Any Idea on this revolver?
- Thread starter Flyboy73
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mattdus
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try gunboards
I would try gunboards or another colectors forum. I would like to have a good look at an old pinfire sometime myself though
I would try gunboards or another colectors forum. I would like to have a good look at an old pinfire sometime myself though
That description is brief but probably accurate. The pinfire cartridge was patented by Lefauchaux in France in 1855, and some pin fire revolvers were imported and used in the American Civil War. While never common in the U.S., where the progress was from cap and ball to rimfire to centerfire, enough were used that C.D. Leet and others made some of the cartridges. The ammunition was made in Europe at least up to WWII, but is now completely obsolete.
The gun is probably Belgium. If so, it should have a proofmark like an oval with the letters E,L,G in it. Those guns are primarily novelties but ones in good condition can bring a couple of hundred dollars.
(I don't know the intent of the seller, but don't confuse "Civil War period" with "used in the Civil War.")
Jim
The gun is probably Belgium. If so, it should have a proofmark like an oval with the letters E,L,G in it. Those guns are primarily novelties but ones in good condition can bring a couple of hundred dollars.
(I don't know the intent of the seller, but don't confuse "Civil War period" with "used in the Civil War.")
Jim
The problem with the pin fire revolver you are looking at is its desing was widely copied by hundreds of small arms manufacturers. The original design was a webley. Its kind of like the AR-15 line of rifles. You have the original Armalite or Colt design (Colt didnt design it but they are considered the tip tier) with hundreds of other companys copying the design. From quality reverse engineered copies like a Bushmaster or Rock River Arms to home built kits from a plethora of different manufacturers. The quality and variety run the gambit yet they all look about the same and function the same. Same thing happened with these pin fired revolvers back in the 1800's so its really hard to tell one apart from the other without being an expert on the proof markings.
If you dont know what a pinfire revolver is, they have an odd cartridge that does not have a percussion cap at the end. Instead the hammer would fall on a nipple on the catridge igniting the charge. Here is an aexample.
If you dont know what a pinfire revolver is, they have an odd cartridge that does not have a percussion cap at the end. Instead the hammer would fall on a nipple on the catridge igniting the charge. Here is an aexample.
Here is just one example I have found for you. Look at all the different pin fire revolvers for sale here. They all look the exact same but where probably all made by different companys.
http://www.rememuseum.org.uk/arms/pistols/armfppp.htm
http://www.rememuseum.org.uk/arms/pistols/armfppp.htm
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