Gun Show Revolver

[Walkalong]

Almost bought this today. $149

Looked to be in good shape. I assumed it was a Spanish copy of an old S&W. Dunno for sure.

One side of the barrel says .32-20 CTG (And a flying Lion looking thing), other side says USE U.S. STANDARD AMMUNITION

On the frame where the barrel screws in is FN with a figure on both sides that look like the one on the barrel. Another one on the frame near the grips.

 

[bannockburn]

Walkalong

Very interesting find, mighty tempting especially in .32-20! The cylinder latch on the crane is kind of different. I did find one just like it on gunauction.com (Item # 9148696). It sold for $143.99 back in May of 2009. The seller believed it to be made by Garate Anitua and Company (G.A.C.).

 

[George P]

FN is Belgian. if that is the maker..........

 

[Monac]

FN is NOT the maker. FN has never made a revolver, although they sold some Astra revolvers under their name in the 1970's or 1980's.

This is a Spanish gun of the 1914-1936 period. This style started out as a copy of a Belgian Pieper type revolver, which is why the cylinder latch is on the cylinder crane. They were restyled to look more like a Colt or a Smith & Wesson when those proved much more popular. I don't think the French bought any of this semi-Pieper style, which is good, because it means it is actually made for .32-20, and not 8mm French Revolver.

Your gun has a sideplate. Although this means that previous owners may have opened the gun up and messed with the innards, it is a sign of better quality. In my (limited) experience, the worst swing-out cylinder Spanish revolvers are those without sideplates.

PS - We once had a very experienced gunsmith posting here named JimK. He has not posted in quite some time, though, and I am afraid he is no longer with us.

His contempt for these pre-1936 Spanish revolvers was total, and he would have advised you not to fire it at all.

Personally, I feel some of these guns were decent. at least, but I would not feel right without passing on JimK's warning, since he had vastly more experience than I.

 

[bannockburn]

Monac

FN has never made a revolver, although they sold some Astra revolvers under their name in the 1970's or 1980's.

I believe these are the revolvers FN marketed as the Barracuda (but were actually slightly restyled versions of the Astra Cadix), and offered them with an interchangable 9mm. cylinder.

 

[Monac]

Monac

I believe these are the revolvers FN marketed as the Barracuda (but were actually slightly restyled versions of the Astra Cadix), and offered them with an interchangable 9mm. cylinder.

The FN Barracudas were a heavier frame than the Cadix. They were a 6-shot .357 with, as you say, an interchangeable 9mm cylinder. The original may have been called simply the "Astra Police".

 

[bannockburn]

Monac

Thanks for the info. I always thought that Astra revolvers were a good buy for the money.

 

[Waveski]

At $149 I would have felt OK walking away. That is a lot to pay for a novelty with an odd cylinder release. About 2 years back I acquired a finish worn but very functional S&W m.15 for a bit under $200. It looked as good as your gun show item , better actually. An well worn unknown Spanish knock-off for 75% of that .....?

 

[Dave T]

No offense intended to the OP but I think you should have saved your money. $150 could be a down payment on a significantly better revolver.

Dave

 

[ArchAngelCD]

No offense intended to the OP but I think you should have saved your money. $150 could be a down payment on a significantly better revolver.

Dave

I'm fairly sure he said "almost bought" and it's obvious you don't know Walkalong has a "thing" for 32-20 revolvers.

 

[MedWheeler]

Dave T writes:

No offense intended to the OP but I think you should have saved your money. $150 could be a down payment on a significantly better revolver.

Not only does the OP ("Walkalong") have over 54,000 posts here, he's also a forum moderator. I think he knows his way around. (And, as mentioned, he did save his money just then.)

Like him, I also have a little something for the older, more-obscure knock-around guns out there. I think there's even something like what he posted about in one of my local "go-to" pawn shops. Gonna go check their site and see what it was..

EDIT: Just did, and it appears to be still there. I've not seen it in person. It's a GAC (Spanish) revolver in 32/20, with a 6.5-inch barrel. Appears from the pictures to be in decent condition, probably better than "fair". It's marked at $170.

This thread has piqued my interest some...

