Wall Hanger - Auguste Francotte Pocket Revolver

[kobsw]

Picked up a hand sized vintage Belgium Pocket Revolver 6 shot .32 Short Colt, the grips are a very dark wood and not plastic.

The manufacture is Auguste Francotte of Leige

It's out of timing and probably not proofed for smokeless powder but either way It will become a wall hanger.

I'm thinking the gun and bullets in a wall hanging shadow box. I'm going to render it safe before doing so, just to be sure.

You guys have any guns that you've put out to pasture this way?









Best Regards,

Kobsw

 

[Kitgun]

1.) Nice old gun.
2.) Do not alter.

 

[H Richard]

Nice clean looking specimen. I'd not cut the firing pin, but put it behind glass in the shadow box.

 

[jeffrefrig]

That IS one cool-looking revolver, but probably not really that fun to shoot, even the short .32s. I suppose it would look nice on the wall with your other neat stuff and disabling it for safety, etc., is your call if the timing can't be repaired or maybe not worth the bother. Is the firing pin-cutting the only way to disable it, you know, in case someone down the road may want to fix & shoot it? I obviously don't know a thing about your gun...heck, I've never even seen one let alone know the value or collectable interest. Either way, thanks for showing it. Maybe a pic of the finished wall art?

 

[D Brown]

Those are really great photos Kobsw!

Personally, I've got a little heartburn over your stated intent to alter your new gun to permanent non-firing condition; but it is your gun so it's obviously your call as well.

Thanks for posting.

 

[Thuer]

Nice Belgium made Pocket revolver in .320 . It is not a Bulldog. Sorry. A Bulldog revolver is a pocketsize revolver with a Big kaliber. This revolver is for self defence. The folding trigger is also not a feature of a Bulldog. But it is a very nice revolver.

 

[Shark Bait]

Neat gun. I wouldn't alter a thing.

 

[kobsw]

I'm glad you guys like it, story goes that it was taken off a captured German solder during WWII.

I knew the gentleman personally that captured the gun so it means a lot to me. Rest in peace PFC John Savasi.

Thanks for the critique, I'll look at disabling the gun another way and post some pics when it's mounted.

Kobsw

 

[JayFramer]

Dad had a Rohm .22 short revolver.

Absolute, unquestionable, JUNK. Worthless to shoot.

We hated it so much and one day dad took the gun to the bench grinder and destroyed it and chucked it in the garbage.

 

[Gene L]

Nice little revolver. Put me in the Not-Alter camp. I don't quite understand your desire to render it non-firing, since you know already it's got timing problems and you're not intending to shoot it anyway.

 

[dr. mordo]

Very cool.

Please don't disable it, just put a note hidden the shadowbox that explains the condition of the gun.

 

[2152hq]

It may be a wall hanger, but it's kind of a special one.

It's mfg'd by Auguste Francotte of Leige. A VERY well known and highly regarded quality maker.
Being in the excl condition that it is, I'd leave it entirely alone. Display it with the provenance that you have if only by the word of prior owner(s).

The Crown/R proof mark on the frame is for a Rifled Bore firearm (handguns since mid 1890's).

The Crown/AF is the mark of Auguste Francotte the mfg'r

The */A(?) is most likely an inspector mark

Probably the Belgian ELG in an oval on the rear of the cylinder face?

The cash value won't buy you a vacation resort getaway, but being a Francotte and the condition does take it several steps above the average little revolver of this type.

Some of these did 'come back' from WW2 and I suspect even WW1 to the USA as War souveniers.
My Dad brought one back. Not one as nice as this. A .22short cal. Same folding trigger and overall the same mechanism.
Cute little thing.
Then he smashed it to bits with a sledge hammer one day nearly 25yrs after coming home with it.
Please don't grind anything on that pistol.

 

[JH1951]

I understand the desire to disable it, but would seek another way to do so that does not destroy the piece. Perhaps the mainspring, or another part internally, could be removed. It could then be put in the back of the shadow box. The piece would then be rendered inop in the hands of a child or thief, but able to be reconstituted for a future collector. Just a thought. Nice piece, enjoy it. Please show us the final display!

 

[kobsw]

It may be a wall hanger, but it's kind of a special one.

It's mfg'd by Auguste Francotte of Leige. A VERY well known and highly regarded quality maker.
Being in the excl condition that it is, I'd leave it entirely alone. Display it with the provenance that you have if only by the word of prior owner(s).

The Crown/R proof mark on the frame is for a Rifled Bore firearm (handguns since mid 1890's).

The Crown/AF is the mark of Auguste Francotte the mfg'r

The */A(?) is most likely an inspector mark

Probably the Belgian ELG in an oval on the rear of the cylinder face?

The cash value won't buy you a vacation resort getaway, but being a Francotte and the condition does take it several steps above the average little revolver of this type.

Some of these did 'come back' from WW2 and I suspect even WW1 to the USA as War souveniers.
My Dad brought one back. Not one as nice as this. A .22short cal. Same folding trigger and overall the same mechanism.
Cute little thing.
Then he smashed it to bits with a sledge hammer one day nearly 25yrs after coming home with it.
Please don't grind anything on that pistol.

21.... I appreciate the information since I din't have much more than what I already stated.

I'll stand down on cutting anything on the gun, thanks to all who have showed me the errors of my way.

Regards, Kobsw

 

[Thuer]

I am not agree. Where is the AF mark then? Did I missed something?

 

[Mexican Kerry]

My only wall hanger is a Remington side by each 10 gauge. I pulled the firing pins out of it because its basically just a piece of art now, but they are socked away in case I want to take it out to burn some powder.

I have a problem with the idea of rendering a firearm permanently disabled.

Art.

Sorry for the poor pics.

 

[Thuer]

Pfffff that is a very tiny mark. I did see it now. It is next to the crowned R wich stands for rifled barrel. AF alricht.

 

[kobsw]

My only wall hanger is a Remington side by each 10 gauge. I pulled the firing pins out of it because its basically just a piece of art now, but they are socked away in case I want to take it out to burn some powder.

I have a problem with the idea of rendering a firearm permanently disabled.

Art.

Sorry for the poor pics.

MK, Cool gun and the pics look good to me.

Kobsw

 

[kobsw]

Pic added with the Auguste Francotte of Leige mark now visible.

Thanks 2152hg for the info and keen eye

Best Regards,

Kobsw

 

[BearBio]

I've got a Francotte Velo-Dog in 22 caliber. The shadow box seems like a good idea. Had the silk purse holster until the puppy got it!