What is it (pin fire revolver)

celse

April 29, 2014 11:12

Coult 36 be the serial number? Caliber? English?

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  rufe-snow

  April 29, 2014 11:37

  "Crown U". Appears to me to be a German proof mark. Seems awful late, for the manufacture of a Pinfire revolver though? Mandatory proofing wasn't instituted in Germany until the early 1890's. With the advent of smokeless powder.
  
  European Pinfire's were chambered for metric calibers. I believe they started at 6mm, and went all the way up to 12mm, for the military holster pistols.
  
  Quite a number were brought back as souvenirs, by our GI's after the war.

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  Hawk Carse

  April 29, 2014 14:48

  Yup, German proof marks.
  German proof marks were standardized in 1891 and they were building pinfires at least up until WW I.
  
  I think 36 is a "batch number." The gunsmith's guild had an order for, say, 200 guns from a distributor, so they numbered them 1-200. The next order came in and the makers started over at 1.

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