Spanish Copy of a 44 Top Break ?

Joined
Apr 3, 2011
Messages
2,957
Reaction score
4,294
Location
Northern Middle Tennessee
This one is about an hour and a half from these are the only pictures I have. I know the grips are wrong and the barrel appears to be shortened. Just wondering is a copy or possibly a real one ?
 

Attachments

  • pix597529012.jpg
    pix597529012.jpg
    93.8 KB · Views: 156
  • pix473709529.jpg
    pix473709529.jpg
    69.1 KB · Views: 140
  • pix437177313.jpg
    pix437177313.jpg
    70.9 KB · Views: 127
  • pix585812573.jpg
    pix585812573.jpg
    89.3 KB · Views: 147
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
What are the markings on the barrel rib??

Added, Sorry, I'm afraid you are going to have to look more closely at it...
It appears to be a butchered American. (or early Russian?)
 
Last edited:
What are the markings on the barrel rib??

Added, Sorry, I'm afraid you are going to have to look more closely at it...
It appears to be a butchered American. (or early Russian?)
I am waiting on a response from the seller on the barrel markings if it is a butchered one I still would like to have it but not sure what to spend and obviously don't want to overspend, I don't mind paying fair market value just don't want to get in too deep.
 
I'm not sure just what a chopped, refinished and homemade grips American should bring. Not much in my book unless I was trying to fill a hole in a collection.
 
I am confident enough that it is a Model 3 American that, if I wanted one, I would buy it. The details are never faithfully followed with foreign copies and I cannot find one element of the revolver that does not look S&W. The single line barrel address matches up exactly with my Model American, 2nd. Even thought you cannot read the stamping, they match exactly.

Value is the tough part to get your head around. Stocks are missing and barrel is butchered, so $500 to $800, depending on how badly you want a cut barrel hogleg.

Forgot to mention that when I was shooting Model 3s, the 41 Remington Magnum was used for brass. All you have to do is trim to .91" and bell the brass to insert the larger bullet. After a few reloads, the brass will expand to fill the chamber. Most likely you will not be able to reload a heeled bullet, so are you are stuck with the undersized 44 Russian RNFP. That is what I shot and with the reduced volume in the case, I think I got about 15 grains of 3F. Performance was surprisingly good, with around 600 fps and good pattern at 10 yards. The 44 Webley LRN is another possibility if you can find them, but when I was shooting, I could not find a source. I doubt that the improvement in accuracy would be anything to write home about..
 

Attachments

  • Untitled.jpg
    Untitled.jpg
    21.4 KB · Views: 45
  • P8170019.jpg
    P8170019.jpg
    31 KB · Views: 44
Last edited:
Thanks for all of the advice and comments. I would like to have it if I can get it for the right price as I do not have one of these. Being on a tight budget makes ones in nicer condition out of my reach so I am hopeful ...
 
Back
Top