PLease Help Me Identify this pistol

[hoytme]

I posted this on a differnet forum and a member there suggested I try hear. I received this pistol a couple of years ago. It belonged to my grandfather who passed away so I do not know the story behind the gun. I have taken the gun into a couple of local gun shops and no one knows what make it is. It has a broken spring so it will not fire. Gun is rough but I would like to find a new spring My grandfather was in WWII and my father thought this is something he might have brought back with him. He was in in Africa, Italy and Europe so I have no clue. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[DCWilson]

That's a Spanish imitation of a Smith & Wesson. I forget what the initials stand for, but will try to find out.

EDITED TO ADD: Can you read any markings elsewhere on the gun, particularly the barrel? Look for EIBAR and HERMANOS ORBEA. Eibar is a gun-making community in the Basque region of Spain. Lots of manufacturers there, and different markings on the guns they produce.

 

[john traveler]

Hermanos Orbea = "Obea Brothers"

 

[hoytme]

Thanks guys. I will look tomorrow for addition markings. Do you think a S&W spring might fit it.

 

[DCWilson]

Thanks guys. I will look tomorrow for addition markings. Do you think a S&W spring might fit it.

Don't know. It really depends on how closely the Spanish lockwork imitates the design and dimensions of the S&W original. You might luck out, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Your gun imitates the Model of 1905 Military & Police revolver, a K-frame gun, so you should probably look for a K-frame mainspring if you want to try the experiment.

 

[mikepriwer]

Its worth a try. The worst that will happen is that the spring
won't fit. And its only a few dollars.

Mike Priwer

 

[Oyeboteb]

If wishing to experience the joy of shooting this Revolver...please consider to stay with light Loads ( such as anyone's factory Mid Range Wadcutters ) and Lead Bullets only.

Black Powder Loads and 158 Grain RNL would probably be fine also.

But, overall, as far as I have heard and read, the early 20th Century Spanish Copies of the S & W 'M&P' are not regarded as being as strong in their election of Steels as their S & W counterparts were.

 

[walnutred]

Are there any markings on the holster? The holster might be worth more than the pistol.

 

[hoytme]

I'll get the gun out of the safe tonight after work and look more closely for markings. There are a few numbers on the the holster. I will try to find some additional markings. Do you gentlemen think this was issued to the GI's or something my grandfather may have brought back? Also where can I find some information on purchasing a spring for the 1905 to see if it fits? Google did not return much in the way of results. Thanks again for the help. Jim

 

[walnutred]

I'm sure that revolver was manufactured specifically for the US market prior to WW2 and see no way it was an "issue" piece. The South American market seemed to prefer 38 Largo and the Mediterranean market 8 Lebel in these S&W copies. There is a remote possibility your G-father carried it during WW2 as a personally owned sidearm, but I would consider it highly unlikely when better quality firearms were readily available.

e-gunparts shoudl have a listing for the spring.

 

[hoytme]

here are a couple of extra pics. Upon further inspection in better light we noticed the frame is cracked so I will not be firing the gun. I will still try to find a spring so the hammer is not jus flopping around. Also took a couple of pics of the writing on top of the barrell. The last pat date is 1901.

 

[walnutred]

Where is the frame cracked?