighter defense loads? I suspect that they couldn't handle +P's. If I get the serial number of the gun, is there a website that will help me validate that it is what it is? Thanks
S&W Triple Lock
- Thread starter rWt
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I'm assuming you want a "vintage" S&W ?
To the best of my knowledge , the TL was never chambered for 45 acp . The Auto Rim cartridge wasn't invented until after WWI .
Unless you simply have to have the under lug barrel design of the TL [ 44spl & 455 Webley are the most common choices ] , I would look for a Model 1917 .
To the best of my knowledge , the TL was never chambered for 45 acp . The Auto Rim cartridge wasn't invented until after WWI .
Unless you simply have to have the under lug barrel design of the TL [ 44spl & 455 Webley are the most common choices ] , I would look for a Model 1917 .
triple lock
Thanks Mitch. The triple lock was for sale on a collector/dealer site. it noted that it was in 45 Auto Rim. What do 1917's cost in good condition and what calibers did they come in?
Thanks Mitch. The triple lock was for sale on a collector/dealer site. it noted that it was in 45 Auto Rim. What do 1917's cost in good condition and what calibers did they come in?
1917 S&W (and Colt) revolvers are exclusively .45ACP, made in WW I because Colt, Remington, and Springfield could not make enough 1911s to meet the demand. They made a few commercial versions after the war and sold a bunch to Brazil in 1937. Peters came out with the .45 Auto Rim after the war to sell ammo that did not require half-moon clips for surplus and commercial guns.
A Triple Lock advertised in .45 Auto Rim is most likely a British contract gun returned here as surplus and converted from .455 Webley to .45 Auto Rim for the common ammo. All that was done was to face off the rear of the cylinder to headspace the thick .45 A.R. rim (Or .45 ACP in clips) instead of the very thin .455 rim. Probably didn't even have to ream the chambers. The barrel was unchanged at .455"+. Accuracy would not be great unless you made up handloads with bullets cast to fit or maybe the Remington hollowbase .454" Colt bullet.
An unaltered Triple Lock in anything but .44 Special or .455 Webley would be rare and valuable.
A Triple Lock advertised in .45 Auto Rim is most likely a British contract gun returned here as surplus and converted from .455 Webley to .45 Auto Rim for the common ammo. All that was done was to face off the rear of the cylinder to headspace the thick .45 A.R. rim (Or .45 ACP in clips) instead of the very thin .455 rim. Probably didn't even have to ream the chambers. The barrel was unchanged at .455"+. Accuracy would not be great unless you made up handloads with bullets cast to fit or maybe the Remington hollowbase .454" Colt bullet.
An unaltered Triple Lock in anything but .44 Special or .455 Webley would be rare and valuable.
Thanks . Very good reply Jim 
Absolutely ! Also , have you checked the prices on a basic 6.5" 44 spl lately ? $1500 isn't uncommon ! And they aren't mint at this price . You'll pay over $2k easy .
M1917's in really good shape will bring $750 . Of course prices will vary depending on your location .
Absolutely ! Also , have you checked the prices on a basic 6.5" 44 spl lately ? $1500 isn't uncommon ! And they aren't mint at this price . You'll pay over $2k easy .
M1917's in really good shape will bring $750 . Of course prices will vary depending on your location .
Thank you Jim,
As you can tell, this is all new to me. I do like well made guns and am beginning to learn about S&W revolvers. I recently purchased a 10-5 for a house gun, but have always liked larger calibers. Thus my interest in older S&W's. I can find 1937's from $500-$800, but haven't found a 1917 yet-so, don't know their value. Do you have any recommendations for older S&W's in 45 Colt?
What is the hand ejector model?
Thanks again.
Dick
As you can tell, this is all new to me. I do like well made guns and am beginning to learn about S&W revolvers. I recently purchased a 10-5 for a house gun, but have always liked larger calibers. Thus my interest in older S&W's. I can find 1937's from $500-$800, but haven't found a 1917 yet-so, don't know their value. Do you have any recommendations for older S&W's in 45 Colt?
What is the hand ejector model?
Thanks again.
