Reichsrevolver

Cyrano · Apr 18, 2012

Took this old girl out for the first time today. Results (10 rounds) are a pretty good group at 25 yds, offhand, but the aiming point was at 6 O'Clock on the black. I pulled two shots: the trigger pull, while crisp, is quite heavy.

The cases came with the revolver, probably cut down 44 Specials. Bullet was the Lee 240 gr RN, 1 part tin to 25 parts lead. I didn't size them: they came from the mould 423" while the groove diameter was .422". I loaded with a 40 S&W case full of fffg black. I don't think I'd like to fire smokeless in an M 1879 revolver. The 40 S&W case was a little too much powder: I had to seat the bullets out quite far. A 9mm Luger case full was too little, while a 38 Super case full was just about right. I'll try the new loading soon.

I don't know how much powder I've been using. I have an RCBS Chargemaster and Little Dandy powder measure, but RCBS warns against the use of black powder in either. I think that black pwoder builds up a charge of static electricity in the plastic containers, which is unhealthy with black powder. I also think the electrical system in the Chargemaster may not be adequately shielded from black pwder.

Thuer · Apr 18, 2012

I have shot my example with .44 russian cartridges. The revolver survived. Results where if you walk around you have had a chance to get hit. But this was a few years ago.

Cyrano · Apr 18, 2012

Nice 1883 from the Schilling & Haenel consortium, Thuer. Mine is one of the few that they contracted for from Mauser. Reichsrevolvers are pretty scarce over here. 44 Russian cases work fine, but as I said, I prefer to stick to black powder in these.

Texas Star · Apr 18, 2012

Pretty interesting, really.

I liked Theur's comment on the accuracy.

Thuer · Apr 19, 2012

The safety lever on this revolver is the most expencive part.
The original was broken off and lost in time.
This part is now made of a slidecatch of a Sig P210.

JamesFlowers · Apr 19, 2012

I use to have a ReichsRevolver. Mine was written up in Shotgun Times by Paul Scarlotta several years ago. Unfortunately during some hard times I sold it to a collector.

30-30remchester · Apr 19, 2012

I just sold mine, the unusual thing about this revolver is, it came with a WWII capture certificate.

Dr.-d · Apr 19, 2012

Gotta love the Reichsrevolver!
Alot of these were also unit marked.

Cyrano · Apr 20, 2012

Dr.-d, mine is marked on the butt B 4 A 4 12, which I think means revolver 12 in the 4th battery of the 4th Bavarian Artillery Regiment. It also has a very dep BE carved into the right grip, which I'm told is official, but I don't know what it means.

Now I gotta find a hand spring, as mine is broken. Anyone have any ideas?

Thuer · Apr 20, 2012

Could you make a pic of those marks?

I found one in the book Der Reichsrevolverund seine varianten with the mark EWB.

It means Einwohner- Wehr Bayern. It says that tis revolver was given to a kind of homeguard to protect the civilians right after WW I agains riotting gangs.

Dr.-d · Apr 20, 2012

BE, I believe means Bayerische Einwohnerwehr wich translates to Civil Guard, Bavaria.
On the Jan C. Still forum there is a Reichsrevolver forum and there is a member from Germany named Heinrich. He seems to be very knowledgeable with regards to Reichsrevolvers and may be able to help with locating parts.

C. Brown · Apr 21, 2012

The BE stamp is probably an earlier version of the EWB, which was official; found on rifles and handguns of the period. The EWB was formed in 1919 and officially dissolved in 1921. It was the Bavarian version of a Germany-wide militia raised during the period of the German Civil War of 1919-ca. 1923. The standard work on Reichsrevolvers is Heinrich Harder, Der Reichsrevolver und seine Varianten, in German with English summaries at the end of each chapter; still in print.

Dr.-d · Apr 21, 2012

C. Brown said:
The BE stamp is probably an earlier version of the EWB, which was official; found on rifles and handguns of the period. The EWB was formed in 1919 and officially dissolved in 1921. It was the Bavarian version of a Germany-wide militia raised during the period of the German Civil War of 1919-ca. 1923. The standard work on Reichsrevolvers is Heinrich Harder, Der Reichsrevolver und seine Varianten, in German with English summaries at the end of each chapter; still in print.

I believe the Heinrich that wrote the book and frequents the forum are one and the same.

Wyatt Burp · Apr 21, 2012

I envy you! Those are fine guns. My late freind had one with holster and I gave him a couple live rounds of Fiochi .44 Russians just for reference. As I recall the cartridges fit but the rims were rather tight.

regmag-621 · Apr 21, 2012

Hi Cyrano,
I have just talked to Heinrich Harder, he is the Roy Jinks of the Reichsrevolver. I'm sure that he will jump in and report about the markings and give some recommendations for reloading.

Best regards to the US.
Paul SWCA #1354

Wyatt Burp · Apr 21, 2012

Here's my buddy's gun like your's in a lefty holster I made for a Colt New Service I don't have any more. It fit great in it but it was a little short. his had a shorter barrel than your gun I think. This pic was taken at my freind's place twenty years ago. these were his guns in my holsters. That tooled holster is still around here someplace. Those fine guns are getting pricey, but what ain't.

Militaries · Apr 21, 2012

Hello friends,
here I am. Thank you for the kind words.
If you want to shoot a Reichsrevolver, use the .44 Russian cases with black powder. Also possible are 3 gr Trail Boss.
Never use modern Nitro powders, not Fiocci either. I have seen too many broken cylinders particularly those of the M/83 type.
Best Regards from Germany,
Heinrich
SWCA # 1540

Cyrano · Apr 21, 2012

Here's the BE marking on the right grip. It seems to have been burned in rather than carved. The revolver is blued, and came in a brown leather holster stamped M Becker & Cie. Berlin, undated. The loading data I used is in my OP.

Wyatt Burp: Yor pistol was probably the Modell 1883, which had a shorter barrel.

Warren Sear · Apr 11, 2013

Cyrano said:
Dr.-d, mine is marked on the butt B 4 A 4 12, which I think means revolver 12 in the 4th battery of the 4th Bavarian Artillery Regiment. It also has a very dep BE carved into the right grip, which I'm told is official, but I don't know what it means.

Now I gotta find a hand spring, as mine is broken. Anyone have any ideas?

Cyrano, I inherited an M1883 Reichsrevolver that had a broken hand spring, like yours. I brought it to my gunsmith, who easily made a new spring from scratch. If you have not found a replacement spring, you might want to bring your gun to a smith and ask about that.

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