Your Spanish S&W copies - let's see 'em!

[Cyrano]

Thanks to the good offices of Gooney, here's mine. He shrank it to thumbnail size for me. It's a Trocala y Aranzabal , one of the Spanish revolvers that France contracted for in WW I. It's in the 8mm French Mle 92 revolver caliber. There were a couple of makers who produced revolvers for France that looked like S&W M&Ps, at least on the outside. On the inside, they looked like nothing else on earth. I wish I had taken a picture of this one with the sideplate off. There were also a couple of makers who produced Colt look-alikes. Collectively France called them "Modèle 92 Espagnoles". Altogether they made almost 500,000 for France in WW I. France kept them in service, and they were used in WW II, both by the Milice (pro-Nazi militia), and the Maquis (guerillas). They were used until most of them were worn out or blown up. You don't see them very often.

The holster is one that France developed in WW I to replace the clamshell holster for the Mle 92 revolver. It also fits the Colt and S&W look-alikes. The squashed looking things on the front of the holster are three pouches to carry 8mm revolver ammo which was issued in 6 round packets. The packets are very hard to find.

 

[Goony]

Trocaola, Aranzabal y Cia also supplied top break revolvers in .455 Webley caliber to the British during WWI.

 

[shooboy]

Here ya go, total cost with a box of .32 longs was $50 ! Yes I shot it and then sold it to a member here. Pretty cool...... Shoo

 

[Goony]

That looks a lot like S&W's .32 Hand Ejector, and appears to be a product of Garate, Anitua y Cia, which, by the way, was another firm that was able to meet the strict quality standards set by the British and thus also furnish top-break .455's to the Allies' cause.

 

[Oyeboteb]

Well, here is mine -


Nickle is flakey, but underlieing Steel is smooth and nice.

Top Rib says "FOR 44 WINCHESTER CARTRIDGES"

Appears low miliage, but cosmetically challenged possibly from damp.


The single Word "SPAIN" is stamped very neatly on the front Grip Strap.


Monogramme of "OH" appears on the Stocks and on the right side of the Frame toward the rear area.


Sorry my images are not better, have not yet made a Light Box for this sort of thng.











I plan to load my own .44 WCF Cartridges for it and, take it out to the Range sometime soon.


Appears to be good quality in fit and what's left of original finish...Bore and Chambers show old still present rust ( I have just got it and not cleaned it yet, I sure hope it is not too badly pitted! We shall see )...


Were the large frame S&W-inspired Top Breaks of the "OH" Make well regarded?


Who would have used these, when chambered in the .44-40/.44 WCF? And when having their Text stampings in English?

Were these intended for the US Market of the time? Or..?



Kinda matches my old Zippo! Lol...

 

[Goony]

Oyeboteb -

That's another Orbea Hermanos - there's a link regarding this firm earlier in the thread. Your top break model most likely dates from the late 19th century, at a time when the company was supplying similar revolvers to the Spanish military.

 

[suthrnboy]

Spanish .38

I also have a Spanish made .38 that was my grandfathers that I would love to know more about. I was told that you guys on here were the authorities and could maybe help me on where to look for more info!

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Goony]

I also have a Spanish made .38 that was my grandfathers that I would love to know more about. I was told that you guys on here were the authorities and could maybe help me on where to look for more info!

Thanks,
Chris

Appreciate the photo, but could you tell us something about its markings?

 

[suthrnboy]

Spanish .38

Appreciate the photo, but could you tell us something about its markings?

Hi and thanks for the reply. There aren't really any other markings that I can see on the weapon outside of what I have already described!

Thanks!

 

[suthrnboy]

On the left side of the barrel it states "FOR 38 SW SPECIAL CTGS" and right behind the trigger guard on the bottom of the frame "SPAIN" is stamped into it. Other than that there are no other markings.

Thanks!

 

[Goony]

On the left side of the barrel it states "FOR 38 SW SPECIAL CTGS" and right behind the trigger guard on the bottom of the frame "SPAIN" is stamped into it. Other than that there are no other markings.

There have been over the years numerous very low volume, obscure Spanish gunmakers. Your revolver has is likely the product of one of these, but it is unlikely that anyone will ever be able to identify just which one. I would think it probable that it was imported into the U.S. sometime during the inter-war years. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[tngundog]

Spanish T.A.C. revolver

Here are a few pictures of a revolver that I just inherited. It was in a box in my mother in laws garage for the past 20-25 years.

It seems in great shape but after researching and reading all I could find on Spanish made guns I have my doubts about firing it.

It has a TAC logo on left underneath the cylinder release. It has stamped on top of the barrel "Best American Cartridges Are Those That Fit Best The T.A.C. Revolver" Also Stamped on the left side of the barel "For 38 Special and US Service CTG"
On the right side of the revolver is stamped "SPAIN" Serial number on bottom of grip/butt is 182XXX (I X'd out part of the serial # because I see that other poster's do - but since I'm new to gun forums - I dont know why they do it)

Any info or thoughts are welcome
TAC .38 - a set on Flickr

 

[Goony]

T.A.C. = Trocaola, Aranzabal, y Cia

This was a pretty reputable manufacturer, noted for having turned out a competent Triple Lock copy. Yours is patterned after the Military & Police model, and if in good repair, ought to be safe with mildly loaded .38 Special.

 

[red9]

Here is my T.A.C. triple lock.

Bob

 

[Thuer]

Thanks for posting. I have seen a lot of Spanish copy's. Never seen this.

The only S&W copy I do have is a Bayard Pieper in .32.

 

[tngundog]

Thanks. After I posted I thought I would be notified when/if people responded but think I need to subscribe to this post 1st.(i just did)

 

[rick6336]

It's good to see another TAC revolver. I inherited one when my father passed 2 yrs ago. I dont know much about it other then it was my great grandfather's., and that my grandfather carried it at a security job in the early 1940's. My father said once that he had asked many years ago about the Ser. # and was told that it was made around 1905. My father had said he shot a few times around 1950. It is in about 95-98% shape due to some minor holster wear on the front of the cyl. I haven't decided whether I wont to shoot it or not, but being a 4th generation owner, it's nice to look at. There is no wobble of the cyl. like I've seen in other older revolvers What really surprises me is that it is so small in my hand. It's a 32 Long.

 

[heatheroo]

I have an Eibar copy of a S&W DA revolver. I don't have any pictures and I'm at work but I recall it says something on the barrel like "use best quality Smith and Wesson .38 cartidges only". Obviously an attempt to connect this pistol with a genuine S&W. The SN is:E30495. It's was my grandfathers. It's reasonably tight and I've shot it a few times.

 

[Texas Star]

Trocaola, Aranzabal y Cia also supplied top break revolvers in .455 Webley caliber to the British during WWI.

Yeah, but they looked like S&W topbreaks, not like Webleys.

 

[Texas Star]

Does anyone recall the Capt. Gallant of the Foreign Legion TV show of the 1950's, starring Buster Crabbe?

I saw it as a kid, and think he used both a Mlle. 1892 8mm and an S&W M&P in various episodes. Could have been a Victory Model. The m&p could have been a Spanish copy.