Old top break looking for info on the maker

[gearchecker]

This is hopefully going to be pretty easy.

I'm pulling this from another forum trying to help a member there identify the maker. It was his grandfathers and he's just curious.

All I'm looking for, is if somebody can identify the maker of this top break revolver.
It's in 38 S&W. That's about all I can tell you.
Hopefully the pattern on the grips or the thumb rest on the left side can help identify who or where it was made.

I know it's not a S&W, H&R or Iver Johnson.

Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Gregory

 

[LAGS]

@ Gearchecker.
I do a lot of these old top breaks, and I have never seen one like this.
But the rear of the triggerguard looks like the Forhand Wadsworth, who was later bought out by Hopkins Allen.
Do some research along those lines.
But the Hammer looks like the Belgian knock off pistols of the turn of the century made or imported as F&C or ELG

 

[gearchecker]

I originally thought it might be an Eibar, but the hammer is wrong. A couple of others mentioned Belgium knock-offs, an it makes sense. It looks to be a well made pistol. If any new info comes to light I'll pass it on.

~Gregory~

 

[Jim Watson]

The gadget on the left rear of the frame sure looks like a safety catch.

That along with the sight set rather back from the muzzle and the generic hard rubber grips say European to me.

Zhuk 598 looks like it right down to the safety, grip pattern, trigger guard and trigger shape as well as the set-back rib and sight. Unfortunately, he says "Maker unknown, Eibar."

 

[Ash]

The Spanish were kings of the S&W pattern break open copy. They loved adding cross-bolt safeties to them as well. If it were Belgian, it would have Liege proofs, and the Belgians, while they did make this pattern, did not make as many due to WWI. As far as hammer goes, I had an Orbea Hermanos 44 Special with that hammer, so it appears on Eibar revolvers.

 

[content]

I have only seen that trigger on an H&R, who copied them?

 

[Ron James]

Just based on the picture, I would say, from the Eibar region of Spain, era 1910-1930.

 

[trilateral1]

@ Gearchecker.
I do a lot of these old top breaks, and I have never seen one like this.
But the rear of the triggerguard looks like the Forhand Wadsworth, who was later bought out by Hopkins Allen.
Do some research along those lines.
But the Hammer looks like the Belgian knock off pistols of the turn of the century made or imported as F&C or ELG

Checker, I know this is an old post but are you still in this arena? When you say you have done a lot of old top breaks does that mean you work on them? Who is the current top dog on the H&R's here on THR? I have questions.

 

[MrBorland]

trilateral1 - yes, this is an old thread, so I'm going to close it. If you've got specific questions for a specific person, it'd be best to contact them via PM.