Rossi .32C Double Barrel Garrucha

[CA-CO]

Hey Guys!

I am new here to THR, have always been a gun enthusiast but now am looking to become more involved and begin a collection. This is currently the only firearm I own (more of an antique!) but I was just seeing if any of you could give me some more information on it. I am trying to figure out it's age, worth etc.

The only markings that I can see on the gun are a inscription on the top of the barrel "Rossi Cal .32C", a serial number under the handle and some decorative engravings along the backside of the handle.

Thanks guys!

 

[CA-CO]

Anyone have any insight on this? Thanks, and happy thanksgiving to all!

 

[StrawHat]

Since the barrel pivot up, I am guessing you will find proof marks and such on the underside of the barrels where they lay against the action. I would also guess you will find Spanish proof marks and these may help you determine the age.

 

[cane]

I had one of these in .22 LR, the trigger guard was too small to get my fingers into. They were made in Brazin during the '70s I believe.

 

[CA-CO]

Hey guys I found this wiki about the model http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrucha_(pistol)) the only other inscription I can find below the barrel is "84" so I'm assuming it is from 1884?

Thanks!

 

[CA-CO]

Actually that can't be right because Rossi did not start unitl 1889?

 

[Stophel]

Perhaps .32 Centerfire??? (.32 S&W Long???) Could be 20's-30's? The Wiki says up till the 60's.

Looks kinda scary...

 

[CA-CO]

Ya who knows! I will take it into an antique gun store soon and try and get some more details on it

 

[madmike]

I have Garruchas in .22 and .32. .22 from Rossi, .32 is unmarked, poorly made and a bit scary. They're intended to be cheap guns for peasants. Not worth a tremendous amount. The .22 Rossis sell anywhere from $100 to $250, and I'd like to find more people paying $250. The .32 lists caliber as ".320" and I expect a .32 Short Colt will fit it, though I haven't tried shooting it yet. I haven't found a long enough string.

My .22 is numbered 849 under the barrels and on the monobloc, so I'm assuming that's a serial number.

From another forum:

The .320 Garrucha (Derringer) cartridge has been made for some time in Brazil. I don't have exact dates, but the last CBC Catalog I have that mentions it, while undated, has a passage in the Introduction that refers to exportations "exported up to 1979," so the catalog is no earlier than that year. I will try later to have my friend post pictures of the .320 and .380 Garrucha rounds, from the catalog.

Regarding Rossi-headstamped rounds, an answer in the Questions and Answers column of the "American Rifleman" magazine, issue of November 1980, pages 60 and 61, claims that the .320 Garrucha casrtridge "is specifically made for this gun by Rossi, and used a 99-1 lead-antimony bullet, a small charge of black-powder, and a Berdan primer." A photo caption of a picture showing some cartridges scattered around a Rossi box says the the .320 is the only cartridge made by the Rossi factory. The article also shows what is purported to be a Rossi factory drawing of the cartridge. I have heard in the past from good Brazilian sources that CBC made the cartridges for Rossi, so this information from the NRA must be accepted with reservations, unless someone has precise information that confirms or repudiates it.

The following info is from Brandt's Manual of pistol and revolver cartridges:
Bullet dia: .0298 - .0300
Case neck dia: .299
head: .317
rim: .368
case material: brass nickled
primer: boxer
Cartridge length: .980 - 1.004
Headstamp: - CBC - -320- & - CBC - 320

The brazilian manufacturer "Companhia Brasileria de Cartuchos" is also producing the 2 pistol calibres .320 and .380 Garrucha. The rimmed cartridges were made for double barreled derringer pistols.

http://www.iaaforum.org/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=863

So it looks like a .32 Short Colt is too big to fit. You'd have to custom load or get ammo from Brazil.