*FINE IDENTIFIED SMITH & WESSON 44 HAND EJECTOR FIRST MODEL TRIPLE LOCK DA REVOLVER.

*FINE IDENTIFIED SMITH & WESSON 44 HAND EJECTOR FIRST MODEL TRIPLE LOCK DA REVOLVER. SN 3979. Cal. 44 Spcl. Blue finish with rare 7-1/2″ rnd bbl, pedestal mounted target front sight and rnd top receiver with adjustable rear sight and smooth trigger with fine knurled hammer. Mounted with beautiful, period, checkered Roper walnut target grips with thumb rest. The Triple Lock was produced only from 1908-1915 with about 15,375 revolvers produced in that time frame. They were offered in three bbl lengths in both blue & nickel with the 7-1/2″ bbl being fairly scarce. The Triple Lock gets its name from the third locking surface mounted to the crane with a corresponding spring loaded detent in the ejector rod housing. This revolver was ordered by and shipped to Mr. A.L.A. Himmelwright of San Francisco, CA. Mr. Abraham Lincoln Artman Himmelwright (1865-1936) was a famous, well known and renowned civil engineer, author, adventurer and marksman of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was the general manager of the Roebling Construction Co. of New York City, which was the firm who supplied the steel & cables for the famed Brooklyn Bridge. Mr. Himmelwright authored books on pistol shooting techniques that were some of the most popular American books on the subject and remained in print from 1904 into the 1940’s. He was President of the U.S. Revolver Association from 1904-1906 and won the association’s Inaugural National Revolver Shooting Championship match in 1900. Mr. Himmelwright invented the Himmelwright wad cutter bullet initially for the 44 Russian cartridge, which was the most popular target cartridge of the 19th century, and later scaled it down for the 38 Special cartridge. Both of these bullets were adopted by the Ideal Reloading Equipment Co. in their bullet molds, some of which are still in use today. Accompanied by a Smith & Wesson factory letter identifying this revolver as having been shipped Jan. 22, 1909 to Mr. A.L.A. Himmelwright, San Francisco, Ca, with blue finish, a 7-1/2″ bbl with checkered walnut grips in a one gun shipment. The letter also states that Mr. Himmelwright “was an outstanding hand gun shot as well as a knowledgeable writer on the subject of hand gun shooting”. Also accompanying this lot are two copies of Mr. Himmelwright’s book Pistol and Revolver Shooting with copyright of 1908. Mr. Himmelwright also wrote other books, notably Snowbound in 1895 which detailed a stranded hunting party and The San Francisco Earthquake & Fire, A Brief History of the Disaster in 1906. This fine revolver undoubtedly saw extensive service with Mr. Himmelwright. CONDITION: Very fine. Overall retains 85-87% strong glossy orig blue with muzzle & sharp edge wear and some thinning on right side of the bbl and above the trigger on right side of the frame. Cylinder shows front edge wear and a drag line around rear edge. Hammer & trigger retain strong orig case colors. Grips are sound showing very light diamond point wear with no discernible flaws. Mechanics are extremely smooth & crisp, obviously a well tuned and well cared for revolver. Brilliant shiny bore. 4-39841 JR335 (6,500-9,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1166A	$8,050.00	FINE IDENTIFIED SMITH & WESSON 44 HAND EJECTOR FIRST MODEL TRIPLE LOCK DA REVOLVER. SN 3979. Cal. 44 Spcl. Blue finish with rare 7-1/2″ rnd bbl, pedestal mounted target front sight and rnd top receiver with adjustable rear sight and smooth trigger with fine knurled hammer. Mounted with beautiful, period, checkered Roper walnut target grips with thumb rest. The Triple Lock was produced only from 1908-1915 with about 15,375 revolvers produced in that time frame. They were offered in three bbl lengths in both blue & nickel with the 7-1/2″ bbl being fairly scarce. The Triple Lock gets its name from the third locking surface mounted to the crane with a corresponding spring loaded detent in the ejector rod housing. This revolver was ordered by and shipped to Mr. A.L.A. Himmelwright of San Francisco, CA. Mr. Abraham Lincoln Artman Himmelwright (1865-1936) was a famous, well known and renowned civil engineer, author, adventurer and marksman of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was the general manager of the Roebling Construction Co. of New York City, which was the firm who supplied the steel & cables for the famed Brooklyn Bridge. Mr. Himmelwright authored books on pistol shooting techniques that were some of the most popular American books on the subject and remained in print from 1904 into the 1940’s. He was President of the U.S. Revolver Association from 1904-1906 and won the association’s Inaugural National Revolver Shooting Championship match in 1900. Mr. Himmelwright invented the Himmelwright wad cutter bullet initially for the 44 Russian cartridge, which was the most popular target cartridge of the 19th century, and later scaled it down for the 38 Special cartridge. Both of these bullets were adopted by the Ideal Reloading Equipment Co. in their bullet molds, some of which are still in use today. Accompanied by a Smith & Wesson factory letter identifying this revolver as having been shipped Jan. 22, 1909 to Mr. A.L.A. Himmelwright, San Francisco, Ca, with blue finish, a 7-1/2″ bbl with checkered walnut grips in a one gun shipment. The letter also states that Mr. Himmelwright “was an outstanding hand gun shot as well as a knowledgeable writer on the subject of hand gun shooting”. Also accompanying this lot are two copies of Mr. Himmelwright’s book Pistol and Revolver Shooting* with copyright of 1908. Mr. Himmelwright also wrote other books, notably Snowbound in 1895 which detailed a stranded hunting party and The San Francisco Earthquake & Fire, A Brief History of the Disaster in 1906. This fine revolver undoubtedly saw extensive service with Mr. Himmelwright. CONDITION: Very fine. Overall retains 85-87% strong glossy orig blue with muzzle & sharp edge wear and some thinning on right side of the bbl and above the trigger on right side of the frame. Cylinder shows front edge wear and a drag line around rear edge. Hammer & trigger retain strong orig case colors. Grips are sound showing very light diamond point wear with no discernible flaws. Mechanics are extremely smooth & crisp, obviously a well tuned and well cared for revolver. Brilliant shiny bore. 4-39841 JR335 (6,500-9,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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