....of a S&W Model 10?! A fellow called me yesterday concerning an ad I placed for dies, brass, and bullets for the French Ordnance Revolver Model 1892, AKA (incorrectly) 8mm 'Lebel'. He showed me his revolver, marked 'Eibar Espana', and I was impressed with its appearance. It did not look like a bad gun. Anyways, the chambers on this revolver took the 8mm cartridges perfectly. The 32-20 and 32 S&W Long were way too small, both in the chamber and bore. The 38 Special and S&W were way too big. The .327" FMJ Lebel bullets passed through the chamber nicely. I did not think of bringing my caliper, but there was no need to force the bullet through. It was a perfect fit! The bullet entered into the forcing cone about halfway. I know, my description is vague! What would this gun have been chambered for? I had never, ever seen one before yesterday. Cheers!

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GMC-USN, Retired/1978 to 2001

Eibar is a city in Spain where many gunmakers were located. Spanish manufacturers furnished sidearms to the French in large quantities during WWI. The French specifications stated that those that were revolvers "must be able to receive up to the rim, and without a great deal of play, the regulation cartridge for the Model 1892 revolver...." Orbea Hermanos, whose products were generally of better quality, is documented as being a supplier of a model that was a copy of Smith & Wesson's Military & Police such as you describe.

You may wish to peruse this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/...ts-see-em.html

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Thanks! Good info.

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GMC-USN, Retired/1978 to 2001

I had to refresh my memory by rereading the section on Spanish revolvers in Medlin and Huon's book: French Service Handguns 1858-2004. The generic term for these revolvers is "Mle 92 Espagnol", and France bought over 485,000 of them in WW I. They were in the French 8mm Mle 92 revolver caliber, and the ones I've seen were marked on the barrel 8mm. Some were copies of the Colt New Army, others copies of the S&W Military and Police. There were at least four makers of the S&W copy, and the revolvers I have seen all had the maker's name. The four makers were Arizmendi, Zulacia y Cia; La Industria Orbea or Orbea Hermanos; Trocalo, Aranzabal y Cia; and Guisaola Hermanos.

As you probably already know, Fiocci makes the 8mm Mle 92 round, RCBS and possibly others make dies, and there are a wide variety of bullet moulds in this caliber; since most of the moulds will also make usable bullets for the 8mm Nambu.