Very strange system

[Thuer]

I did know this revolver only by pictures. A few months ago I was visiting a gundealer in Belgium. I looked into the showcases and I did see a little Belgium made revolver. I instantly reconized it. It is a HDH or Ronge build revolver in 6.35 or .25 acp. It is a 5 shot revolver with a odd shaped hammer.
The grip has a strange contour to. And there is a knob on it. The meaning of it is when firing the revolver, the hammer comes all the way back and bounce on that knop wich has a very strong coilspring beonder it. The hammer bouce back to the fired position. But. In the mean time a empty 6.35 mm case comes out the firingpin space. Yes. The revolver do unloaed it self. When you pull the trigger the proces repeat it self. No, it is not a semi auto. Only a self onloader. But, it is a very rare revolver. In my 35 year of collecting revolvers this is the first wich I do see in life and ofcource bought it. Any more pictures you can find on Photos d'armes de collection under HDH.

 

[Truckman]

Never in my life have I even heard of that one......Ben

 

[walnutred]

Thanks for sharing your find!!

 

[AJ]

Definitely different! Never heard of such a thing! Thanks for sharing.

 

[shown50]

That’s one of the coolest designs I’ve ever seen. Any idea on the year of manufacture?

 

[LVSteve]

Love me some different operating systems. Bergmann lock-up, rotary barrels, the Frommer Stop, it all fascinates me.

 

[DWalt]

At one time long ago I had a book called “Firearms Curiosa” by Lewis Winant, which related all sorts of strange gun designs through the ages from around the world. I do not know whatever happened to that book, but I sort of remember that revolver may have been mentioned in it.

 

[Thuer]

That’s one of the coolest designs I’ve ever seen. Any idea on the year of manufacture?

Yes. Sorry forgott to tell. Just before WW I about 1912.

 

[TJm15.38]

Yeah, I would say that is unique and different. Interesting that it is chambered in an automatic pistol round. I like those old school revolvers but only have a couple of M1895 Nagants.

 

[Thuer]

At one time long ago I had a book called “Firearms Curiosa” by Lewis Winant, which related all sorts of strange gun designs through the ages from around the world. I do not know whatever happened to that book, but I sort of remember that revolver may have been mentioned in it.

i do have that book. But it is not mentioned.

 

[Erich]

Very neat post.

(How long before Ruger issues a copy? )

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Seems to have proof marks and has a "factory" look to it. Probably some
small manufacturer and a short production run.
"Firerarms Curiosa" is a fun book, well worth having.

 

[Bald1]

Never heard of it. But I’d have bought it too……. Well maybe? Depending on cost.

 

[AJ]

Very neat post.

(How long before Ruger issues a copy? )

Are you insinuating that Ruger copies things?

 

[smoothshooter]

Belgian revolver designers from years ago came up with some pretty bizarre models. They have never been a “handgun culture” so never knew from extensive experience what good ergonomically designed models looked like. .
They would have done better to have copied some American or British examples.

 

[Thuer]

Smoothshooter. They did that on a large scale. Copyed Buldog revolvers and a lot of Smith and Wesson revolvers. But, they had a lot of own design wich was pretty good. The quality of Belgium made revolvers range was from very poor to very good craftmanship. I do own a lot of Belgium made revolvers in that range, I really do think that the good ones are underestimated.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

IIRC we had a thread here a while back about oddball designs so it is not a matter of not having a "handgun culture."
There are several handguns -the Mauser Broomhandle, the Mauser 1910/1914/1934, the Mauser HsC -that had long production runs but by our standards have somewhat "Rube Goldberg" designs.

 

[Thuer]

I do collect revolvers of all kind. Yes, the biggest part of my collection are Smith and Wesson revolvers. About 35 or so. But I do collect revolvers from the beginning till the last developments.

Aldo, I do not have a Rhino yet but a Mateba Unica 6 already. I love the odd things aswell. Also beautifull crafted revolvers. Percussion, lipfire, teatfire, cupfire, pinfire, percussion and rimfire. i love them all. No I do not have a beltfire. Sadly.

I do love Smith and wesson becouse you see a long range of development and design in these revolvers.That is why I attend the Smith and Wesson forum. But, If you think that you have any knoledge about revolvers. Think again. The range of info is that high, that it is impossible to know everything.

I do still learning and be suprised what is developed in time. But that makes collecting revolvers very intresting. I wont stop collecting. Aldo my wife wish. I shall post another strange design.