Bascaran was one of some 40 companies that produced "Ruby" pistols or component parts for them. The term originated as a trademark of Gabilondo y Urresti, and referred to an inexpensive blowback semi-auto pistol of moderately good quality, in .32 ACP (7.65mm Browning Short).
In the WWI emergency, the French contracted with Gabilondo y Urresti to produce the pistol in quantity, up to 50,000 per month. The company was not up to the task and formed a consortium of four major companies and a number of smaller ones to help fill the contracts. Even though Gabilondo y Urresti was the prime contractor, each of the other companies marked its product with its own name. Parts interchangeability was not high on the priority list, so parts from one pistol will rarely fit another, even by the same company.
Due to the large number of makers, the pistols are often given the generic name "Ruby-type pistols" or "Eibar-type pistols" after the major Spanish arms-making city.
After the war, most of the makers faded away, but several companies, including Gabilondo y Urresti, continued (under other names) to make similar pistols until recent times.
Jim
