Belgian folding trigger?

[scallop]

A friend of mine found this old revolver while cleaning out a house. From what I have been able to find it appears to be a Belgian folding trigger, cal .320 European. I can find no markings (condition is rough, quite a bit of rust and dirt) anywhere on it.

Six shot, ejector rod missing, action does not function so do not know if single or double action.

Anyone verify what it is? Value?

 

[scallop]

A few more pics, sorry not the greatest photos, but cell phone at work is only camera available right now.

 

[kBob]

Looks like some Euro gun maker that had been building pin fires tried to expand into center fire cartridge guns.

Based on the fact that it looks like so many pin fire guns and its screw placement I am betting it was a double action.

-kBob

 

[Jim K]

I am nearly certain that it was double action/single action. FWIW, it is an interesting find, but of no great value and not worth wasting time in any attempt to "restore" it to shooting condition.

Jim

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Yes, it does look like a Belgian design, or at least manufacture. In that condition, it is worth very little. I'd put it in a case with other gun paraphernalia as a decoration, or use it as a paperweight. Don't bother doing anything to it, as the return will be small.

That's JMO

Looks like some Euro gun maker that had been building pin fires tried to expand into center fire cartridge guns.

It sure does. Here is a Belgian pin fire in my collection. The similarities are obvious. Look under the grip for an ELG proof mark.

Pin fire thread.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=744871

 

[Jim K]

Not surprising because many makers did just that. All it took was modifying the hammer and the cylinder. IIRC, some makers even tried to make a convertible gun with a hammer that could be switched from a pin-fire type to a center-fire. (Rimfire revolvers were uncommon in Europe; the pin fire bridged the gap between percussion revolvers and center-fire cartridges.)

Jim

 

[kBob]

I have a 9mm pin fire I have posted in the past that was apparently DIY modified at some point to use center fire cartridges. The work was pretty poor except the cylinders were rebated to accept the rims of .38 S&W.....atleast cases for such fit the chambers. No way would I have fired it with .38 S&W though.

As to putting no work into it, if you were just learning to strip old finish, polish and refinish steel and wood it might not be bad to try your hand at it with this. If you bugger it up, no loss and if you do great you can put it on display in your man cave and brag about your skill. win-win.

I am curious as to how the 9 mm Pinfire compared to say a Colt navy in power and a 12mm with 1860 colt or Remington New Model Army.

It always amazed me that no Confederate purchaser seems to have thought to buy a bigillion Pin fire Double barrel shotguns for CSA Mounted units or 12 mm revolving carbines.

Both the north and South bought 12 mm pinfire revolvers.

-kBob

 

[ljnowell]

Seems similar to this:
https://www.joesalter.com/category/products/Antique-Belgian-Folding-Trigger-Pocket-Revolver

 

[scallop]

Thanks for the info. Pretty much echoes what I thought. Told him if it were me I would give it a good wipe down with some oil and use as a shelf sitter or wall hanger. Interesting little gun though, too bad it was not all there and in better condition.

 

[Blade First]

Have one of those [or a very similar design] that is a Belgian double-action centerfire in 8mm. The engineering is quite complex, so much so I thought at first it had to be German. Like to have never figured out how to break it open for loading.

There are three names on it; one each for the maker, proofer and engraver. It's in fine shape to be over a hundred years old and works well except for the trigger-return spring. Haven't had it apart yet so I don't know whether the spring is broken or just missing.

Quite the conversation piece.

 

[BCRider]

I'm a home hobby machinist/tinkerer so I'd likely have a go at restoring it to full operation if the chambers and barrel are not TOO far gone. At least for use with light gallery loads.

But if neither you nor your buddy are set up for that the most I'd go for is to clean it and restore it well enough to qualify as a "cock and click" oddity with a patch of leather as a soft hammer fall pad in the hammer slot or solid brass with plastic or leather washer snap caps in the cylinder. Otherwise paying a smith to restore it would be a costly venture. And the gun still would not draw the eye of any collectors due to the condition and the modern restoration work.

For use as a "cock and click" I'd likely use some steel wool and lots of oil to card off the worst of the loose rust but that's as far as I'd go. I'd leave the firmly fixed black rust coating that remains as a nod to the history of the piece.

 

[Jim K]

Those guns usually have a loading gate and ejector rod - same idea as the Colt SAA. Disassembly is usually done by removing the screw at the bottom front of the frame, then unscrewing the whole barrel assembly from the base pin.

Jim