Info request: Mre' d' Armes St' Etienne 6 shot revolver

[hacook]

I was given this Mre. d' Armes St. Etienne 6 shot revolver revolver. M'le 1892 and S1893 are stamped on the barrel. It also has a (circle)P and a (circle) L stamped on the barrel. Serial # starts with F. Can't figure out what round it shoots or any info. I figured you guys have the most info. Thank you in advance for any information. This gun looks very old.

 

[MrBorland]

My guess is it's an 8 mm Lebel. See link below. Some good info there on this very gun.

http://www.littlegun.be/arme francaise/saint etienne/a saint etienne revolver 1892 gb.htm

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=680038#enlarge

 

[hacook]

what is it worth?

Any idea what these guns are worth?

 

[gearchecker]

Take it to your local well qualified gunsmith and have them give it a serious once over before attempting to put any ammo down the barrel.
You need to always remember that the older firearms were designed around the old style powders and todays powders burn faster and are more efficient in their combustion. If you are not very careful you could possibly get seriously injured by firing hot loads thru it by accident.

It is a beautiful looking gun.

If your smith says it's safe to shoot, get some ammo and have a few cylinders of fun with it and then put it away for the future generations. It will certainly be a very nice conversation piece.

If I owned it, I would have it professionally cleaned and lubricated and make a safe queen out of it.

It's probably worth little more than $150 or so, as a guess.
But I may be very wrong too.
Most of the really old european handguns lacked the refinement of the american revolvers of the same eras.

 

[gyvel]

The two links provided are correct for your gun.

You have a Model 1892 French Ordnance revolver, cal. 8mm. Your particular example was made in 1893, making it a bona fide antique as far as ATF is concerned.

It was not THE first revolver to have a swing out cylinder, but it was one of the first.

 

[gearchecker]

It's truly a beauty. Don't let go of it.
I've got a really nice heated safe where I could store it for you. (LOL)
Enjoy your little piece of history

 

[Mike Irwin]

the 8mm Lebel revolver cartridge is another French cartridge that was unique to them, just like their 11 mm French Ordnance Revolver round from 1873, and their .32 Longue round that was fired in the MAS 1935 semi-auto.

None of those rounds is very powerful or was ever used much outside of France.

I've seen reports over the years that you can make generally suitable cases using .32-20 cases.

 

[Jim Watson]

Fiocchi even makes fresh factory loads for it.
http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Bro...&categoryId=18804&categoryString=653***691***

Jan Stevenson once said it was as good a revolver design as any, better than some, and a heavy barrel, better grips, and heat treated cylinder for more powerful ammo would make it as modern as any.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Oh hell, I thought Fiocchi stopped making 8mm Lebel revolver back in the 1990s.

 

[James K]

That revolver was designed for smokeless powder. Fiocchi was making ammo for it, I don't know if they still do. Cases can be made from .32-20 (.32-20 factory ammo is too long for the cylinder) and .32 S&W Long can be safely fired in it with fair accuracy, but the cases will bulge.

The gun looks funny, but they are hell for sturdy, making a Colt, Ruger, or S&W DA look delicate. I have no hesitation in shooting mine, but that "wrong way" swing cylinder drives me nuts.

Jim

 

[gazel]

different stamps on the barrel and serial letter

I was searching for some info on mine and ran across your thread; mine has different stamps; on the barrel S1898, (circled)J and (circled)B ,plus, serial # starts with G. From looking at others on the i-net I think 1898 may be the year; any info on how to decipher this info would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[James K]

The 1898 is the year of manufacture. The G is the serial number prefix. AFAIK, they went 1-99999, A1 to A99999, and so on. I assume the other letters are various factory inspectors.

Jim

 

[aarondhgraham]

Here is a link to custom reloaded ammo for the 8mm Lebel.

gadcustomcartridges.com

Scroll down to the list of "obsolete Pistol Ammo"

The price really isn't that bad,,,
I have shot the ammo and it's decent.

Here is a link to the Wikipedia page.

Fiocchi does make ammo for it,,,
But according to a post from another forum,,,
They only make one run of it every several years or so.

I have 50 rounds of the Fiocchi that I'm saving for the display box,,,
I bought 100 rounds of the reloaded stuff to shoot,,,
Once a year I take her (Margeaux) dancing,,,
She's a surprisingly accurate revolver.

I have seen two at gunshows in recent years,,,
One seller was asking $225.00 and another wanted $325.00.

I really don't know if those prices were reasonable but I'm sorry I didn't buy one,,,
What a nice pair they would have made in a nice wooden dueling pistol box.

Hope this helps.

Aarond

P.S. Just ordered 200 rounds of Fiocchi from Midway,,,
Thanks for the link MrBorland.

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