Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

A Heinen? Pistol

southsideiron
A buddy of mine, who is not internet savvy, gave me this pistol to look at and try and run down its history. The only marking on it is the word "Heinen" on the frame. It's a very large six shooter with engraving on it. Overall length is around 16", the barrel is 7-3/4", bore is 7/16" (.4375) and the cylinder is 1-7/8". The frame breaks open with an extractor for removing spent cartridges. It has a pearl handle and some form of electroplating. It's not in very good shape.

Any info would be appreciated.

Here is a link to a pic of the gun: http://www.flickr.com/photos/southsideironworks/3525782378/

A Closeup: http://www.flickr.com/photos/southsideironworks/3525806554/

*EDIT* I've added a photo of a stamping I found on the frame: http://www.flickr.com/photos/southsideironworks/3526101348/
0

Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    I'm don't know the specific maker? But it's a "Montenegrin" type revolver dating probably to the late 19th Century. During that time frame a law was passed in Montenagro that all the men had to have one of these revolvers.

    Most common are the ones made by the Gasser company of Vienna Austria. But yours is a different pattern. Probably made by Heinen?

    The barrels of these "Montenegrin" types are very distinctive as they were 9 1/2 inches long. They were chambered for metric cartridges, of either 11.4 or 11.75mm.
    0
  • southsideiron
    quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
    ...But it's a "Montenegrin" type revolver dating probably to the late 19th Century. During that time frame a law was passed in Montenagro that all the men had to have one of these revolvers...

    Thanks for the info. I had joked about this revolver having been made for some Czarist Russian Prince. I did a quick look for "gasser" type guns and they do appear similar, however, I didnt find an exact match. The name "Heinen" doesnt bring up any gun related search hits.

    It is believed that the original owner was an Estonian immigrant who came here in the early 1900's. The other weapon in this collection is a Steyr Gew 88 Commission Rifle, made in 1889.
    0
  • captkirk3@dslextreme.com
    Interesting Pistol...Does it have any visible Proof Marks...?
    0
  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by southsideiron


    Thanks for the info. I had joked about this revolver having been made for some Czarist Russian Prince. I did a quick look for "gasser" type guns and they do appear similar, however, I didnt find an exact match. The name "Heinen" doesnt bring up any gun related search hits.

    It is believed that the original owner was an Estonian immigrant who came here in the early 1900's. The other weapon in this collection is a Steyr Gew 88 Commission Rifle, made in 1889.



    There were versions of the "Montenegrin" revolver also made in Belgium. If this variant was made there it would likely have their Proof Marks. If you could take quality close-ups of all the proof marks on it, or give us a accurate description. We could at least identify country of origin.

    Here is a photo of one of the long barreled "Montenegrin" type revolvers, I got off the net.


    Image003-2.jpg
    0
  • southsideiron
    quote:Originally posted by captkirk3@dslextreme.com
    Interesting Pistol...Does it have any visible Proof Marks...?


    There are no markings on this gun beyond the engraving and the "heinin" stamp. No serial#, anything.
    0
  • southsideiron
    quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow

    ...If this variant was made there it would likely have their Proof Marks. If you could take quality close-ups of all the proof marks on it, or give us a accurate description. We could at least identify country of origin.

    No sooner did I say there were no proof marks, I went back and found an "R" with a crown above it. I didnt recall seeing it last night. IT's very small and there is some corrosion around the marking. If I can shoot a pic through my magnifying glass.

    I have edited the OP to reflect the best photo I got of this "R" stamping.
    0
  • hrf
    quote:[No sooner did I say there were no proof marks, I went back and found an "R" with a crown above it. I didnt recall seeing it last night. IT's very small and there is some corrosion around the marking. If I can shoot a pic through my magnifying glass.

    I have edited the OP to reflect the best photo I got of this "R" stamping.


    Your gun appears to have the Hill's Patent self-extracting action, such as this example: http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/admin/product_details.php?itemID=23635

    But the crown R is probably Belgian: Open the gun for loading and check cylinder face for the ELG in a circle Liege proofmark.
    0
  • southsideiron
    quote:Originally posted by hrf

    ...But the crown R is probably Belgian: Open the gun for loading and check cylinder face for the ELG in a circle Liege proofmark.

    There could be an "E" above the LG on the face of the cylinder, but its corroded in that spot. Looks like there is a crown above the circle that contains the lettering.
    0
  • hrf
    quote:Originally posted by southsideiron
    quote:Originally posted by hrf

    ...But the crown R is probably Belgian: Open the gun for loading and check cylinder face for the ELG in a circle Liege proofmark.

    There could be an "E" above the LG on the face of the cylinder, but its corroded in that spot. Looks like there is a crown above the circle that contains the lettering.


    The crown indicates it was made no earlier than 1893.
    0
  • southsideiron
    quote:Originally posted by hrf
    The crown indicates it was made no earlier than 1893.


    Thanks again to all of you who helped. We're much more informed about this weapon than we were last night.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity