Information on Spanish pistol

[kdave21]

Can anyone provide me more information about this pistol? The slide says Triomphe Pistolet Automatique and then below it it says "Acier Comprime." THe only thing I have been able to determine...maybe... is that it is probably Spanish made and a copy of the Browning 1906. Maybe way that is way off dont know. Any idea of value? I have seen other guys state similar French type guns are worth maybe $100.

 

[Jim Watson]

The Triomphe was made by Apaolozo Hermanos of Zumorraga, Spain as a copy of the Browning. Acier Comprime means simply "Made of steel". I guess Sr Hermanos thought the French markings would fool people into thinking they were getting a better gun.

There is also a Triomphe Francais, made on the other side of the border.

 

[Jim K]

FWIW, those Spanish guns resemble the 1906 Browning or the 1908 Colt outwardly, but are not actually copies since they are different internally, having concealed hammers rather than the striker of the Colt/Browning gun, and a safety that blocks the trigger rather than the sear as the Browning-designed safety does. (The early FN pistol had no thumb safety at all, and the one later added differs from the one on the Colt.)

There were at least a hundred tradenames used on those pistols, and at least a couple of dozen companies making them. Most were made of inferior metal with poor workmanship; gunsmiths today won't even consider trying to repair them and few shops will take them on trade. If anyone offers $100 for such a gun, take it.

Also FWIW, Hermanos is Spanish for "Brothers." The name is Apaolozo.

Jim

 

[kdave21]

Thanks alot for the info guys, really appreciate it. What time period were these made in? Now that I know the manufacturer, I can't any sources stating when they were in business.

 

[Ron James]

These were small cottage type manufactures, there wouldn't be that much information. If you google Eibar pistols, Spanish Eibar pistols, Ruby pistols, there is a wealth of information on these type of firearms. Time period? well, these were made between the ending of WWI and 1936, why 1936?, Ha, gives you something else to research on what happened in 1936 in Spain. Don't want you getting lazy on us.