Anyone know this revolver? Worth $79?

USAF385

USAF385

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I was browsing the selection of one of my favorite shops today and spotted this .22 revolver. I've been wanting a .22 revolver for ages now but somehow never got around to picking one up! Obviously they're cheap and fun to shoot.. and I have many many rounds of .22 lr already for my rifle.

Anyway... I don't know squat about the gun....

Stamped on the barrel is "MOD TEX 22 CAL L.R. FIE MIAMI FL."

"F.I.E. MIAMI FL." is also on the frame under the cylinder.

It's a six shot single action 6" barrel. Two cylinders are included: a .22 LR and one for .22 Mag... for $79 and it's in pretty good condition. The shop owner says it shoots very well and accurate. (no reason to doubt him)

Now.. last time I spent under $100 on a gun I ended up with a New England Firearms 12 gauge break action 3" single shot shotgun which I absolutely love.

My gut is saying... go for it, boy!

Any thoughts? I mean.. it's only $79...
 
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FIE, Firearms Import and Export. I've seen them sell on GB for around $100-$125, so $79 isn't bad.
 
Lower tier revolvers were imported by FIE - now out of business, for years. If you need parts, try Numrich. Probably has a zinc alloy frame. FIE sort of morphed into EAA in the way the the SNS makers/importers tend to change identity.

You might want to try Heritage arms. They make lower end, but functional, .22 revolvers here in the U.S. Shouldn't run more than 150, and will have a warranty.

Still, I'd spend 79 bucks for one of the FIE's with both cylinders assuming that it was functional.
 
I have seen them go for more without the extra cylinder, that's a good price. I agree it's probably a Schmidt, if you take off the left grip it probably has the name under the grip. FIE usually stamped their name on the bottom and it should say West Germany on the barrel along with W German proof marks.

They are what they are, inexpensive alloy frame and I wouldn't carry a round in the chamber nor would I dry fire them as one is dangerous and the other will peen the cylinder and prevent a round from being chambered.

Go for it.

Dan R
 
I saw one last week in a pawnshop in Scottsboro Alabama for $ 140.00. I would definately buy it for $ 79.00 !!! Good shooters, some states do not allow dealers to sell them because of the pot metal used.
 
Thanks for the input.

I'm thinking for that price, I'll head on back tomorrow AM and pick it up if it's still there....:cool:
 
FIE and RG were banned from sales in Illinois as the frames did not pass some consumer standard.
 
The design is very similar to that of the Heritage Mfg. Company.

Of course, the Heritage is made here currently in the US and parts are available for the current models.
 
Gutpile Charlie said:
I would steer clear. The one's I've seen were a POS. Save you pennies and buy a good gun. Don't waste money on crap.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Life's too short for cheap wine...and handguns. In a few months you'll likely ask yourself, "Why the hell did I buy this?" If you save a little and buy a Single-Six, you'll end-up happier down the line.
 
F.I.E. like a lot of importers didn't actualy MAKE anything. They contracted with various european mfg's to produce various types of guns for them. Some were pretty good quality, some were crap.

For $79 I'd "Pay my money, and take my chances." You can't lose much. And might be pleasently suprised.
 
Look at it this way. If you save the $79 and put it aside for a decent .22 handgun, you will not only eventually find a gun that is of better quality, but it will be $79 off the asking price before you even talk the seller down $25 !!! That's more than a hundred buckaroos off a well made gun like a Ruger MKII or a Colt Frontier Scout or a Bearcat or a .....:)


WG840
 
The FIE .380s were made by Tanfoglio in Italy, the same people that make the Witness series. EAA later imported those same guns. Those were supposed to be decent for the money at the time, though Tanfoglio had hiccups with quality control at times apparently.

Anyway, "pot metal" Saturday Night Specials often work well enough. The Henry .22s that many people are fond of actually have Zinc alloy receivers, yet aren't often derided.

Loaded with FMJ, the Lorcin that I traded some .45 ball for actually cycles fine. Those were the bottom of the barrel for SNS type guns, but in their heyday outsold most of the familiar "name brands".

The OP isn't talking about a carry gun, in that instance one ought buy the best that they can afford. It's a simple recreational item. In this case, one that costs only slightly more than a new PS3 title.
 
I'll have to give it another look. I haven't found any decent .22 revolvers around here. There are a lot of semi auto .22 handguns..... but I don't want a semi auto. Sigh....

Maybe I'll get him to drop a few bucks.... :)

For plinking I'm thinking it may be fine.
 
I bought one of those, or it's Hawes counterpart, used in the late 70's for around $35 with 3 cylinders. One being marked for shorts. I never really liked it that well. My dad shot it a couple times and said he was looking for a cheep 22 to keep on the tractor for snakes, groundhogs and such. So I gave it to him. After he died I found it in his workshop, still didn't like it that well, and sold it last summer at a flea market for $110.

So while I may not have personally liked that particular revolver we did git a couple decades of plinking and varmint control out of it, and it was still working fine when I sold it. For $80 I'd take a chance knowing that if I didn't like it after all I'd take it to the local flea market and probably come out $20 ahead.
 
If you need the revolver only for plinking. Go for it. The price is good for a litle toy.
Check out the timing and the flashgap between the cilinder and barrel.
Look if the lockup is tight. If so. Then you have a nice looking revolver for a few bucks.
 
Those guns have been known to show up at gun fights where the guy that didn't have a gun before the fight started magically ends up with one in his hand after it's over and he's lying on the ground dead.

Smitty
 
Well I picked it up yesterday. I got the owner to sell it for $65. :)

I put 100 Remington Thunderbolts through it, 50 Stingers, and 25 Magnums. It shoots very accurately. For $65 I'm happy with it so far. I'm going to a range today (first time at a range... I'm afraid to be around city folk with guns :eek:) with my future brother in law and other guys from the wedding party (my sister is getting married in October..) so I'll put a few more through it today.
 
Where's the pic's? I want to see what a $65 gun looks like.
 
I had it at the range today. I only put 50 rounds through it, but they were a good 50. Very accurate at 20 yards. No problems with it so far. I'll try to get pics up soon. I can't do it tonight..... my sister I mentioned in my last post had her bridal shower today (the reason us guys went to the range) and tonight was beer and fireworks..... and I'm pooped... Time to relax at the forum.:)
 
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