Old Boot pistol

[Rustypipes12]

I was going through some old papers the other day and found this old revolver my dad brought back from Europe at the end of WWII. I had always meant to take it to a smith and see if it was worth restoring. If anyone knows anything about it I'd love to hear it. One old friend of mine things it was a "dog gun" that the old time cops used during an epidemic of loose dogs in the big cities. I'm not sure that's correct, I think my father told me it was an officer's boot gun.

[Glashaus]

Proof marks on the cylinder are Belgian. Hard to make out the marks in the frame pictures. If Dad said it was a German officer's boot gun, then that is what it is.

[Rustypipes12]

Yeah, I'm having a real picnic every time I try to post pictures on here! I read the instructions and tried that Photobucket, can't get it to work. Anyway, the only other stamping is a crown with R L B underneath. I have no idea what caliber it is , looks similar to .17. Thanks for the input.

[2152hq]

It's Belgian proofed and maybe 25acp cal. The 25acp is a semirimmed case so it can be used in a revolver.
The style of revolver is commonly called a Velo-Dog revolver.
It could be in the original Velo-Dog caliber which was a straight cased 22cal Centerfire round.

Originally a French creation, the revolvers fired the small 22cal centerfire cartridge. Marketed for use to defend against angry street K=9s usually harassing bicyclists. The 'Velo' is a play on a French word for Bicyclist I believe.

Anyway, most seen are Belgian made and either 22RF (mostly 22short) or 25acp cal. Hammer shrouds are common or hammerless actions, as well as the folding trigger. Side safety levers common too.
Many were brought back by returning GI;s after both Wars. My Dad brought a Belgian 22short folding trigger model but w/a hammer and faux ivory grips back home. Said it came from a pile of guns given up in a village before they ran over them with the Shermans.

Google Velo dog revolver and you should get plenty of info and pics.


added:

The Crown/R is the smokeless proof for a rifled bbl.
The Crown/L would be an inspectors mark.
The */B is the Controller of Proof code,,the guy in charge at Liege Proof House at time the gun was submitted for and proofed.
The list of Controllers exists back to 1924, the letters were reassigned as the people retired and passed on. But they stayed on the job for many years/decades usually so the person can be singled out generally.
The */B was assigned to Roland Charles from 1927 to 1959
I'd guess the revolver was made in the early part of that period so Mr Charles was in-charge at Liege Proof Hs at the time.

If you find a single letter in lower case, it may be a date code. They started in 1922 with 'a' and went to 'z' in 1947. Then used Greek letters '48 thru '61,,then back to lower case with an underline,,,ect.

[da gimp]

good info 2152hq....

[Kernel Crittenden]

Originally Posted by Rustypipes12

.... see if it was worth restoring. ....

Probably not. Due to age, lack of spare parts, obscure ammunition, unknown make and history, and a design that was less than robust even when new.

None of which diminishes the sentimental value one cent. I would keep it as a non-firing curio. Perhaps displaying it in a shadow box with some of your father's other wartime mementos.

Unless, that is, you fear being attacks by french dogs while riding your bicycle.

[Double-O-Dave]

I believe the "velo" is an abbreviation for "velocipede" - an archaic term used to describe the first bicycles, especially those with a large front wheel, and a smaller rear wheel:

image of velocipede - Bing images

Regards,

Dave

[Rustypipes12]

Thank you for the information gentlemen! It will probably just get passed down as a something to remember him by.