Triple Lock with pearls
- Thread starter kcub
- Start date
Nice, but it may be a gennie, and not a conversion - since S&W made a LOT of them for the Brits in .455 for the Great War (IIRC).
They're more often seen converted from .455 to .45ACP (w/cylinder rear machined for moon clip).
The pearls are a nice touch, though - just right/enough to give it that little touch of class.
It sure looks like Christmas turned out to be very merry for you ! .
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They're more often seen converted from .455 to .45ACP (w/cylinder rear machined for moon clip).
The pearls are a nice touch, though - just right/enough to give it that little touch of class.
It sure looks like Christmas turned out to be very merry for you ! .
.
Congratulations, kcub. Do you mean that it was converted to .45 Colt or .45ACP?
As Petah indicated, those .455/.45 guns can be confusing. A number of the .44 HE 1st Models (less than 700) were converted to .455 for the Brits. Very few of the originals (less than 25) were originally made in .45 Colt.
Additionally, the .455 Mark II HE 1st Models which were originally chambered that way for the English were manufactured in a different serial number range from the 1st Model .44s so it is possible that there is some overlap between the numbers in the two models. Both of them might be found with the cylinder modified for the .45 Colt.
Let us know the serial number when you get it and we may be able to more clearly ID it for you. If you can get us close-up pictures of the markings and the back of the cylinder that will help.
Bob
As Petah indicated, those .455/.45 guns can be confusing. A number of the .44 HE 1st Models (less than 700) were converted to .455 for the Brits. Very few of the originals (less than 25) were originally made in .45 Colt.
Additionally, the .455 Mark II HE 1st Models which were originally chambered that way for the English were manufactured in a different serial number range from the 1st Model .44s so it is possible that there is some overlap between the numbers in the two models. Both of them might be found with the cylinder modified for the .45 Colt.
Let us know the serial number when you get it and we may be able to more clearly ID it for you. If you can get us close-up pictures of the markings and the back of the cylinder that will help.
Bob
The grips obviously are not original. Can we see some good pictures of the barrel (caliber) marking and also of the rear of the cylinder? Converting a .455 to .45 ACP involves shaving the rear of the cylinder and using moon clips. (The triple lock was never made in .45 ACP or .45 Colt.)
Jim
Jim
There is generally no caliber marking on the barrels of the .455 MarkII Triple Locks. If the cylinder was shaved, the rear may still be in the white if it was done outside of the factory and there won't be a serial number remaining on it. It's also possible that a M1917 .45 ACP cylinder was installed, in which case, the number will be different but the back won't have been shaved.
It's unusual to see the .455 changed to a .45 ACP. The vast majority were bored out for the .45 Colt.
Bob
It's unusual to see the .455 changed to a .45 ACP. The vast majority were bored out for the .45 Colt.
Bob
Rainbow Demon
New member
The British also had a few autoloaders chambered for the British .455 auto cartridge.
This cartridge was basically the same as the original prototype .45 ACP cartridge which used a slightly shorter bullet with hemispherical round nose.
The longer nose of the U S .45 ACP milspec bullet as we know it may be why the feed ramp of the 1911 undercuts the chamber leaving the casehead partly unsupported.
Not many .455 auto pistols were built, some of a Webley design and a very few Colt 1911 contract pistols marked as such but likely no different than the standard 1911.
This cartridge was basically the same as the original prototype .45 ACP cartridge which used a slightly shorter bullet with hemispherical round nose.
The longer nose of the U S .45 ACP milspec bullet as we know it may be why the feed ramp of the 1911 undercuts the chamber leaving the casehead partly unsupported.
Not many .455 auto pistols were built, some of a Webley design and a very few Colt 1911 contract pistols marked as such but likely no different than the standard 1911.
The gunsmith gave you good advice. The mother of pearl is very brittle and it really isn't worth the risk to a beautiful set like that to risk cracking them. I would put some more functional set of grips on to shoot it. It's a perfect place for a pair of Pachmayr's. The pearls are great for "show" but not as good for "go".
Be careful in removing the old pearls and don't put any pressure on them. You are going to be surprised at just how heavy they are.
Bob
Be careful in removing the old pearls and don't put any pressure on them. You are going to be surprised at just how heavy they are.
Bob
I am sure the marking means ".45 Auto Rim" and was put on by the gunsmith who shaved the cylinder. Of course, any revolver that could take the .45 AR could also take the .45 ACP with moon clips.
Some notes on the .455 Webley Auto Pistol cartridge and the Colt pistol made for it.
That cartridge is semi-rimmed and is supported (headspaced) on its rim, not on the case mouth as is the .45 ACP. The Colt pistols (Government Models) made for the .455 Webley Auto are different from those made for the .45 ACP. For one thing, the barrel hood is grooved for the rim (like the .38 Super barrel), and there is no sharp shoulder in the chamber. In addition, the .455 magazine (marked ".455 ELEY") is wider than the .45 ACP magazine to accommodate that rim, so the magazine well is wider also. A .455 magazine will not fit in a standard .45 ACP pistol.
The .45 ACP can be fired in the .455 Webley Colt pistol (as well as in the .455 Webley pistol itself), but it is supported only by the extractor and performance and accuracy are poor.
Jim
Some notes on the .455 Webley Auto Pistol cartridge and the Colt pistol made for it.
That cartridge is semi-rimmed and is supported (headspaced) on its rim, not on the case mouth as is the .45 ACP. The Colt pistols (Government Models) made for the .455 Webley Auto are different from those made for the .45 ACP. For one thing, the barrel hood is grooved for the rim (like the .38 Super barrel), and there is no sharp shoulder in the chamber. In addition, the .455 magazine (marked ".455 ELEY") is wider than the .45 ACP magazine to accommodate that rim, so the magazine well is wider also. A .455 magazine will not fit in a standard .45 ACP pistol.
The .45 ACP can be fired in the .455 Webley Colt pistol (as well as in the .455 Webley pistol itself), but it is supported only by the extractor and performance and accuracy are poor.
Jim