Husqvarna Revolver

[Bill B.]

Ran into a dealer with a very unique Husqvarna Revolver for sale. Appearance wise is looked a bit like a Webley and had loading gate that flipped out to allow access to the chambers. Per the dealer the cylinders would take 32 S&W longs but it may have been chambered for a European shell that is similar in size. Barrel appeared to be about 4" long and had a military look. Gun was in like new shape and I am guessing it was made pre World War II.

I can't find anything similar under Husqvarna or under Swedish Military guns. Anybody have a guess as to what this was and a ballpark fiqure of what it would be worth? If anyone does know I would also like to know how the 32 S&W long matches up to what it was chambered for. Thanks for any information you can furnish!

 

[GUNKWAZY]

I have a question for you.
Was that gun located in AZ ?
In a shop in AJ maybe ?
If not, sure is a coincidence.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[mete]

It's a Nagant copy of the Russian 7.62 Model 1895 revolver .I was made in Finlend and Sweden [Husqvarna] IIRC.

 

[Jim Watson]

Caliber is 7.5mm Swedish Nagant (not the gas seal variety) and was used from some time in the 1890s til Sweden went to the 1903 FN/Browning in 9mm Browning Long.

I don't know if .32 S&WL is safe to shoot and the real thing is not common or cheap.

 

[Bill B.]

GUNKWAZY

This revolver is in KY so its a long way from AZ. I had been trying to locate something that matched up in the Blue Book and was striking out.

Jim can you add any more to what one of these Husqvarna revolvers would be worth in at least 98% condition? The dealer that has this don't know a thing about it and I didn't know but little myself. I do know quailty though and this is a very nice well built revolver. Thanks for the info about the correct cal. also. If I wind up with it won't be shot anyway.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

That's funny Bill, my buddy out here in AZ calls me when he gets new stuff in.
He was baffled by this 1800's Husqvarna revolver he got in last week and contacted me to see if I knew anything about it. It was the first he had come across.
He said it was in great shape as well.
Very interesting, I just thought I'd ask.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[mete]

1887 Swedish-Nagant military revolver made by Husqvarna.Cases can be made from 32-20 cases but keep to light loads as it is a black powder gun. 32 short or long colt can be used but accuracy will be poor. Normal bullet dia is .325".

 

[Lone Star]

Although Russia is the best known user, the Nagant revolvers were designed in Belgium, and various models were used by several nations.

Lone Star

 

[Clemson]

The latest American Rifleman magazine has a Q&A on the Swedish Nagant revolver. My copy arrived late last week.

Clemson

 

[Bill B.]

I talked to a buddy today that says they have recently imported a bunch of these pistols and are selling them out surplus for a little over $100.00 each. I thought I had found a rare item. I guess one would make a nice conversation item. I was very impressed with the quality of the revolver I looked at. Husqvarna must have been a topnotch gun maker at the time they made this copy. The design may not have been the best but there wasn't a think wrong in the way they manufactured it!

 

[Jim K]

Husqvarna was a top notch gun maker - one of the world's best. They no longer make guns, having transferred their firearms factory to FFV (Försvarets Fabriksverk, the Swedish Defence Factories) in 1970. They made a few guns after that, notably in 1989, when, in conjunction with the 300th anniversary of the company, 15 of the “Anniversary Weapons” sporting rifles were the last arms to leave the factory.

There were a lot of those revolvers imported in the early 1960's so they are not rare. There was also a similar Swiss revolver, the Model 1882, imported in quantity at the same time, but those are now considered uncommon.

Both guns were part of the general trend toward smaller caliber military pistols that took place with the advent of more efficient black powder and later smokeless powder; the added velocity allowed equal lethality with smaller bullets. While Germany went directly from large bore revolvers to an autoloading pistol (the Luger, or Pistole 1908) and Britain kept its .455 for another 40 years, the U.S., Russia, and other countries adopted small caliber revolvers in the 1880's and 1890's.

Jim

 

[Moonclip]

Husqvarna for like $100? Are you sure these are not the Russian Nagant? if the Husqvarnas are being imported now for a low price, it is the first I've heard of it.