| Smith & Wesson "Triple Lock" | |
|---|---|
Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector 1st Model 'New Century' "Triple Lock" |
|
| Type | Revolver |
| Place of origin | United States of America |
| Specifications | |
| Cartridge | .44 Special |
| Feed system | 6-round cylinder |
The Triple lock, officially the Smith and Wesson .44 Hand Ejector 1st Model 'New Century', is a double action revolver. It was and is considered by many, including handgun enthusiast and expert Elmer Keith, to be the finest revolver ever made.[1]
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 (a lengthened .44 Russian, and itself the parent of the .44 Magnum), first chambered in the Triple Lock.[2]
The .44 is part of the model name, regardless of the actual chambering of any individual revolver, and Hand Ejector is to differentiate the new design from Smith and Wesson's earlier top break revolvers. These 19th century designs had an automatic ejector mechanism actuated when the frame was tipped up. The newer Hand Ejector models required the user to depress a plunger to eject spent casings. The New Century designation was in recognition of its status as Smith and Wesson's first 20th century design.
It was only manufactured between 1908 and 1915, for a total of 15,376 revolvers, a stock that 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.
Smith & Wesson changed the design for several reasons: the British and Canadian military purchased the triple lock in large quantities for the Great War, chambered in .455 Webley, and pressed for the removal of the third locking lug and shroud due to concerns the precision mechanism would collect dirt and malfunction. Additionally, the change simplified manufacturing, allowing Smith and Wesson to drop the price of the gun $2, from $21 for the 1st Model to $19 for the 2nd Model. The ejector shroud was reintroduced in 1926, with the Hand Ejector 3rd Model, but the Triple Lock feature was never used again.