Can anyone help me with a date range on a Spanish copy of a S&W made in Eibar Spain. It is .44 cal I think, although it may be Italian Ordinance. Thanks so very much. Oh it's a top break, and has number 438 stamped below the cylinder, and has British "view proofs" on the cylinder.

Welcome to the Forum. Please post some pictures of your gun, as good pictures is probably the only way that we can give you a good analysis of what you have. The gun is probably a copy of the S&W .44 Double Action, as many such copies were made in Spain & Belgium. If the view proofs are realy British and not Belgium, then it may be one of the better quality copies. Ed.

Hey Ed, thanks, I will try to get some up a.s.a.p. The cylinder measures .476" or 12.10mm in diameter and length is 1.459" or 37.15mm, so this may not be a .44 after all...455 Webley?

Likely .455 as the Brits bought a lot of these from Spain in WWI. They are usually a cut above most Spainish revolvers of the time.

Years ago I had one of the Brit WW1 purchases. It was nearly identical to the S&W .44 DA only in .455 and was marked "RAVC" (Royal Army Veterinary Corps). Originally formed in 1796 to treat and care for horses and today are in charge of the British Army's working/war dogs.

Wish I still had it....

__________________
Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Right on guys, I appreciate the information. I have been looking for as much info as I can on these, as far as manufacture date etc goes. I haven't been able to come across really anything about when the .455 cartridge would have started being chambered in these. It seems to have been like most revolvers, offered in many calibers but the Spanish copies, well any info is scattered and seems to be a guess at best.

Try this out it is from a Spanish book on the subject.

http://www.catalogacionarmas.com/public/PR-one.pdf

The Garate, Anitua and Charlo and Orbea Hermanos are by far the best of the Spanish revolvers. I have a collection of a few. I also have a feeling most of the Mexican Merwins were ordered by the Mexican Government from Anitua and Charlo. I have one so marked in 44 Mexican.

Per Handguns of the World and Standard Catalog of Firearms, the Brits contracted a sealed pattern version from the above maker in 455 to cover their needs when Webley? fell short

I think the family name is Guisasola. A member of the family, Benito Guisasola, was also known for building quality revolvers during the WWI time frame. He may have been one of the brothers who went out on his own. His mark is "BG" in an oval.

Buck

Thanks, My error on the spelling of the name Guisasola instead of Guisasela. I double checked the Trade Mark and it is a "HG". this was obtained David Byrons Guide to Gun Marks 1st ed and compared to the Gun Logo