Russian Contract Accessories?

[jleiper]

The documentation says that the Russian contract No. 3s were delivered with a screw driver and a wiper. In all my years of chasing Russian revolvers I've never been able to tie down exactly which model of screw driver and wiper were sent. Was it the same tools through out the shipments over the six years the revolvers were delivered? Russian sources have not been helpful. Can anybody help?
Joe

 

[jleiper]

These drawings came from a manual dated 1880. Do they look familiar to anything you've seen?



Joe

 

[mmaher94087]

Joe, I not the expert on screwdrivers but the drawings look very much like the "Brass" screwdriver found in cased S&Ws. The handle is hollow and holds all the bits. Last one I saw for sale was in the $1500 range. They are "scarce" in the US.

 

[jleiper]

I've had these manuals for a while, but just got into wading through them. There is a description in the text about the tools but I haven't gotten to translating the text. I will post the descriptions in a few days.
I have a second manual from 1888 and it has more about the tools but I have to read and figure out how they were used.
Joe

 

[opoefc]

Joe, I would agree with Mike's observation. What I'm uncertain about is whether S&W made the accessories in house, or used items from vendors. The truth is , it's probably both, but which did what, I don't know. I'm assuming you found those manuals in Russia, or do you think they were S&W printed and supplied with the guns ? Ed. (Edit 2/22/17 - The more I look at the Russian manual's pictures, the less I now think they resemble the S&W hollow screw drivers Mike mentions. The design concept is similar to S&Ws, but execution differs. I think they are Russian in origin. )

 

[jleiper]

The manuals were definitely printed in Russia, the first in St. Petersburg (1880 dated) and the second in Kiev (1888 dated). They were sent to me in electronic format by a friend in Russia several months ago. I am just now getting around to reading them and figuring out what information is in them.
( they are in Russian it is pre spelling reform using the old letters and spellings)
Joe

 

[jleiper]

If you look long enough, you can get lucky!




Russian inspector's mark

Joe

 

[JSR III]

где отвертка

 

[jleiper]

не знаю

Joe

 

[JSR III]

Путин дал Трампа

 

[opoefc]

I think the Russians just hacked the Forum ! Ed.

 

[OFT II]

I think the Russians just hacked the Forum ! Ed.

That ought to set the KGB back about thirty years.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Here are some inserts for the hollow handle screwdriver. These look like the items pictured in the Russian booklet. I have more crush collets and rings. I'll post them later.

 

[jleiper]

Thanks for the pictures. The Russian revolvers were issued with 3 screw driver blades, wide, medium and narrow width. They also had the small wrench blade which I believe was for the lanyard fitting.
Joe

 

[mmaher94087]

Joe, I'll recite my disclaimer first: I have no actual basis for the following. "They also had the small wrench blade which I believe was for the lanyard fitting." Could it be that the wrench was for the removal of the extractor shaft from the gear used to lift the extractor from the cylinder? The early Baby Russian revolvers had a wrench included in the box just for the extractor removal. I find it odd that the screwdriver set you are describing would include a wrench soley for the removal of a lanyard ring.

 

[mmaher94087]

Since I can't seem to edit my reply, I'll add that the lanyard rings were screwed into the butt of the frame and pinned in place to prevent loosening. A wrench alone would be ineffective as a hammer and punch would also be needed for the removal.

 

[jleiper]

I am guessing as to the function of the wrench since I have yet to get my hands on one of the tool sets and measure the wrench. I agree that the wrench could have been for the extractor shaft.

I am meeting with my gunsmith this coming Friday to take a couple of First Contract revolvers apart to measure and photograph parts. When (and if) I can actually measure a wrench I will be able to determine what the function of the tool was.

The lanyard holder is pinned in place but I have seen Contract revolvers with the lanyard loop out of what I would consider original alignment.

Joe

 

[jleiper]

Joe, I'll recite my disclaimer first: I have no actual basis for the following. "They also had the small wrench blade which I believe was for the lanyard fitting." Could it be that the wrench was for the removal of the extractor shaft from the gear used to lift the extractor from the cylinder? The early Baby Russian revolvers had a wrench included in the box just for the extractor removal. I find it odd that the screwdriver set you are describing would include a wrench soley for the removal of a lanyard ring.

You are absolutely correct! I finally found a manual that explains what the tools were for and describes them

It is in the old Russian alphabet from a manual dated 1888:

Четыре отверки, изъ нихъ: три лезвiями, различной ширины, для отвиничиванiя и завиничиванiя винтовъ и одна съ рожками, для отвиничиванiя рейки отъ выбрасывателя.

Four screw drivers, of these: three with blades, of various widths, for unscrewing and screwing screws and one with a wrench, for unscrewing the rack from the extractor. All of these blades are contained in a metal handle.

Joe

 

[jleiper]

I finally received the screw driver body. It came out of Russia and even has a Russian acceptance mark. Now to find blades.



PK mark or 'ПК' Acceptance Commission mark.
Joe