Belgian Maquaire ***nes revolver centerfire

[Breakaway500]

My local Chief of Police stopped down for an oil change today and brought this odd revolver in..as he knows I like old stuff. I drew a blank..and googled it..but I did not come up with much,other than it appears to be a Belgian Maquaire ***nes revolver model from the late 1800s. Very interestingly,it has a gate on the left side that opens easily to expose the insides and also holds the left grip on.The grips appear to be ivory. The revolver is about 36 caliber and uses centerfire cartridges that load on the RH side once a gate is lowered.There is a manual case ejector on the RH side.It is double action and the mechanics are crisp,it times properly,and the bore is clean with sharp rifling.There is some blueing left in protected areas,but mostly worn off to a mostly brown patina.The story is it belonged to a gent in town who donated it to the PD about 15 years ago and has been sitting in their safe and recently "uncovered". The revolver was said to have been carried by the donors father in WW1 while in Europe who brought it back.No other paperwork or accessories. Truly an interesting piece and the craftsmanship appears to be top notch. They are looking for offers. Hmm...I'd like to own it just because it's so interesting. I'm thinking $500? Anyone know any more about these revolvers?

 

[deadin]

Scroll about 3 or 4 guns down and here is your gun: Keep scrolling, there's more further down.......

Nouvelle page 0

$500 would tempt me to buy, but who knows, I'm weird....

 

[Breakaway500]

Thanks Dean. Interesting reading.Seems like not much info out there on these revolvers.Strange, as they are very well made and feel nicely balanced in the hand. Maybe most of them reside in Europe? This revolver is marked A. ***nus and does have the proof marks ELG on star in a vertical oval and C&D in an oval,and "M" spangled. The ivories must have been special made.They are well fitted and initialed in script. Nice piece of history,even if it is foreign. I will offer them the $500 and see what happens. It's not like they can look up their values on line..right..?

 

[Breakaway500]

I decided to take the ***nes apart and give it a cleaning and relube.Tools needed: none! Rotate the takedown lever fully CW and remove the cylinder,pin and ejector rod.The entire firing assembly and mainspring can be removed piece by piece with no screw or pin removal.Nice design for in field service.The main components all have "11" stamped into them,along with the grip frame.The grips also have 11 on them as well.I believe they are original to the gun.All the small parts have individual part numbers from 1 to 5 stamped on them..maybe for ease of reassembly? I tried some 38 S&W rounds in the cylinder,but they are too long,however I do have some indoor plastic .38 rounds that fit nicely. I may have to shoot the old beast. Overall a very impressive revolver that I have never encountered before,and now am familiar with how it ticks.

 

[Breakaway500]

Just a few more photos for any other lunatic that may be interested in the A. ***nes .38. A well oiled gun is a happy gun!

 

[Qball]

I tried some 38 S&W rounds in the cylinder,but they are too long,however I do have some indoor plastic .38 rounds that fit nicely. I may have to shoot the old beast.

Your revolver might have the caliber .380 Webly/Eley

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Making .380 revolver ammo for an ancient Bulldog pistol | stilllife