A real poser
I am trying to identify the calibre of a revolver for my Uncle. It's a four inch chrome finish Smith & Wesson look-a-like. I am sure that it is probably a Spanish copy. It has no name and no country of manufacture. All it has on it is a 3-digit serial number, which is stamped on every part, and the letter "H" in kind of an old English script on the top of the black plastic grips in kind of a circle, along with the ever-present diamond around the screw hole. I've measured the bore, which is .315 at the lands, and .329 at the grooves. The cylinder bore is .360, and the chamber is 1.125 deep. The total depth of the cylinder is 1.575.
This gun was aquired by him from the estate of a man who had supposedly carried this gun in W.W.II. It has me stumped. If any of you experts have a clue, I would appreciate some help! Thanks, Dan
If it ain't broke-it ain't ours!!!
This gun was aquired by him from the estate of a man who had supposedly carried this gun in W.W.II. It has me stumped. If any of you experts have a clue, I would appreciate some help! Thanks, Dan
If it ain't broke-it ain't ours!!!
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Closest thing I could find im my book was 7.5mm Swedish Nagant.
Bullet Dia. .325
Neck Dia. .328
Base Dia. .350
Rim Dia. .406
Case Length .890
Ctg. Length 1.35
Is it possible that the monogram on the grip is "O H" instead of just "H"? There is a Spanish manufacturer by the name of "ORBEA HERMANOS" who made many different types of revolvers in various calibers. Your revolver seems very similar to the ones he made. Being it doesn't have any Proof Marks it was probably made prior to 1923, when the requirement for Proof on handguns went into effect.0 -
quote:Is it possible that the monogram on the grip is "O H" instead of just "H"?
rufe-I believe that there is a letter O with the H over it. Would it be likely that this was chambered in 7.5mm Swedish Nagant? Thanks a lot for the info.
If it ain't broke-it ain't ours!!!0 -
No! thats the strange thing about your revolver. Never heard of them being chambered for the Swedish Nagant Cartridge? Supposedly a lot of them were chambered for the French "Lebel" 8mm Revolver Cartridge though.
Is it possible when you measured the dia. of the chamber, your measurments were off?
The "Base Dia." of the "Lebel" Cartridge is .384, according to my book.0 -
Measured again. The cylinder bore may be as big as .365. but no bigger. Unless my calipers are off.
If it ain't broke-it ain't ours!!!0 -
Always a possibility the book has the wrong dim's?
Anybody out there in cyberspace have a French 8mm Lebel Revolver Cartridge, that could give us the base dia.?0 -
What about a 32 S&W Long? 
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I initially thought that it was a 32 S&W Long or a 32-20, but my book shows the 32 S&W at .314 & the 32-20 at .313. The revolver barrel measured .315 at the lands and .329 at the grooves. I am beginning to wonder if it isn't one of the above with the barrel shot out, though.
If it ain't broke-it ain't ours!!!0 -
Is it solid frame or break-top?
There were many Spanish, Belgian, and American copies of the S&W Double Action (break-top) in both .32 S&W and .38 S&W. These were cheap 5 and 6 shot (and frequently nickle plated) revolvers commonly called "Saturday Nite Specials" (also known, for good reason, as "Suicide Specials"). These were of highly dubious quality, and frequently as dangerous to the shooter as to the indended victim.
Later, when Smith came out with the (solid frame, swing out cylinder) Hand Ejector models, some Belgian, but mostly Spanish, copies were made of that model. These were also usually made in .32 or .38 S&W caliber.
I wouldn't advise trying to shoot it without taking it to a gunsmith to have the caliber verfied and and the pistol safety checked.0 -
Wasn't the 32 Long Colt a .323 diameter? Maybe .320 Revolver? That was a real common European BP round around the turn of the century. 0 -
It's a swing out cylinder, 6 shot revolver. I'm not real interested in shooting it, just identifying it. My uncle bought it as a wall hanger, but wanted as much information on it as possible.
If it ain't broke-it ain't ours!!!0
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