So, we're in the gun store yesterday...

[Miracle Man]

Nice little find, nice story. Congratulations.

 

[desi2358]

Being steel, it reminds me more of the Sterling pistols of the late 70's. They came in .22lr and .25ACP.

The Sterling is basically a copy of the Galesi. I've owned both and the resemblance is obvious. I have always suspected they liked the design and just made a domestic version. Demand for small pocket guns was still high after the 68 Gun Control act cut off all the foreign imports. Several US companies tapped into that market, some with their own designs or copies of foreign guns. Some actually imported foreign parts and just made the frames in the US to get around the 68 law.

Sterling had the right idea in offering it in 22LR as the 22 Long was already fading in popularity by the 1960's let alone the 70's when Sterling started up. Longs can still be found but aren't everywhere and usually cost a bit more than LR. 25ACP is probably a better functioning choice if someone actually carries one of these mouse guns but the rimfires are a lot cheaper to practice and plink with.

 

[glenwolde]

The Sterling is basically a copy of the Galesi. I've owned both and the resemblance is obvious. I have always suspected they liked the design and just made a domestic version. Demand for small pocket guns was still high after the 68 Gun Control act cut off all the foreign imports. Several US companies tapped into that market, some with their own designs or copies of foreign guns. Some actually imported foreign parts and just made the frames in the US to get around the 68 law.

Sterling had the right idea in offering it in 22LR as the 22 Long was already fading in popularity by the 1960's let alone the 70's when Sterling started up. Longs can still be found but aren't everywhere and usually cost a bit more than LR. 25ACP is probably a better functioning choice if someone actually carries one of these mouse guns but the rimfires are a lot cheaper to practice and plink with.

I worked in a gun store after high school for a few years, like 74-78. We sold a boat load of Sterlings. Other than the safety being moved forward they pretty much look like a Galesi, but I've never taken the time to go over their schematics to see if the resemblance is more than just cosmetic.

 

[Spurdann]

I like your wife’s attitude. Keep her happy and keep buying what comes your way. I too would have bought it just for an excuse to chase 22 long ammo.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Please don't anyone send vitriol, but from the outside it looks soooo much like the Jennings/Jimenez pistol... which just makes me wonder if the design of the pistol is similar. The Jennings is definitely a striker fired pistol and it is one of the pot metal junkers, but not all of them were completely horrendous.

I warn people about Jennings as much as I can. I saw a Jennings slide launch itself into shooters face a few years ago. He has lucky he had eye protection. Put a nice divot below his eye and broke his glasses.

Problem was HV ammo. I guess they warn people about that but those pot metal junkers keep injuring people who use HV ammo.

 

[LVSteve]

Aguila 30 gr LR perhaps? Seems like it is stoked, though.

 

[.357magger]

Happy Wife? Happy Life.

Congratulations on both the Galesi, and what seems like an excellent Mrs.

Thanks for sharing the gun and the story.

 

[robvious]

at one time Aquila made a sub-sonic 22lr that had a small conical bullet that was maybe an 1/8 inch beyond the case. I think it only had a little extra primer.. there was not much if any powder.

 

[Buford57]

You are blessed that your wife has inexpensive tastes. Mine says "I want it" about things like Kimbers and Garands and Bowie knives with Damascus blades.

 

[Tex1001]

I've got the same gun in .25.

Unlike many of the small .25s, it has never malfunctioned, although I have not shot a whole lot of ammo out of it.

Also, unlike many of the small .25s, it is, as you said, a quality piece.

Mine was given to me by a neighbor I helped with some work nearly 40 years ago.

John

I have a 25 Galesi that I inherited from a deceased friend.
Quality gun w/wood grips.
Good luck trying to find an extra magazine for it.

 

[Rudi]

That is a neat little piece. Whenever you find .22 Long, jump on it.

 

[CajunBass]

I have a 25 Galesi that I inherited from a deceased friend.
Quality gun w/wood grips.
Good luck trying to find an extra magazine for it.

I actually found a spare magazine for this one, on ebay. It was not cheap, but it was the only one for this type gun I saw (the gun was pictured along with the magazine). Figured I'd "bite the bullet" so to speak and double the value of the gun.

 

[robvious]

found a picture of the Aquila Colibri ammunition

 

[peyton]

Well, don't keep us in suspense, HOW DID THE WIFE LIKE IT??

 

[CajunBass]

She hasn’t shot it yet. When I asked her if she wanted to go to the range, she opened one eye and said.. “You are kidding? Right?” It was about 8 am Saturday morning.

 

[JohnHL]

Nice pistol!

I've got the same gun in .25.

Unlike many of the small .25s, it has never malfunctioned, although I have not shot a whole lot of ammo out of it.

Also, unlike many of the small .25s, it is, as you said, a quality piece.

Mine was given to me by a neighbor I helped with some work nearly 40 years ago.

John

I have a 25 Galesi that I inherited from a deceased friend.
Quality gun w/wood grips.
Good luck trying to find an extra magazine for it.

As recall, mine came with some funky wood grips.

I got a set of white original plastic grips and a spare magazine from Numrich.

John

 

[DWalt]

I have the .25 ACP version of the identical Galesi design and it has been my pocket carry gun for around 20 years. I have tested many brands of ammunition in it, and CCI aluminum case is the most reliable, although no brand was bad. For a .25, FMJ bullets provide about as good performance as you can get. I shoot it a few times per year just to make sure it still works OK. Charles Whitman of the 1966 Texas Tower shooting had one of those .25 Galesis in his arsenal. It has also been sold under several names other than Galesi but I do not remember what they were, Rig or Rigarmi, I think.

 

[Grayfox]

Congratulations on a nice find.

I have a fondness for mouse guns. I woulda grabbed that in a heartbeat.

 

[Echo40]

Nice gun! It's also very refreshing to hear about a wife who isn't a total shrew and thusly doesn't assume direct control of household income, complete with unilateral decisions regarding the distribution of funds in a selfish manner.
Give and take, that's how a proper marriage ought to be.

 

[nutsforsmiths]

Below is a photo comparison between the Galesi (left), Sterling (bottom) and another similar pistol called the Valor (right). The Galesi is a well made pistol, the Valor is a cheaply made copy. I can't find much information on the Valor, but it says on the right side of the frame "Valor Import Corp. Hialeah, Florida". There are no import marks on the Valor at all. This is probably one of those inexpensive American made ones with imported parts. The Valor has a pot metal frame and not well machined steel slide.

The Galesi and Valor are identical in how they disassemble. The Valor has a top port ejection system, while the Galesi uses a side port. Even the magazines for the Galesi and the Valor are interchangeable!

The main difference between the Sterling and the Galesi is that the Sterlng uses a button for takedown, and moved the safety lever forward to just behind the triggerguard. The safety lever on the Galesi also functions as the takedown when it is rotated down and to the 3 o'clock position. The Galesi and Sterling magazines are not interchangeable, as the Sterling mag is a tad bit wider.