[jakk280rem]

this has got me scratching my head. a friend brought this over. i guess in my little circle of friends, i'm known as the gun guy. i don't know any thing about it. caliber, manufacture, year of manufacture, value, all a mystery. anyone care to venture a guess? there are no markings except what is pictured. the # 21 and what appears to be proof markings that resemble " COD ". judging from the angle of the firing pin, i think its a rimfire. i didn't mike the bore but looks to be about .32 cal.

[SDC]

The proofs show it's German, but without any additional definite info, that's all I can say.

[jakk280rem]

anyone else?

[Clermont]

The proof marks on your revolver are indeed pre-war German, used from 1891
until 1938. The top mark, a crown, applied to pistols and revolvers indicates
the pistol was proof fired. The second mark, a crown over a U means the
barrel was examined and inspected. I'm unable to help in identifying the
manufacturer of your revolver.

[SDC]

This revolver is of the type commonly known as a "pocket bulldog", a smaller version of the "bulldog" revolver that became popular in Europe at the end of the 1800s and up through the 1920s. It's likely chambered for .320 Revolver, a now-obsolete chambering, and there may be some makers marks underneath the grip panels, but that's all I can add without more info or pictures on it.

[Jim Watson]

I have seen old catalogs and reprints and there were dozens of different variations of small folding trigger revolvers in Europe pre WW I. Many of them with no maker's name or even a house brand label. If you were making a good product, wouldn't you put your name on it?

American equivalents usually (not always) had a trigger guard or maybe a spur trigger.

[Jim K]

There were tons of those guns made in Belgium, Germany, France and Spain in pinfire calibers (usually 7mm). In the later years of the 19th century, makers gradually went to center-fire cartridges, though .22 caliber rimfires were also made. Two common chamberings were the .32 ACP and .25 ACP cartridges, which will work in a revolver due to the semi-rim.

Jim