Identify the revolver from Spain

joseluismasa · Apr 10, 2025

Hello, I'm asking for help identifying and dating a revolver. I believe it's a Smith & Wesson .38 Double Action Perfected Model revolver. It has hard rubber grips with manufacturer's markings. Would I be correct?

I'd like to know its year of manufacture and how it came to Spain.

It has the following inscriptions:

*Barrel:

* "SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A."
* "PAT'D JULY 8, 84. SEP. 14, 86. NOV. 27, 88. MAY 11, 92. AUG. 4, 96. DEC. 22, 96. OCT. 8, 89. OCT. 4, 98. DEC. 17, 01. FEB. 6, 06. SEP. 24, 06."
* "38 S&W CTG."

*Frame (next to the grip):

* Smith & Wesson Symbol/Logo
* "MARCA REGISTRADA"

* **Grip Base:**
* "652696"

Thank you very much

gmborkovic · Apr 10, 2025

Hell Jose and welcome. You dont have a S&W that made its way to Spain.
Your gun never left Spain. You have a copy of a S&W that was made in Spain by any number of Spanish gun makers.

joseluismasa · Apr 10, 2025

Thank you very much for the information. So it's an imitation from that era, but it was never manufactured in the USA nor is it a S&W. Did I understand correctly? And of course, knowing which brand and when the revolver was manufactured in Spain is complicated, right? Were there many imitations of this type in Europe? I'm curious..

BMur · Apr 10, 2025

Maker

If you carefully remove the grips and look on the metal frame it should be stamped by the maker. If you post a photo we can look that up for you and yes many copies were made in Europe from several gun makers. Mostly in Belgium where there were hundreds of gun makers.
I actually have an original European catalog that lists these
From about circa 1907.
Don’t have it with me now but if you are patient I will post a photo in a couple weeks.
It’s probably a 38 special but you have to look in the cylinder chambers and see where the line is. That’s a cartridge stop that will tell you the length of the original case it’s designed to chamber. If you’re not sure post a photo of the cylinder chambers.

Also look for NITRO PROOF stamp on the frame somewhere. Or a large trumpet with an N. If it’s not nitro proofed then it’s a black powder gun only.

It’s in very nice condition.

Murph

joseluismasa · Apr 10, 2025

Of course, I have patience, the subject seems very interesting to me. I'm attaching a photograph, (I don't know if it's the one you need). I'm going to try to remove the grips. In Spain, between 1936 and 1939 there was a Civil War. I know that the pistol was carried by my friend's grandfather when he took food to the front or to the trenches of the Francoist side (the war was between the Francoist and Republican sides)

Bullet Bob · Apr 10, 2025

"Were there many imitations of this type in Europe? I'm curious.."

Yes. If you're curious enough, here's some Google leads:

Google Search

Google Search

joseluismasa · Apr 10, 2025

Thank you very, very much for the contribution and for sharing the knowledge. Amazing... I was unaware of this whole world related to patents, and how different countries cloned the original models to make them look genuine. According to everything I've read, it seems to be an imitation manufactured between 1910 and 1920, I believe. And I bet it was in Eibar, a Spanish city with a great tradition of manufacturing weapons

ISCS Yoda · Apr 10, 2025

My first reaction was Eibar or Ruby - Gabilondo.

gunbarrel · Apr 11, 2025

Bienvenido, José Luis. Your revolver is Eibarrés and was produced by the firm of Garate, Orbea y Trocaola who made revolvers marca "Ona." The stylized logo on the tip of the cachas consists of the letters "G.O.T.' If it was a Smith & Wesson Perfected Model, it would say "SW" on the cachas and it would have two (2) latches. It was the last "top break" revolver made by Smith & Wesson, before they started producing the Hand Ejector (HE) models.

See pictures attached and let us know if we can help with anything else.

One more thing; you may enjoy watching this video. Saludos...Rey

https://youtu.be/ColclxUeOA4?si=2Lb5xL2L8CZShFUD

gunbarrel · Apr 11, 2025

Here is a full photo of the Perfected Model cerrado. Like this one, your friend's grandfather's revolver is probably chambered in Calibre .38 S&W (Corto)--NOT in .38 S&W SPECIAL, which is longer and more powerful.

Now you owe me some Tapas (I like tortilla de patatas con cebollas and chorizo on the side) with Sangre de Toro to wash them down with :-D Mi abuelo era Madrileño ;-)

murphydog · Apr 11, 2025

Many non-factory copies of S & W revolvers of that era appeared similar and had stamped markings that mimicked the originals. The frame and grip logos on this one are definitely not S & W and the rollmark on the top of the barrel is not as you quoted.

gunbarrel · Apr 11, 2025

murphydog said:
Many non-factory copies of S & W revolvers of that era appeared similar and had stamped markings that mimicked the originals.

Still hapenning today.

Jim Watson · Apr 11, 2025

The cylinder looks long for a 38 Smith & Wesson.
The 1911 Alfa catalog shows a revolver like that in 38 Long Colt and 38 Special.

Identify the revolver from Spain

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