Smith & Wesson Triple Lock

For the feature of the Liberal Democrats democratic structure see Triple Lock mechanism (Liberal Democrats)

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, 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 & 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 expended cases. The New Century designation was in recognition of its status as Smith & 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 & 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.

Notes

• Jan. 2000 American Handgunner
• June 2004 American Handgunner

1. ↑ Keith, Elmer: Sixguns (1996 revision). R & R Books. ISBN 978-1-884849-10-7
2. ↑ Jinks, Roy: History of Smith & Wesson. 1977. North Hollywood, CA: Beinfeld Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-917714-14-6

Smith & Wesson Revolvers Top Hinge Model 1 Model 1 1/2 Top Break Model 2 Model 3 Safety Hammerless I-frame Model 30 Kit Gun J-frame Model 36 Bodyguard Model 60 Model 340PD Centennial Model 640 K-frame Model 10 Model 12 Model 13 Model 14 Model 15 Model 17 Model 19 Model 617 Model 64 Model 65 Model 66 Model 67 L-frame Model 581 Model 586 Model 619 Model 620 Model 646 Model 681 Model 686 M-frame Ladysmith N-frame New Century .38/44 Model 22 Model 27 Model 28 Model 29 Model 57 Model 610 Model 625 X-frame Model 460 Model 500 Z-frame Governor C-frame (experimental) Model 73 Semi-automatic pistols Model 1006 Model 1913 Model 22A Model 39 Model 4006 Model 41 Model 422 Model 4506 Model 469 Model 52 Model 5906 Model 6904 Model 59 Model 61 Model 645 Model 910 Bodyguard 380 M&P M&P22 SD VE SW1911 SW99 Sigma Long guns Model 1940 M&P10 M&P15 M&P15-22 Model 320 Model 76 Assault Shotgun Cartridges .22 Short .32 S&W .32 S&W Long .35 S&W Auto .356 TSW .357 Magnum .38 S&W .38 Special .40 S&W .41 Magnum .44 Russian .44 Special .44 S&W American .44 Magnum .45 Schofield .460 S&W Magnum .500 S&W Magnum Horace Smith Daniel B. Wesson