Dick
There are hardly any older S&Ws in .45 Colt. The first regularly cataloged one was the M25-5 in the 1980s, with occasional fits of 625 variants in .45 Colt off and on after they went largely stainless.
I consider these internet price checks worthless. A current production gun will be available somewhere between wholesale and retail prices, bargain with your dealer(s).
A discontinued and likely well used gun costs what IT costs. What somebody else paid for one has little meaning. It is unlikely the condition was exactly the same, he may have bought it months ago before a magazine article pumped up the prices, or in a different area where such things are more or less popular. The only question is, how bad do you want it?
Ordering used guns from print or net advertisements is a major pig in a poke project. I used to do it every once in a while but was often disappointed, occasionally got what I expected, and was very rarely thrilled. Last new gun I ordered was pretty much in the same class, for that matter.
A Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector is a revolver from which the empties are ejected by hand on the rod of a swing-out cylinder; in contrast to the automatic ejection of their earlier top-breaks. It is the mechanical design, not an individual model or caliber. There are Hand Ejectors of many calibers from .22 to .455, you can see a lot of them listed in the Blue Book. Amongst S&W afficianados it usually seems to be taken to mean the various models of the .44 Hand Ejector. Some of the more important guns got their own model names, like the Military and Police.
I consider these internet price checks worthless. A current production gun will be available somewhere between wholesale and retail prices, bargain with your dealer(s).
A discontinued and likely well used gun costs what IT costs. What somebody else paid for one has little meaning. It is unlikely the condition was exactly the same, he may have bought it months ago before a magazine article pumped up the prices, or in a different area where such things are more or less popular. The only question is, how bad do you want it?
Ordering used guns from print or net advertisements is a major pig in a poke project. I used to do it every once in a while but was often disappointed, occasionally got what I expected, and was very rarely thrilled. Last new gun I ordered was pretty much in the same class, for that matter.
A Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector is a revolver from which the empties are ejected by hand on the rod of a swing-out cylinder; in contrast to the automatic ejection of their earlier top-breaks. It is the mechanical design, not an individual model or caliber. There are Hand Ejectors of many calibers from .22 to .455, you can see a lot of them listed in the Blue Book. Amongst S&W afficianados it usually seems to be taken to mean the various models of the .44 Hand Ejector. Some of the more important guns got their own model names, like the Military and Police.
Thanks again, Jim. I'll have to go find a Blue Book.
Is there a definitive book on S&W revolvers?
I take it that the Model 26 followed the Model 25?
Is there a definitive book on S&W revolvers?
I take it that the Model 26 followed the Model 25?
44 Special and later 357 mag was S&W's answer before WWII to those who wanted a more powerful handgun caliber .
More good info here rWt .
www.smith-wessonforum.com
More good info here rWt .
www.smith-wessonforum.com
rWt there is a Standard Catalog of S&W with a lot of good information.
Unfortunately, the Model 26 preceded the Model 25. Model numbers were assigned in 1957, before that every model had a distinctive name, sometimes including the year of introduction.. The Model of 1950 .45 Target became the model 26, the Model 1955 .45 Target became the model 25. But the Model of 1950 .44 Target became the model 24. Why S&W did it that way, I don't know. Maybe the Standard Catalog has the answer.
Unfortunately, the Model 26 preceded the Model 25. Model numbers were assigned in 1957, before that every model had a distinctive name, sometimes including the year of introduction.. The Model of 1950 .45 Target became the model 26, the Model 1955 .45 Target became the model 25. But the Model of 1950 .44 Target became the model 24. Why S&W did it that way, I don't know. Maybe the Standard Catalog has the answer.
Proof marks say this is surely a .455 with the rear of the cylinder faced off for .45 ACP/AR. That surely reduces the dollar value but I don't know if $1195 is the right dollar value for one cut or uncut these days. Ask over on www.smith-wessonforum.com
If you want something to shoot, get a late production M625. There will be no doubt about condition or availability of parts... which is about nothing for Triple Locks.
If you want something to shoot, get a late production M625. There will be no doubt about condition or availability of parts... which is about nothing for Triple Locks.
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