HIJOS DE VICTOR ARAMBERRI Y CIA EIBAR

[TomkinsSP]

That is what it says across the top of the barrel.

Eibar is in the Basque region of Spain, home of Llama and Star. I can find stuff on internet about thier shotguns, and about Victor himself.

The piece I found is a copy of a S&W Safety Hammerless in .38 S&W. It has Eibar proof marks, and matching serial number on cylinder. Marked EIBAR-1924 on its 4 inch barrel. If it were a real S&W I would have happily paid 3 or 4 times what seller was asking. Nickle plated, lots of scratches but only a tiny rust spot or two. Bore looked nice, locked up good. Decent grips. Seemed functional.

Opinions would be appriciated.

 

[daddio202]

A picture or two would be helpful. I know that I certainly would like to see a picture.

 

[Absalom]

You pretty much already know everything important there is to know. Spanish patent laws were very lax back then, and copying foreign designs was a major business for the many small to middling arms manufacturers there.

The Ruby pistol they produced in the hundreds of thousands during WW I for the French was basically a copy of J.M. Browning’s 1903 design, used without permission, of course. After the war, S&W K-frame hand ejectors were popular for copying, mostly for the Latin American market where no one asked questions and “Yanqui revolvers” were in high demand.

Copies of topbreaks are not encountered that frequently, but that 1924 date on yours puts the gun right into the era where many Eibar gun makers were producing many S&W knock-offs.

Eibar quality ranges from decent to dangerous, impossible to generalize. If you shoot it, you’re on your own. I’d only use very mild loads.

 

[TomkinsSP]

I did not buy it. Price was a bit much for an unknown. If it had been the real McCoy I would have, and photos would be posted. I know someone who has a real one, it is not for sale.

 

[TomkinsSP]

So I was traveling the same route as last week, trying to forget a close call (letting Indiana get back into the game). This time I made an offer...

 

[TomkinsSP]

More pics.