Smith & Wesson Triple Lock - Hand Ejector 1st Model
Calibre 0.455
Serial No: 1406
Price: £1,600

Very Good Condition

Rare - WWI British Issued Smith & Wesson Triple Lock

The Triple lock, officially the Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector 1st Model 'New Century', is a double-action revolver.
It was and is considered by many, to be the finest revolver ever made.
Its popular name refers to its extra (third) locking lug on the cylinder crane. This extra locking mechanism was deemed necessary due to the
increased power of the .44 Special cartridge.

It was only manufactured between 1908 and 1915, and a total of 15,376 revolvers were made, stock was sold out completely by 1917.
It was replaced by a .44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model, most visibly different in lacking the ejector shroud and third locking lug.

British Connection

To cover manufacturing shortages of the Webley Mk VI, early in the war the Ministry of Munitions contracted Smith & Wesson to manufacture revolvers chambered in .455 Webley. Smith & Wesson were given an initial contract to manufacture 5,000 triple lock pistols.

The Pistol Smith & Wesson .455 with Mark I, was introduced into British (Land) Service as a "substitute standard" sidearm in 1914 - 1915.
Under List of Changes (LOC) 17,463.
It was superseeded in January 1915 by the MkII which lacked the third locking lug and ejector shroud, and was supplied in much larger numbers.

All Smith & Wesson Contracts were Cancelled in January 1917

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Suitable For Section 7.1 or 7.3