what is this for a gun
- Thread starter tommie
- Start date
It's a pinfire revolver, probably French or possibly made in Belgium, and likely made sometime between the early 1870's through the middle or later 1890's.
Pinfire cartridges had a pin in each cartridge at the back, sticking up. The hammer it the pin, which in turn hit a primer. Looks to be missing the trigger guard and I think the grips are either replacements or refinished. Worth about what you paid for it. Hang it on the wall or keep it as a conversation piece.
Pinfire cartridges had a pin in each cartridge at the back, sticking up. The hammer it the pin, which in turn hit a primer. Looks to be missing the trigger guard and I think the grips are either replacements or refinished. Worth about what you paid for it. Hang it on the wall or keep it as a conversation piece.
tommie - Welcome to TFL! Hope you enjoy it here as much as we do.
Trust me, 16 minutes isn't enough time to receive a response. Generally you have to wait a while, sometimes days, before you get an answer - it's just the nature of an online board. At any one time, only a small percentage of the members are signed on. Fortunately Old Fuff had a good answer for you in short order.
The markings are probably "proof marks". They will narrow the field down to the country in most instances, but necessarily to the manufacturer. In this case, I think your gun was proofed in Spain.
Trust me, 16 minutes isn't enough time to receive a response. Generally you have to wait a while, sometimes days, before you get an answer - it's just the nature of an online board. At any one time, only a small percentage of the members are signed on. Fortunately Old Fuff had a good answer for you in short order.
The markings are probably "proof marks". They will narrow the field down to the country in most instances, but necessarily to the manufacturer. In this case, I think your gun was proofed in Spain.
Tommie,
I know you’d like some fast answers, and I’ll do the best I can. Pinfire revolvers (as well as shotguns and other arms) were primarily European in origin. They were used in the United States, but most of them were imported. The single largest maker of pinfire revolvers was a company in Paris, France named “Lefaucheux.” Many of this company’s products were marked: E. Lefaucheux INvr Brevete.”
The trouble is, many, many other companies - sometimes nothing more then a family of gunsmiths working out of a small shop, made copies of the Lefaucheux and didn’t mark them with any particular name. These small companies or family gunsmiths were for the most part located in France, Belgium, England, and Spain.
Your gun was proofed (tested) in the country in which it was made, and then marked by the government of that country. Those are the marks you mentioned in your first post. They can be identified through special reference books but I don’t have one handy. You can make a copy of those marks by putting a thin piece of paper over them and then rubbing it with a soft pencil. Then you might be able to find someone at a local gun shop that had a “proofmarks book.”
I know this isn’t everything you want to know, but it’s the best I can do on short notice. If I find out more I will send another post, but other then the picture (which is very good) I don’t have much too work with.
I know you’d like some fast answers, and I’ll do the best I can. Pinfire revolvers (as well as shotguns and other arms) were primarily European in origin. They were used in the United States, but most of them were imported. The single largest maker of pinfire revolvers was a company in Paris, France named “Lefaucheux.” Many of this company’s products were marked: E. Lefaucheux INvr Brevete.”
The trouble is, many, many other companies - sometimes nothing more then a family of gunsmiths working out of a small shop, made copies of the Lefaucheux and didn’t mark them with any particular name. These small companies or family gunsmiths were for the most part located in France, Belgium, England, and Spain.
Your gun was proofed (tested) in the country in which it was made, and then marked by the government of that country. Those are the marks you mentioned in your first post. They can be identified through special reference books but I don’t have one handy. You can make a copy of those marks by putting a thin piece of paper over them and then rubbing it with a soft pencil. Then you might be able to find someone at a local gun shop that had a “proofmarks book.”
I know this isn’t everything you want to know, but it’s the best I can do on short notice. If I find out more I will send another post, but other then the picture (which is very good) I don’t have much too work with.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Come on, Tommie, it's Sunday! Some of us do watch football! That's American football, I just noticed you're from the Netherlands. 
I'd bet hard money that that is a Belgian-made gun.
Given the styling, I'd say 1870-1880.
Caliber could be anywhere from 9mm to 12mm. There were a few 15mm pinfire handguns made, but they were NOT common.
7mm and 8mm pinfires were also known, but aren't seen as often. I think the ammo was kind of hard to make.
