Help with info on this tiny, old, French revolver?

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msmp5

msmp5

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F87F9A66-9D84-42C0-9224-8BDA8C9BD0DD.jpeg 35ADF1AE-C20A-49AD-8A7A-C286884E83E7.jpeg A9F3FBF0-0FD8-472B-B063-08ECAF9C3D55.jpeg 5400574F-2B4C-486A-858B-17ADA3B531C7.jpeg I’ve had this tiny old French revolver in the back of my safe for decades. Was wondering if anyone could help identify it as to when it was made, and approximate value. The only serial number I could find on it was on the grip itself, 5xxx. Thanks.
 
Research "Velodog" revolvers to get more information. These were popular in Europe in the 1880s as bicycle riders were often attacked by village dogs. Ammunition for these is still available on the continent. Yours appears to be in pretty good condition with intact nickle plating and nice ebony grips. There are collectors who actively seek these tiny revolvers. Prices are all over the place but nice examples go for $700-800 (sometimes a lot more) and those made in France often sell for a bit more than Belgian guns.
 
Thanks for that info. I figured it was some variant of a Velodog, but none of the pictures of these types of tiny little guns that I have seen show the caliber as actually "22", vs. 6mm or 6.35. The other curiosity was the serial number in the grips. Any way to narrow down the manufacture date other than 1880's? Ser # on the grips 5xxx.
 
The maker's name may be the "---D. Armes & Cycles" on the top strap. Several bicycle makers made guns and vice-versa. The crown over R is a German "repair proof." The use of ".22 calibre" may indicate the gun was made for export to Britain or the US where the metric system was not in place. An excellent source for information on antique European revolvers is:http://www.hlebooks.com/ .
 
Manufacture Francaise d Ames et Cycles in St. Etienne was a known producer of "Bulldog Puppy" pocket revolvers. Later known as Manufrance. The Zhuk book has page after page of such things, not even including this exact one.
An engraved one similar to the OP was 13.50 German Marks in the 1911 Alfa catalog. About the same price as a (probably Spanish) knockoff of a .32 S&W and much less than a .25 or .32 auto.
Present dollar value, if you can find somebody paying Curator's figure, sell fast.
 
Jim Watson, what’s the title of the Zhuk book? Was it common for these guns to have a serial number on the grips?
 
That is a beautiful pistol, I do love those European pocket pistols of the 1900s.. Have you shot it??

I do not know if that pistol was made by "Francaise d Ames et Cycles in St. Etienne". It may be because this company did some of its own manufacturing. But this company was like the French version of Sears and they did purchase items and rebrand them with their own name. I E there are Mauser Broomhandles & Lugers that have their name on it.

For me I love the Francaise d Ames et Cycles in St. Etienne, and such marked pistols do seem to have a following. Darn trouble is the companies
records are not really available.

That could so easily be a Belgium import with Francaise's name rolled on it

A nice forgotten weapons for Lugers by Francaise
https://www.forgottenweapons.com/manufrance-commercial-luger/

A Broom Handle marked for Francaise
https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...r-c96-6-shot-cone-hammer.cfm?gun_id=101001724

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