German 320 bulldog

[collectors]

Hello all, i am looking to try find a rough date of manufacture on this old revolver it is marked August Stukenbruk, any help appreciated

 

[Mike Irwin]

It has very similar lines to French and Belgian guns from the 1870s to the 1890s.

 

[collectors]

Thanks very much Mike i was expecting it to be from more into the 1900's.
This one is in good working order i have since cleaned it up a bit, after i took this photo, will post another few photos of it tomorrow, are they worth much?

 

[Tom Servo]

They were also marketed as "Velo Dogs," which was a portmanteau of "velocipede (bicycle)" and "dog." Neat little Rube Goldberg design.

You won't find .320 ammunition, but they can shoot the .32 Short Colt.

If you can find .32 Short Colt...

 

[collectors]

Thanks for that, i would not intend firing it, if it is so old, will let it go without main spring, would these have been used during ww1, as a back weapon, up or for commercial use?
Stukenbruk is stamped onto it but he seems to have been just a supplier.

 

[Mike Irwin]

They were Europe's version of the Saturday night special. Inexpensive, generally cheaply made. I really doubt if it is German. I suspect Belgian or french. Proofs on the barrel and cylinder face would tell for sure.

Could have been an individual weapon during the was but certainly not an issue gun.

 

[AyrtonSenna]

German 320 Bulldog drawings

Does anyone know where I might access these online? Have just obtained one and trigger return spring apparently broken. Need see drawings to know disassembly/assembly. Thanks much in advance.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Generally these all use the Chamelaux-Delvine (or something like that) lockwork. It was franco-belgian in design and was used extensively through the 1920s. Parts are generally catch as catch can. Probably be easier to have the spring made.

 

[AyrtonSenna]

Thanks, Mike

I plan to make the spring but need to know how it is shaped and how it relates to other parts of the gun. A sketch would do, but a nice print would be much better showing the parts exploded.

 

[Mike Irwin]

These were generally extremely cheap guns. You'll be lucky if you find anything at all.

 

[collectors]

Thanks for all information everyone, but it is German for sure as Stukenbruk is stamped onto it
Arytonsenna
I have some photos of the return spring it is just a v shape, i will work on more photos tomorrow, so you will have a clearer idea, of refitting etc. I can pass you on an email for a guy in France who has a return spring is yours a 380?

 

[RJay]

I also think it is Belgium and Stukenbruk in only the retailer ( very common practice for the era ), BTW That type of firearm was never called a Velo Dog, A velo Dog is a completely different type of gun. The gun shown is a Pocket personal defence gun.

 

[Mike Irwin]

In general terms yes that could be called a velo dog revolver. That term over time came to be used for many different types and models of small inexpensive European made revolver. I agree that the name stamped on it is provably just a retailer. I bet you find french or Belgian proof marks on it once you clean it up.

 

[collectors]

Thanks for that guys this is stamped on it, also it has just two dot punch marks on the hammer, the cylinder, and main frame
I know it is not very clear from that photo, will have to upgrade camera

 

[collectors]

This might be a better photo of this marking, and one of the name engraving any more oppinions about it appreciated

 

[AyrtonSenna]

Attn: Collectors

Mine is a 320. Just looking for a sketch or anything which shows how
this little gun goes together. Someone told me the trigger return spring
was broken since the trigger does not return unaided. However, now that
I have it apart, it may be just a misalignment of parts (the former owner
put it together wrongly??) since there was no broken piece inside.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Collectors,


Hum. That proof mark is the definitive proof for blackpowder used in Germany when this gun was made, so it's looking like it WAS made in Germany. Interesting. I didn't think that the C-D lock system, or that style gun, had that much traction in the Vaterland.

 

[collectors]

Mike cheers for a positive on id of manufacturing Country
I reckon this could be a rare little piece, most probably shipped here into Ireland during our war of independence

AyrtonSenna, this is the v spring and it's area, i hope this helps if not gives a shout back

 

[collectors]

I managed to get a spring for this, and it is now working perfect, at least on the dry fire

 

[Mike Irwin]

Do NOT dry fire it too much! As in, more than a few pulls of the trigger!

These old guns were notorious for breaking parts willy nilly if people dry fired them.