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FIALA ARMS & EQUIPMENT CO. INFORMATION WANTED

Shansei45
I've managed to obtain three variations of the Fiala Model 1920 Camping Rifle. Only one still has its original case. None had the original instruction book.

Can your experts tell me the value of an early, 3-digit serial number, with bluing and stock finish at 97%, and case condition at 80%, with all three barrel lengths?

Also, does anyone know where I might find some research information on the company? It was in New Haven, CT.
[img][/img]252434.jpg

"Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music." George Carlin
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • heavyiron
    Shansei,

    I am not an expert for your firearm.

    I looked it up in the Blue Book, 25th Edition.

    According to the Blue a 98% condition gun, cased, with all three barrels is valued at $2,400.00.

    The gun alone in 98% condition is valued at $475.00.

    Looks like a beautiful firearm.

    Perhaps a real expert will provide some more information later.

    Regards,

    Heavyiron[8D]

    bullitt_county_4199_small.jpg
    "If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix
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  • rufe-snow
    My reference notes that they were only in business for a short period of time in the early 20's. The concept of a manually operated 22 pistol didn't go over well with the buying public.

    You might try researching under the following names as some of the pistols were sold using them, Schall, Columbia, & Botwinck Brothers and finially Hartford Arms Co. This last company converted the mechanism into a semi-automatic and it ultmately was sold to High Standard after Hartford went belly up during the depression.

    It's thought that the Fiala design and production, along with the pistols produced under the other names were actually a product of the Blakeslee Forging Co. of New Haven Connecticut.

    luger_4.jpg
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  • Shansei45
    Here is a better picture of the gun. This is the first one I got and its finish is not quite as good as on the other one pictured. This one is a later version, serial number just over 4,000, and has a less comfortable grip if one leaves the shoulder stock attachment screw in the butt. Even without it there is still an alignment pin sticking into your palm.
    [img][/img]255742.jpg

    and here is the Fiala trademark mentioned above.
    [img][/img]255748.jpg

    "Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music." George Carlin
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  • Shansei45
    My apologies. I meant to thank heavyiron, rufe-snow, and Mark Christian for their help in trying to obtain info on this company. My evening is now planned with those names you gave me to run through the search engines. I was hoping someone might know of a book covering this weapon.

    If none exists maybe I can gather enough info to write one. You never know, with ALL THIS INTEREST it mighT even sell as many as, OHHHH, 3 or 4 copies.

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP FOLKS!!!

    "Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music." George Carlin
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  • notdownorout
    Shansei45,

    Believe me, the light response is not from lack of interest. Not many of us have knowledge of this gun. Yet, it is fascinating to see a gun such as yours. It is definitely the first I have ever seen.

    Thanks for the picture. Hope you find the info you are seeking.
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  • Mooseyard
    Shansei, does your pistol work as a semi-auto? I was told by one of the foremost Hi-Standards expert and author (who also collected Fiala and Schall, because of their relation to Hi-Standard) that a non-automatic 'repeater' version of the pistol was listed in company records, but that no one was ever able to find one, therefore it was considered to be a myth that there were repeaters, and not semi-autos. I have never handled or shot one of these firearms, but I'm always looking because of my interest in Hi-Standards, so I don't know if what I was told is true, but it came from a very good source. I would appreciate your input, or Marks because it sounds like he has had personal experience with them.
    Either way, congrats on a great find.[:D]

    "My faith, my country and my family will guide me; nothing more, nothing less" -Gen. Tommy Franks

    Jess Hoffman
    Mooseyard Precision
    LE Supply & Firearms
    NRA Certified Instructor
    Shawano, WI 54166
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  • Shansei45
    Thanks for the input both, notdownorout and mooseyard. I was completely wrapped up in trying to collect Gevarm .22rf rifles when I ran across a Fiala at a nearby gunshow. I could hardly believe it was a mag-fed single shot. It ONLY had the 7 1/2" barrel with it. The dealer didn't know much about it and wanted more than I was willing to pay for an unknown gun.

    In the ensuing weeks the more I thought about it the more fascinated I became.It was a beautifully made gun, and it had a history of being High Standard's first semi-auto. I began to search the web. Then I stumbled on one for sale with all three barrels but no case advertised in The Gun List for $1,500. I contacted the dealer and got it for $1,100. I was hooked!

    I ran a little classified in The Gun List and got two calls from the Left Coast on the same day, both from older guys, and each had TWO Fiala's in their possession but weren't sure they wanted to sell. They said they'd contact me after the holidays. That was back in early December.

    Long story short - I managed to get two more from the one man, but haven't heard back from the second guy - yet... I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

    They do not fire semi-auto. I even found a nearby dealer who has extra mags for them. The case makes a big difference in value and I intend to find someone to duplicate my original for the other two guns. Thankfully, all had the complete set of 3 barrels.

    The few locals who have seen these guns are completely fascinated with them and want to go to the range with me to try 'em out.

    "Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music." George Carlin
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  • Robin
    You have a rare interesting gun and accessories. The gun's inventor was a very interesting fellow also. Seems like he was attracted to Artic exploring, hence the idea of a easily worked single shot firearm with a magazine (he figured very cold temperatures rendered the automatics unreliable). I have a collection of old Shooter's Bibles that has a great article about the inventor, the firearm and the failure of several of the companies that were set up to manuafacture and distribute Fiala products. The article was published in the 1980's Great idea for a pistol, but how many people wanted a single shot .22 when they went camping in the Artic? How many folks could go to the Artic during the depression? I will look for the article and try to get a copy to you.

    P.S. We are geographicly close, I live in DeLand, Florida about 35 minutes away, should be easy to a copy of the article to you. Regards, Robin

    Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.<BR>
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  • Shansei45
    I certainly want to publicly thank Robin for this information. This is what makes these forums so valuable to all of us who are dedicated to gun collecting.

    Half my pleasure comes from obtaining certain unusual and/or historical guns and being able to shoot them - if I wish, and the other half of my pleasure comes from digging around for information on them. In researching you meet some very fine, helpful people.

    Thanks again to all who've responded, and everyone, keep up the search for Fiala stuff for me. It's all greatly appreciated.

    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
    Why would Superman stop bullets with his chest, but he always ducked when someone threw a gun at him?
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  • Shansei45
    Mooseyard, I meant to ask you about the word "repeater" that you mentioned. The Fiala is a magazine fed single shot, and doesn't that make it a repeater? Put it this way; is a magazine fed, bolt action, .22rf rifle considered a repeater? It's certainly not a single shot rifle, like, say a Stevens Favorite. What is the difference between that bolt action and the Fiala except for the manner in which one reloads it?

    I'd be interested in any forum member's opinion on this question.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Computers let you make more mistakes faster than any other invention in human history.... with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila. [:)]
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