[pbratton1]

Buddy brought this to me and asked me to sell it. Thought it'd be nice to have an idea of what it was first...

Looks to have been nickle plated, mostly worn off now, also showed a caliber of .44.

Anyone have any ideas? Any help would be appreciated.

Phil

[Jim Watson]

It is what is known as a Montenegrin revolver. I find its history in Handguns of the World by Ed Ezell.
It was designed in 1870 by Leupold Gasser, updated in succeeding models through 1884, and issued to the Austro-Hungarian army until replaced by the 8mm Rast & Gasser in 1898.

When Austria modernized with the Rast & Gasser, they sold their surplus 1884s to the small new kingdom of Montenegro. King Nicholas was so impressed that he decreed every male subject must purchase a Montenegrin-style revolver, causing a flood of weapons from Gasser's two factories and a number of Belgian manufacturers. Most Monetnegrin type revolvers had coarsely chiseled engraving, bone or mother of pearl grips, and often nickel or silver plated. Although unimportant from a design point of view, these handguns are important because they saw military use in the Balkans for many years and because they were produced in such large numbers. Caliber is 11.25x36, which is a BIG black powder .44 not interchangeable with anything else. Still not as powerful as a full charge .45 Colt, but a big impressive gun.

Really shows your Montenegrin manliness. Not a real valuable gun, especially in that worn condition.

[Jim K]

That particular gun was made in Belgium, a copy of the Webley Pryse lock revolver. The Pryse lock is that system of holding the gun closed, squeezing the two bars to open it. It was first used by Webley then copied by many other gun makers.

There is a small collector value in the novelty and curio category. I would caution against shooting it even if ammunition could be found.

Jim

[pbratton1]

Thanks folks!

I would not dream of shooting this thing, it doesn't lockup very well...

[wheelgunslinger]

Wow. That's really cool. Never so much as seen one before.
thanks for posting up!

[4v50 Gary]

I wish we had leaders who would order us to buy guns. Society would be safer.