StrawHat
Well-Known Member
Have you ever dreamt about hitting the lottery? Or participated in a thread about “What would you buy if you hit the mega thing?”
I posted on such a thread. As many know, I enjoy S&W 45 ACP revolvers and have a few. But the revolver that has recently got me thinking is one of the New Century revolvers submitted by S&W to the Army Trials of 1907. These particular revolvers were entirely new and chambered for a new cartridge. S&W hoped to get the Government contract and sell a bunch to the citizenry also. The revolver was the New Century Hand Ejector and the cartridge was the 45 S&W Special. Yes, the Forty FIVE S&W Special. (S&W later introduced the New Century Hand Ejector, aka Triplelock, to the public in 1908 chambered for the 44 S&W Special.)
The Army chose a different handgun and the rest is history.
But, the 45 Special Triplelock intrigues me and what I posted was to the effect, …I would love to own one of the Trial revolvers but since only two are known, it probably would not happen. But, I could be just as happy with a replica. So if anyone has a better TL, let me know…
Well, don’t you know, a fellow member of that forum reached out to me and he had such a beater, a 455 New Century. The action was nearly frozen and the cylinder was equally reluctant to swing out. It could be mine for a song. As I read the pm I thought to myself, too bad - we just bought a house. Apparently, I thought out loud for my wife wanted to know what prompted the comment. I explained, she said , “oh”. 15 minutes later she asked if I was aware of the current price of the 455 Triple Lock. Not really says I so she quotes from the completed auctions of maybe 1/2 dozen and then says “Tell him you’ll take it!” I about fall out of my chair! Fast forward several weeks and the New Century arrives in my hands. Not nearly as bad as described but not pristine either.


The action was so stiff, my ffl bathed it in Ballistol to get it to move at all. I got it home and did a swift plunge in acetone and then attacked it with a brass bristle tooth brush. The bore looks good but it has been altered to 45 long Colt but that was disclosed.
The lanyard stud and ring were missing and there was a chunk of the recoil shield missing.
I wanted to see if the conversion to 45 Colt was done properly so I dropped a 45 long Colt cartridge into the chamber. It dropped in nicely. I did the same with a 45 ACP round and yelped in surprise when the cartridge bounced of my toe! The chambers had been bored clear through. Not sure if this is proper but I don’t think the cylinder left Springfield this way!
Speaking of leaving the factory, this was in a shipment of many that left on 14 September and were delivered to the Remington Arms Corp, procurement agents for the British was effort.
I found a stud and ring
I have also found a NOS cylinder for a 38 HD which I will have reworked to handle the the 45 Special cartridge.
I will keep posting as things change.
Kevin
I posted on such a thread. As many know, I enjoy S&W 45 ACP revolvers and have a few. But the revolver that has recently got me thinking is one of the New Century revolvers submitted by S&W to the Army Trials of 1907. These particular revolvers were entirely new and chambered for a new cartridge. S&W hoped to get the Government contract and sell a bunch to the citizenry also. The revolver was the New Century Hand Ejector and the cartridge was the 45 S&W Special. Yes, the Forty FIVE S&W Special. (S&W later introduced the New Century Hand Ejector, aka Triplelock, to the public in 1908 chambered for the 44 S&W Special.)
The Army chose a different handgun and the rest is history.
But, the 45 Special Triplelock intrigues me and what I posted was to the effect, …I would love to own one of the Trial revolvers but since only two are known, it probably would not happen. But, I could be just as happy with a replica. So if anyone has a better TL, let me know…
Well, don’t you know, a fellow member of that forum reached out to me and he had such a beater, a 455 New Century. The action was nearly frozen and the cylinder was equally reluctant to swing out. It could be mine for a song. As I read the pm I thought to myself, too bad - we just bought a house. Apparently, I thought out loud for my wife wanted to know what prompted the comment. I explained, she said , “oh”. 15 minutes later she asked if I was aware of the current price of the 455 Triple Lock. Not really says I so she quotes from the completed auctions of maybe 1/2 dozen and then says “Tell him you’ll take it!” I about fall out of my chair! Fast forward several weeks and the New Century arrives in my hands. Not nearly as bad as described but not pristine either.


The action was so stiff, my ffl bathed it in Ballistol to get it to move at all. I got it home and did a swift plunge in acetone and then attacked it with a brass bristle tooth brush. The bore looks good but it has been altered to 45 long Colt but that was disclosed.
The lanyard stud and ring were missing and there was a chunk of the recoil shield missing.

I wanted to see if the conversion to 45 Colt was done properly so I dropped a 45 long Colt cartridge into the chamber. It dropped in nicely. I did the same with a 45 ACP round and yelped in surprise when the cartridge bounced of my toe! The chambers had been bored clear through. Not sure if this is proper but I don’t think the cylinder left Springfield this way!

Speaking of leaving the factory, this was in a shipment of many that left on 14 September and were delivered to the Remington Arms Corp, procurement agents for the British was effort.
I found a stud and ring

I have also found a NOS cylinder for a 38 HD which I will have reworked to handle the the 45 Special cartridge.

I will keep posting as things change.
Kevin
