mateba revolver info please
ok folks, i saw them on gb and im interested. how does it work? what is the mechanics of the semi auto action? though it seems interesting, it isnt original. if i remember correctly, the british invented this idea on their wesley fosbery semi auto revolver. all inputs appreciated. any owners out there? tell all.
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Hello again. A facetious answer to your "how does it work" question would be "quite well"! Despite my last name I'm no smith and am sure not going to take this thing apart. All I can say is the pistol after a round being fired is amaizingly stable. I can't help but think that the Mateba must be popular in fast shooting compatition. Sorry, I'm not in to that and don't know the proper event name.
Someone a couple of years ago, on this forum, told me that firing from the bottom chamber of a revolver was also done by Colt a long time ago. I haven't been able to verify that. The semi-auto action is another matter.
If you like I can scan my owners manual and send it to you but I'm not taking this thing apart! One other thing you might do is contact the dealer in Astra, FL. He has sold them for a couple of years or more. I talked to him a couple of times back in '02 when I got mine. Nice guy and willing to help.
cbxjeff<P>It's too late for me, save yourself. <br>0 -
I remember seeing the Mateba for the first time at the IWA Show in Nurnberg in around 1984 and its designer was a fellow named Ghisoni who built it for ISU rapid fire competitions. The first models looked all the world like a semi automatic pistol with a revolver cylinder hanging down in front of the trigger gaurd and were chambered for .38 Special. This design did not last long and the pistol soon began to resemble a more conventional revolver and has remained pretty much the same ever since. CDNN of Abiline Texas and Kiesler Wholesale in Indiana were both selling the Mateba .357 and .44 Magnum pistols and I think that CDNN still has the .44 Mags avaialble. These are nice pistols, very good quality, and quite pleasant to shoot but I feel that they are over complicated in their design and I don't blame Jeff for not taking his own pistol apart!
Mark T. Christian0 -
Just got CDNN catalog in mail today it shows Mateba 44mag 6" barrel blued $599 Page 17 0 -
Hey Mark,
Maybe I should ask my son to take it apart!! At least now you know I actually have one. A little disappointed that the show will be moved up to Jan next year. I realize that the dealers want the new stuff to be presented very early in the year but in my own selfish way it's so close to my holiday expenses.
I gained access to the show last year because I have been working with a good friend on pistol design for about 4 years - Balanced Firearms in FL. Whit retired from Allison in Indy a few years before I and had two passions. He authorized me to offer Purdue University 50K for anyone that could fly the length of the football stadium with a human powered craft. The other project was a pistol with greatly reduced recoil. He didn't believe in muzzle breaks! That's how I became interested in the Mateba.
cbxjeff<P>It's too late for me, save yourself. <br>0 -
but...how does it work?[?] i mean, im pulling the hammer. whats happening? it just fired and i let go of the trigger. what happens? how does it break open?[?] 0 -
First there is an ambi cly release lever. It breaks open just like my Ruger SP101. After loading return the cylinder and do one of 2 things. Pull the trigger like hel* to shoot double action or pull the hammer to cock and have the light trigger pull. After the first shot it's just like a semi auto. Very light and crisp pull. There is no more effort required as in a traditional revolver. The trigger action is not involved in rotating the cylinder. It's rather heavy. Mine is SS. That helps in stability even with a 357 mag. Hope this helps.
cbxjeff<P>It's too late for me, save yourself. <br>0 -
ss? does the brass eject like a standard revolver? hows cleaning? 0 -
Mine is stainless steel. Ejector rod just like a regular revolver. Not much to clean. With the cylinder open, the frame that is nornally below the cylinder is just a machined flat. Rear of the cylinder are small openings for the firing pin and a cylinder rotating lever that is normally retracted. I have not shot mine enough to consider taking the rear section of the piece apart. It houses the hammer, firing pin, rotating linkage, etc.
cbxjeff<P>It's too late for me, save yourself. <br>0 -
The mateba is what happens when you give a revolver to an Italian engineer with too much time on his hands.
http://home.mweb.co.za/af/afadrb/mateba.html
I have shot the .44mag version, it had next to zero felt recoil.
Regards,
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I have been looking for one at a decnet price to. originally there was some quality complaints, but I am think to heck with it, lets check it out
Schu0 -
The front of the owners manual is stamped "DO NOT DRY FIRE". I take them at their word. Parts may be a problem.
cbxjeff<P>It's too late for me, save yourself. <br>0
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