Offered here is the only surviving example of four S&W Triple Lock revolvers chambered in S&W .45 Special submitted to the 1907 U.S. Army handgun cartridge trials. At least two of the revolvers were damaged in testing and destroyed by the factory. The other revolver had some of its parts recycled. The S&W .45 Special was a rare cartridge originally developed by Frankford Arsenal for the U.S. Army 1907 cartridge testing/evaluation trials, with S&W chambering it in this early revolver. The cartridge was short lived as it was never produced or manufactured for any commercial sales and probably not beyond these test trials as it was surpassed by the new 45 ACP cartridge used in the M1911 handguns. Equally rare is that it was chambered in an early "pre-production" S&W Triple Lock revolver. These early Triple-Lock revolvers are equally rare and highly desirable as they proved to be an exceptionally strong revolver, typically chambered in the 44 Special, 455 Webley and 45 LC cartridges. This wonderful and very historic revolver is documented via a S&W factory letter dated November 1982 that verifies this exact revolver and cartridge, and it is also documented in the book "Standard Catalog of the Smith & Wesson Revolvers" by Supica/Nahas on pages 158-159. Aside form the rarity of the chambering, this unique early revolver incorporates four unique features NOT found on later production models; specifically 1) it retains a small screw and plunger located in the yoke hole which activates the cylinder stop; 2) the extractor spring in this revolver was also different, being produced from a flat coil stock rather that the traditional round coil spring material; 3) the cylinder stops are equipped with hardened steel pins in the stops to prevent upsetting of the metal and 4) it uses a special large hard collar screw into the head of the extractor to prevent wear during use. All of these features were changed in the later production models, making this an extremely rare and unique revolver! The top of the barrel has the early two-line address/patent marking ending in "06" and is not caliber marked. It has the standard "S&W" trade mark logo on the right side plate. The other early features are the five screw frame, the shrouded ejector housing, the smooth grip straps, square butt, thin trigger with the smooth face, fixed round blade front sight, and of course the "Triple Lock" mechanism. This example was also fitted with a lanyard loop on the butt. It has matching serial numbers (09) on the lower front grip strap, the butt of the frame (partially covered by the lanyard loop), the back of the cylinder, and extractor. The crane and frame have matching assembly numbers "867". It is fitted with its original checkered walnut grips with a diamond pattern around the screw. Additionally, this revolver is noted as having been owned after the trials by S&W President Joe Wesson, son of company founder D.B. Wesson and grandfather to Dan Wesson of Dan Wesson revolver fame, and remained in the Wesson family for many years until it was sold to collector Wayne Betz in 1982. It is also accompanied with an early original S&W brown cardboard box that is ink stamped "13" (another of the test guns) in various locations, along with four of the original .45 Frankford Special test cartridges, a rare and valuable item each in their own right. This revolver received a NRA Silver Medal from the 2018 NRA Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas, having been judged as "One of the Ten Best Arms" displayed at that show. Comes with a May 6, 2018 dated NRA certificate of recognition for displaying at the 147th NRA annual meeting, banner (11x20 inches) used for the NRA display, and large binder of consignor research related to the 1907 U.S. test trials, including copies of original government files held at the National Archives that document the discoveries, conclusions and recommendations of the 1907 trials board. Binder also contains development history and details of the various Frankford cartridges in .45 caliber including drawings, ballistic design and dimensions, photos, Ordnance Department ballistic evaluations providing a near weekly testing and performance account that highlights the shortcomings of the .45 Special cartridge prior to the 1907 trials, and secondary sources such as Frank Wheeler’s article “The Cartridge Collector” and excerpt from “History of Modern U.S. Military Small Arms Ammunition” related to the 1907 trials. The .45 Frankford Special had a brass rimmed case 0.923 inches in length, was loaded with approximately 7.2 grs. of Bullseye smokeless powder and had a cupronickel-jacketed, 230-gr. bullet. During testing the cartridge had a number of misfires. Nevertheless, the Ordnance Department “found much promise” in sidearms chambered in .45 caliber. The .45 Frankford was the experimental cartridge before the famed .45 ACP.

Fine condition with 90% of its original factory blue finish, wear and blue loss on the rear grip strap and lower front grip strap, a distinct drag line on the cylinder, and minor marks on the left side of the frame. There are also several areas of brown patina, specifically on the top front end of the barrel and underside area of the trigger guard bow, where the fragile S&W blue has flaked off. The walnut grips are in fine condition with nice sharp distinct checkering on both sides. A super rare, very high condition, historic U.S. Army 1907 trials revolver with NRA Silver Medal! Provenance: U.S Army 1907 Trials Board, S&W President Joe Wesson, Wesson family, Dan Wesson Jr., Wayne Betz (1982), and Ray Cheely (1996) collection.