 

[MedWheeler]

Bannockburn writes:

Very interesting find, mighty tempting especially in .32-20! The cylinder latch on the crane is kind of different. I did find one just like it on gunauction.com (Item # 9148696). It sold for $143.99 back in May of 2009. The seller believed it to be made by Garate Anitua and Company (G.A.C.).

After my post directly above this one, I went back and saw yours. This appears to be exactly what I'm looking at.

 

[AlexanderA]

The cylinder latch on the crane is bizarre. Did they do it that way to avoid a patent infringement? (I can think of no other reason.)

 

[WestKentucky]

Not sure about patent infringement, but it’s easy to produce that latch. Mill in a T slot onthe crane, a shelf on the frame, and make a simple part goes between to latch them. A spring and a peened slot to capture the piece finish the production.

It works well enough. I have shot one similar to it in 32 long. Not a spectacular gun, but certainly not a bad design. Much simpler than the S&W system, and requires much less finishing than the oversized Colt type latch.

For $150 I doubt I could have walked away. I’m a sucker for weird, and that one combined cheap into the equation. It would have ate 32 long loads in 32-20 cases. Perhaps some trailboss too.

 

[Walkalong]

I’m a sucker for weird, and that one combined cheap into the equation

Yep, it was tempting, but I was concerned about shoot-ability (Yes, I would want to shoot it), and the chambers did not have a visible step in them like my Smiths do. Might have been the lint/dirt. Anyway, I didn't risk it, although it still looks cool. For $150 I couldn't go too badly wrong. Not like I haven't wasted $150 before in my life.

I asked the dealer if he had shot it, and the way he answered no sealed it for me. Still cool though.

But yes, with careful shopping a nice old Smith or Colt can be had for a little over double the asking price of this old revolver..

 

[WestKentucky]

But yes, with careful shopping a nice old Smith or Colt can be had for a little over double the asking price of this old revolver..

Unless you are interested AND don’t have the cash in your pocket to buy it on the spot.

 

[Walkalong]

About $375ish (IIRC) after ship/FFL fee. S&W 1905 .38 Spl. Shot it recently.


$375 plus ship/FFL. Colt Official Police .38-200.

 

[bannockburn]

Walkalong

Nothing against vintage S&Ws but I have always had a "thing" for the clean lines and symmetry of the Colt Official Police! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Walkalong]

And I have a thing for the .38 S&W/.38-200/.38 Colt New Police caliber.

 

[WestKentucky]

Y’all are looking at the wrong gun. That 38sw is ok, but it’s a colt. The cylinder release goes the wrong way for crying out loud not to mention the unholy direction of circulation. That 1905 is a beauty, especially with the long barrel.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

And I have a thing for the .38 S&W/.38-200/.38 Colt New Police caliber.

I have a thing for the 38 S&W too. Unfortunately I have only one revolver chambered for it right now. It's an Enfield No.2 but at least I get to load and shoot 38/200 ammo for it. My main round is a 170gr bullet with a very flat nose.

I would love to buy a nice old revolver that's chambered in 38 S&W that isn't too expensive. Any suggestions?

Here is that 170gr bullet and it's very accurate for me, well, as accurate as it can be in the Enfield and it's heavy trigger lol.

 

[WestKentucky]

I would love to buy a nice old revolver that's chambered in 38 S&W that isn't too expensive. Any suggestions?

Smith and Wesson “New Departure” 38 Safety Hammerless. Mine is from 1896.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Nice revolver.

I was thinking maybe a .38 Regulation Police or a Terrier but I'm thinking both will be costly.

I'm sure the Colts are out of the question so I won't even hope.

 

[WestKentucky]

Nice revolver.

I was thinking maybe a .38 Regulation Police or a Terrier but I'm thinking both will be costly.

I'm sure the Colts are out of the question so I won't even hope.

The colts are truthfully not that bad unless it has a fancy name. If it doesn’t say match, trooper, or some form of slithering vermin then there’s a fair chance they aren’t over priced. I have seen some go pretty reasonably, especially when sellers make it clear that the gun is 38sw and is not 38spl.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The colts are truthfully not that bad unless it has a fancy name. If it doesn’t say match, trooper, or some form of slithering vermin then there’s a fair chance they aren’t over priced. I have seen some go pretty reasonably, especially when sellers make it clear that the gun is 38sw and is not 38spl.

Good to know, thanks...

Do you see what you started Walkalong? lol