Spanish clones come in all sizes and grades of perfection ( or lack of it). They can be very collectable, as an inexpensive endeavor, and are fun, as almost every range of quality can be found with a little diligence. Doug Wesson visited some of the Eibar gun factories in Spain in the 1920s, and said that he was shown a triple lock clone that was every bit as good, if not better, quality than a S&W T-Lock! Quality examples are usually found with the Eibar makers logo on the gun, or grips, and with Spanish proofs, and are direct copies of the design of S&Ws, except for the interior actions and small parts which can differ slightly. The lesser quality examples are usually easier to spot as the contours of the frame do not follow S&Ws, so the eye detects that flaw quickly. Barrel rib stampings that say " For S&W cartridges" , or similar, are also dead giveaways that the gun is a copy. Ed.
