Comparing the "Orbea Hermanos" Break-Top to the S&W

[twaits]

I think I saw that exact same Belgian 'Frontier Bulldog' at the Antique Arms Show today...seller was even saying something to his pal about the 'Poulin' Auction while chin-nodding to some of his offerings...


Funny old World, huh...
Price now? - $525.00 if memory serve...

Yeah they actually bring pretty good money now. After I saw that it went for like $90 bucks I looked at other ones for sale on gun auction sites and they were all over $400. And they were selling for that! I really kicked myself for not bidding on it.

update:

I was mistaken, it went for a little more...$117. Still should have bid on it. I would have paid that in a heartbeat. Here's the old link:

http://poulinantiques.auctionflex.c...yword=Bulldog&lso=lotnumasc&pagenum=1&lang=En

 

[twaits]

Iver Johnson made a double action .44 Webley centerfire caliber solid frame revolver in 1883-4 called the "American Bulldog" in various barrel lengths up to 6 in. These guns were an excellent buy for the money, as they were very sturdy and seldom got out of order. Ed.

I have one. Looks like it has been refinished at some point and the cylinder base pin catch is missing it's spring. I bought it because you don't run into the .44s very often and it was fairly cheap.

 

[opoefc]

twaits, Nice old I J .44. The cylinder base pin and catch are replacements. Probably made by a gunsmith, from modified Hopkins & Allen parts, when the gun was refinished, or before, to make the gun functional again. The missing spring is a small V spring, easy to make and install. Ed.

 

[Oyeboteb]

Thats a good looking Revolver twaits.

I will keep those "IJ" .44s in mind!


I think there was also a .44 American Bulldog Cartridge which was it's own distinct cartridge...and which was a step down say, from .44 S&W Russian in power.

I do not recall if it would chamber in .44 Russian Cylinders or not, but might have.

Do you know what Cartridge your "IJ" was intended for?

 

[twaits]

twaits, Nice old I J .44. The cylinder base pin and catch are replacements. Probably made by a gunsmith, from modified Hopkins & Allen parts, when the gun was refinished, or before, to make the gun functional again. The missing spring is a small V spring, easy to make and install. Ed.

I think the base pin might be original. The knurling is gone from the poor refinish but it looks like the base pin I've seen in pictures of other IJ Bulldogs.

 

[twaits]

Thats a good looking Revolver twaits.

I will keep those "IJ" .44s in mind!


I think there was also a .44 American Bulldog Cartridge which was it's own distinct cartridge...and which was a step down say, from .44 S&W Russian in power.

I do not recall if it would chamber in .44 Russian Cylinders or not, but might have.

Do you know what Cartridge your "IJ" was intended for?

I'm not sure. Maybe .44 Webley?

 

[Oyeboteb]

You might be right...( .44 Webley )

I just did a 'google' for ".44 Bulldog", and, found this 'Wiki' entry -


.44 Bull Dog - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


If you have some .44 Russian or .44 Special laying around, try chambering one, and see if it is a little loose...

 

[BEF1914]

Orbea Hermanos

Last week My Gunsmith and I were Given Two Of These, Revolvers Both with British Proofs. And Chambered In .455 Webleythey cleaned up Nicely. Mine Has Birdshead Grips. And we have Both Shot them. Free Is a Very Good Price I also Got a Mint S&W 3rd Model Hand Ejector In 32-20 SN# 106356, i Know This Model Was Made from 1901-1914 Can Anyone Help
With The Correct Date. Thanks All

 

[artu44]

Just a little trivia. Durig WWI being in shortage of handguns, Italy bought a lot of cheap spanish 32ACP autos, better known as Ruby as well an Hermanos Orbea revolver chambered for its .41 service ammo. Importer was Tettoni in Brescia because this gun never was officially adopted.