Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 онлайн

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The New Century could easily be adapted to the .455 cartridge, but the British found the yoke-mounted locking lug and full ejector rod shroud objectionable, fearing their close tolerances would make the gun susceptible to binding from dirt and mud. Despite these concerns, the need for additional handguns was so pressing that the British agreed to accept Triple Locks until Smith & Wesson could re-design the revolver and eliminate the undesirable features. The urgency of the situation prompted Smith & Wesson to begin converting existing .44 Special cylinders to .455 caliber for use in British Contract guns. According to Smith & Wesson historian Roy Jinks, some 5,600 Triple Locks in .455 caliber were eventually manufactured before production of the re-designed revolvers began.

During the First World War Smith &Wesson revolvers were supplied to England through the Remington Arms-Union Metallic Cartridge Company, which served as the American purchasing agency for the British Commonwealth. Like all Smith & Wesson firearms, the British Contract guns underwent standard factory proof testing prior to shipment. Before the revolvers were issued for service however, British inspectors also tested them, stamping their own proof marks in various locations on the guns.