I'd bet hard money that that is a Belgian-made gun.
Given the styling, I'd say 1870-1880.
Caliber could be anywhere from 9mm to 12mm. There were a few 15mm pinfire handguns made, but they were NOT common.
7mm and 8mm pinfires were also known, but aren't seen as often. I think the ammo was kind of hard to make.
first of all, thanks for all your reactions.
i'am sorry that i was so obrustive for reactions.
TFL is a great forum, the only problem is that I live in the netherlands and my english is not that great.
i'm going to the public library to look up the signs that were on the drum
greets Tom
i'am sorry that i was so obrustive for reactions.
TFL is a great forum, the only problem is that I live in the netherlands and my english is not that great.
i'm going to the public library to look up the signs that were on the drum
greets Tom
Kentucky Rifle
New member
Hey Tommie!~
A LOT of times our own english is not so good either--and we were BORN here!
Welcome, we're glad to have you here.
KR
A LOT of times our own english is not so good either--and we were BORN here!
Welcome, we're glad to have you here. KR
and my english is not that great.
Your English is a damn site better than my Netherland is.
Besides, most of us don't speak English anyway--we speak Ameican, which is similar, but not the same.
BYW it's (the gun) an old pinfire all right, and it looks to be in pretty good shape. How is the bore and the cylinders?
Your English is a damn site better than my Netherland is.
Besides, most of us don't speak English anyway--we speak Ameican, which is similar, but not the same.
BYW it's (the gun) an old pinfire all right, and it looks to be in pretty good shape. How is the bore and the cylinders?
the cilinder is in pretty good state, except that the device that makes the drum go to the next bullet when you cock the weapon is all worn out. al so the device for getting the slug out off the drum is gone. this is my first antique gun, so i'am planning to buy a old derringer. the only problem is that i'am only 17 years, and my budget is not that big!
Marko Kloos
Inactive
Jouw Engels is heel goed, beter dan mijn Nederlands.
i think this is a typical example of www.worldlingo.com, if not: are you really from the netherlands?
I looked at a LOT of pinfires today and this one comes as close as any to what you have here.
http://www.adamsguns.com/822.jpg
I think they wanted $350 for it.
http://www.adamsguns.com/822.jpg
I think they wanted $350 for it.
Marko Kloos
Inactive
Ik kom uit Duitsland, maar ik heb een betje Nederlands geleert op school.
The translation web sites are handy, but their grammar is usually off. I'd rather make my own mistakes.
Johnny Guest
Moderator in Memoriam
Hi, tommie - - -
Looks as if redhawk44 has found the exact item for you--Either yours is an Adams or a line-for-line copy of one--A not-uncommon practice between different countries, before effective international recognition of patents and designs, well into the 1900s. The illustration shown in redhawk44's link is of a revolver in very nice condition and complete.
Yours is less so--Missing trigger guard and ejector assembly, broken or cut-off hammer spur, and replaced stocks. All of us, everyone who has collected any kind of firearms, started somewhere, usually with less-than-beautiful specimens. Frankly, it probably would not be worthwhile to restore your piece, unless you could come up with another old example to strip for parts.
Your piece would probably make a good display piece, perhaps in a frame or shadow box on the wall.
Best of luck - - -
Johnny
Looks as if redhawk44 has found the exact item for you--Either yours is an Adams or a line-for-line copy of one--A not-uncommon practice between different countries, before effective international recognition of patents and designs, well into the 1900s. The illustration shown in redhawk44's link is of a revolver in very nice condition and complete.
Yours is less so--Missing trigger guard and ejector assembly, broken or cut-off hammer spur, and replaced stocks. All of us, everyone who has collected any kind of firearms, started somewhere, usually with less-than-beautiful specimens. Frankly, it probably would not be worthwhile to restore your piece, unless you could come up with another old example to strip for parts.
Your piece would probably make a good display piece, perhaps in a frame or shadow box on the wall.
Best of luck - - -
Johnny
UltimaThule
New member
Welkom!
Ik spreken niet Nederlands, mijn Noors is doch voortreffelijk!
There are indeed some Europeans here.
We try our best to add a touch of class to the place.
Ik spreken niet Nederlands, mijn Noors is doch voortreffelijk!
There are indeed some Europeans here.
We try our best to add a touch of class to the place.