Crucelegui Hermanos (C.H.) .38 info/ value

[obteene]

Hey everyone. I've got a question for anyone that knows anything about revolvers and their quality. A gent in my area has offered me his CH .38 6 shot revolver for 100 buckaroos. It's basically a late 1800s/early 1900s Smith and Wesson spanish-made copy. Everything seems to be in working order w/ the revolver in pretty solid condition; only negative being a slightly loose action, which does not affect the shooting of revolver.

Anyone else carry/ ever carried this type of revolver, how does it shoot and handle and is it worth it's benjamin price tag?

THanks alot

 

[obteene]

bump. should i buy for $100?

 

[rcmodel]

No.

Not unless you like odd ball guns you can't get parts for, or fixed if it breaks.

The Spanish S&W copies range in quality & metallurgy all over the map.

But even the best of them are not as good as the worst S&W's of the same time period.

rc

 

[Jim K]

Most of those Spanish S&W copies were made of cheap cast iron, not even steel. I have seen a few that blew up with standard loads.

I strongly advise keeping your money; if the current owner feels it is safe to shoot, let him risk his fingers and eyes.

Jim

 

[rswartsell]

See here;

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=674200

another such inquiry, he got his for $50.00. Sorry, there is no free lunch nor $50-$100.00 Smith and Wessons.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Great gun at $50 bucks to start practice engraving (technique if not application due to the suspect metallurgy on some of these) or other 'smithing/custom skills, but, $100? Nah.

 

[obteene]

it is steel framed btw

 

[Old Fuff]

it is steel framed btw

Well sort of...

"Sort of" is the problem. If you get it, keep it as a collectable - not a shooter.

 

[rswartsell]

I think I can understand a reluctance to give up the concept that you found a screaming deal on a viable old S&W knockoff. However the more important priority would be for us to advise you that the revolver may not be safe to fire with even run of the mill .38 spl.

The quality control on the materials used was non-existant and as stated the majority of specimens like this would not pass modern muster for basic safety using SAAMI standards. The Spanish arms inustry at the time of the production of the Smith knockoffs usually seen was under regulated, under funded and next to impossible to pedigree now.

The risk involved in treating these weapons as you would American modern production is very high.

P.S. The fact that the revolver already exibits "slightly loose action" should by the prudent be seen as a big red flag.

P.P.S. Casual visual inspection is NOT a good way to determine the quality of the metallurgy, you can machine some cheaper steels to visually seem OK when in fact for repeated use they are not.

 

[obteene]

Bit the bullet and picked her up. Had it inspected by a gunsmith same day, we even went out back and test fired a couple rounds, fired like a dream; double action mechanism was smoother than a baby's behind. Looking forward to firing it more thoroughly following a nice clean later today.

Will let you guys know how everything goes then.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Yep - you just never know. I got the most crap-bag lookin' and sorry reputationed old Taurus a few months back. Cleaned, electroloisized, cleaned again and shot it.

Absolutely amazingly smooth and quite accurate to boot. Regardless of what I had heard about them, the insides were finished as well as many U.S. manufactured guns and better than some.

I had thought to hang onto it as a practice gun for engraving and such but now it'll be a shooter as well.

Now I wish I had taken better "before" pictures.

Show us yours when it's in hand.

 

[obteene]

^yea man. haters gonna hate.

And apparantly the revolver is an Orbea Bros model, not Crucel. Seems like they were the sturdiest and most reliable/ well made S&W copies of their time. Damn sure shoots that way.

 

[JShirley]

If by "haters gonna hate", you mean, are more experienced shooters going to try to give you good advice until they get tired of you treating them badly for giving you the feedback you asked for, yep. That'll happen.

John

 

[Dave T]

You asked for opinions, then dis-regarded most of them and bought the gun anyway. Then you insult them with...

^yea man. haters gonna hate.

Good luck with your "cheep" revolver, but you really shouldn't waste people's time asking for advice you are going to ignore.

Dave

 

[Jaymo]

I think he was referring to the Taurus post, and the rampant Taurus bashing that permeates the www.
I don't think he was referring to the advice given here.
I sure hope not, anyway.

 

[Jim K]

Taurus has its detractors, but modern Taurus guns are a 1000% better than those old Spanish revolvers. I agree that Orbea guns are better than average, but even so they are of poor quality compared to S&W revolvers of the period or to any modern revolvers.

Jim

 

[monet61]

JShirly; +1. Whatcha gonna do?

 

[Jim K]

Sometimes the state of denial gets plain silly. One fellow with an old Spanish revolver claimed to have been offered three thousand dollars for it by a collector. He never replied to suggestions that he take the money and run - fast. (I suspect someone was having fun with him and he couldn't admit it.)

Jim

 

[Swing]

No.

Not unless you like odd ball guns you can't get parts for, or fixed if it breaks.

The Spanish S&W copies range in quality & metallurgy all over the map.

But even the best of them are not as good as the worst S&W's of the same time period.

Gospel truth, right there. Can I get an amen?

 

[Hondo 60]

Amen, brother!

I don't understand why someone would come here to post & then ignore all the advice!
Why bother posting?

Sheesh!