What kkind of gun do I have???

[rkhljeans]

Recently my mother and I were discussing her family and the heirs in it and thats when this gun came into the conversation. She wants to leave it to one of my brothers and then wants to give a comparable inheiratance to the other brother. We have no idea how old it is but we know it belonged to my great grand father. Any information would be great and an idea of value would suit her even more. I believe it to be a 44 special. It has no model number on it anywhere that I can tell. The handle seems to be made of white mother of pearl and has a "longhorn" engraved in it and ruby eyes. It is a six shooter. On the side of the barrell it appears to say for 44 special and U.S. Service ctg. On the top of the barrell, it says what appears to be Fa. de Trocaola Aranzabal y Cia. Eibar Espana. It does say "made in Spain" just above the grips and also has a CIA symbol on it just under Made in Spain.

kjj

 

[jbauch357]

pictures would help greatly...

 

[BPR]

Here's a little info on the maker poorly translated:

Trocaola, Aranzabal y Compañía

In 1883 brothers Hilario and Jose Antonio Aranzabal founded in Eibar Spain a workshop where they specialized in copies of Russian revolvers which were legal in Spain from 1884 up to 1906.

At the same time, Venancio Trocaola, also in Eibar, manufactured shotguns of the Lefaucheux system.

In 1914, with the beginning of the First World War, the two factories were combined by forming Trocaola, Aranzabal, y Compañía with an aim of equipping the French Army with revolvers copied from the Smith & Wesson army and police Cal. 38.

At the end of the war, they continued in operation being devoted almost exclusively to the manufacture of hunting weapons.

In 1936 they equipped the army of the Spanish Republic, but in 1937, the town of Eibar fell into the hands of troops loyal to Franco and the factories were destroyed.

 

[Jim Watson]

Pictures, please.

Is it a top break or hand ejector (swing-out cylinder)?

Trocaola was one of the better Spanish makers and one of their nicest products was a copy of the famous S&W New Century "Triple Lock" .44 Special. Of course .44 Special is not really a U.S. Service cartridge but that was a common Spanish advertising ploy. Discusson at: http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/540103904/m/1361045733

 

[rcmodel]

for 44 special and U.S. Service ctg.

This seems unlikely, as the .44 Special was never a U.S. service cartridge.

However, it's hard to say what might be stamped on a poor Spanish copy of an American gun.

As for placing a value on it, without more info on the type of action, method of loading, or even better, a picture, it will be impossible to even guess.

I would say however, that no Spanish Eibar S&W copy has any real value, either as a collectors item, or as a shooter.
The mother of pearl longhorn carved grips might be worth more then the gun itself.

rcmodel

 

[Jim K]

Even without seeing pictures, I think it is safe to say the gun is of no great value. A generous value would be in the $100-150 range and that is if it is fully functional and in good condition.

Jim