barman
Member
Hi folks, let me introduce you to my new sweetie (purchase of the day):
Lots of you have probably identified this gun already. This is indeed a 1873 Chamelot Delvigne revolver, the first ordnance revolver of the French army. Mine was apparently built in 1881, and is in darn exceptional condition for its age (only a very minor play at the cylinder of around >1 mm). It works great in both single and double action, and shoots a 11mm cartridge loaded with either black or smokeless powder.
Built in the Saint Etienne factory and issued to non-comissioned officers, this model began its career in the French colonial campaigns (China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Senegal), then was used extensively and with success during WW1 along its successor the model 1892. More surprisingly, this revolver was still employed in the infamous French defeat of 1940 after which it was commonly adopted by resistants who would alter the chambers of its cylinder in order to be able to shoot 45. acp cartridges.
(Brits and Americans would parachute those rounds to the resistance)
I got it for a few hundred euros with a box of manufactured ammo. I'm really happy about this purchase. Nothing feels better than holding a piece of History in your hands.
If you folks have any Chamelot Delvigne revolver in your collection, please post some pictures, I would love to admire them.
A Trench-cleaner armed with an 1873, a butcher's knife and a gas-mask.
Lots of you have probably identified this gun already. This is indeed a 1873 Chamelot Delvigne revolver, the first ordnance revolver of the French army. Mine was apparently built in 1881, and is in darn exceptional condition for its age (only a very minor play at the cylinder of around >1 mm). It works great in both single and double action, and shoots a 11mm cartridge loaded with either black or smokeless powder.
Built in the Saint Etienne factory and issued to non-comissioned officers, this model began its career in the French colonial campaigns (China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Senegal), then was used extensively and with success during WW1 along its successor the model 1892. More surprisingly, this revolver was still employed in the infamous French defeat of 1940 after which it was commonly adopted by resistants who would alter the chambers of its cylinder in order to be able to shoot 45. acp cartridges.
(Brits and Americans would parachute those rounds to the resistance)
I got it for a few hundred euros with a box of manufactured ammo. I'm really happy about this purchase. Nothing feels better than holding a piece of History in your hands.
If you folks have any Chamelot Delvigne revolver in your collection, please post some pictures, I would love to admire them.
A Trench-cleaner armed with an 1873, a butcher's knife and a gas-mask.
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