So I recently picked up this revolver. It's pretty devoid of all markings other than some part numbers. I checked the various threads and am still drawing a blank. I'll post some pics but please bear with me. Using my phone so have to make each pic a reply...thanks for your help

Here she is. Above is my model 10 to show scale

One of the old Spanish 5 screw copies? Hard to tell from the pics.

Larry

Serial..... F . Lanyard hole xxxx

Says 454

.32 s&w fits but when you eject the casings some can slip out of the ejector. Seems a little loose

Me thinks you got a copy. The general appearance and font of the serial number give it away. I hope you are not into it for any money.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

And .38 s&w , the casing won't fit...8mm lebel?

Oh I knew it was a copy. I honestly got it as I liked the patina, and I like working on these things

OK, looked around a little on the net. The mainspring design on your gun is identical to the "1922" Spanish copies shown.

Larry

Thanks! So we are in the 20's the oldest it could be...? What size cartridge would you guys guess?

Have you tried 38 special? I think they're a tad smaller in case diameter than a 38 S&W.
Interesting old gun.Too bad the hammer spur is broken.

Just tried a .38 special ... The bullet will go into the cylinder, but the casing won't catches the rim of the opening

Definitely a Spanish copy. Most likely calibers are .38 Spl, .32-20, and 8mm Lebel, or it could be .32 (S&W) Long. If the extractor slips by the .32 S&W rim the caliber is probably .32-20. I would be surprised if there is no caliber marking on the barrel.

Early .32-20 was loaded as a straight taper cartridge instead of the more familiar bottle-neck form. Often the bottle-necked .32-20 will not chamber in the Spanish guns.

If there is nothing else marked on the gun as identification check the top of the barrel. Many if not most of these guns are marked "American best cartridges are those that fit best the....." or similar. On mine this ends in O.V. for Ojanguran y Vidosa. These are the only Spanish copies I have seen that only identifies the actual maker this way, most have medallions or roll marks identifying the maker.

The word(s) "Spain" or "Made in Spain" may be stamped transversly behind the trigger guard. If not then it is a quite early copy, before S&W successfully sued the importer (In 1922 as below noted!) and they were required to identify the country of origin on the guns.

"Just tried a .38 special ... The bullet will go into the cylinder, but the casing won't catches the rim of the opening" What do you mean by this? The .38 will fall completely into the chamber, past the rim? Or that only the bullet will enter the chambers and the cartridge will not go in up to the rim? Obviously not the first or the .32 S&W cartridge you picture would fall completely into the chambers!

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Gunsmithing since 1961

Don't know its age, I was stating the 1922 date as some referred to them as the 1922 model, based on a court decision from that date finding them to be a copyright infringement.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...if5_pjTd784f-w

Larry

How about .32-20?

I don't have any .32-20 nor 8mm to try.
There is no made in Spain nor any markings on the barrel nor on grip interior at all
As far as .38 special, open cylinder, attempt to put cartridge into cylinder , bullet goes in but once it gets to the casing it stops. The slight rim of the casing makes it not enter the cylinder

The story I saw was that the Spanish sold France a lot of revolvers in 8mm Lebel (as they did .32 autos) and after WWI found that all they had to do was grind a .32-20 reamer to have something to sell in the Americas with the barrels they had been making. A poor fit but if you can't afford a name brand...