Unknown revolver, need help identifying

[DaemonAssassin]

There are no other markings other than the crown with C.F.G under it and 336. I ran calipers in the bow and it seems to be about .42 inches in diameter.

Asking for a friend.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

It looks like a Belgian Nagant design or some copy of one. Maybe a Spanish copy or some Afghan type copy. Viet Cong jungle copiers did more crude work.

 

[teratos]

It’s a Galand revolver. French. Don’t know the model.

 

[John from MD]

All the Galand revolvers I have every seen had the auto ejecting feature which included the trigger guard. This revolver in the picture has an ejection rod.

 

[teratos]

All the Galand revolvers I have every seen had the auto ejecting feature which included the trigger guard. This revolver in the picture has an ejection rod.

Hmmm.

 

[John from MD]

It looks similar to a MAS 1873. Maybe an earlier MAS?

I

 

[teratos]

Nice. 11mm FTW!!!

 

[Sundazes]

It looks like a henway

 

[jrumann59]

It’s a Galand revolver. French. Don’t know the model.

The barrel markings are C.F. Galand. Whats weird is the gate, all the Galands I find with gates are pull back. Also seems Galand is a style as well.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Definitely NOT a Galand .

The closest anything mainstream comes to that is the Officer version of Italian M1889 Bodeo , in 10.4 Italian Ordnance .

The .424 diameter is right . General configuration is right . The star wheel looking piece at front of frame , and the shape of the bolt notches are close .

BUT , the lever on the foreward right side of frame is all wrong , and the shape and construction of the backstrap is wrong . There was an external hammer block added in 1894 , changed to internal 1915 , and the 1894-1915 pistols retrofitted to internal .

Designed by a Committee . actually made by at least 5 Italian , and 2 Spanish mfg ( during WWl ) . But all of them would have had Italian Arsenal Markings .

Soooo ... Unless this is a one off prototype , it's probably a Spanish or Belgium knock off . for commercial/ export sales . Diving deeper into the proofmark could narrow down . Don't have that at hand , but I could probably check next weekend .

 

[308Scout]

It looks like a henway

looks like less than 4-6 pounds to my amateur eye.

 

[DaemonAssassin]

Definitely NOT a Galand .

The closest anything mainstream comes to that is the Officer version of Italian M1889 Bodeo , in 10.4 Italian Ordnance .

The .424 diameter is right . General configuration is right . The star wheel looking piece at front of frame , and the shape of the bolt notches are close .

BUT , the lever on the foreward right side of frame is all wrong , and the shape and construction of the backstrap is wrong . There was an external hammer block added in 1894 , changed to internal 1915 , and the 1894-1915 pistols retrofitted to internal .

Designed by a Committee . actually made by at least 5 Italian , and 2 Spanish mfg ( during WWl ) . But all of them would have had Italian Arsenal Markings .

Soooo ... Unless this is a one off prototype , it's probably a Spanish or Belgium knock off . for commercial/ export sales . Diving deeper into the proofmark could narrow down . Don't have that at hand , but I could probably check next weekend .

I did a quick search on the proof mark before I posted, but couldn't find anything that looked like this revolver.

Any info would be appreciated.

Also take a look at the bottom front of the grip, it's almost like a removable panel of some sort.

 

[Bullfrog]

I did a quick search on the proof mark before I posted, but couldn't find anything that looked like this revolver.

Any info would be appreciated.

Also take a look at the bottom front of the grip, it's almost like a removable panel of some sort.

That pin and notch make it appear that the long piece is intended to rotate or slide.

Is that pin spring loaded? Maybe you push it down to slide the panel down or rotate it?

 

[Biggfoot44]

Hence the likelihood of being a Spanish/ Belgian knockoff , rather than actual Mil Issue from that era .

No mainstream major mfg revolver of that era had that exact combination of features . But it does most resemble the Bodeo , and the bore size is right .

 

[dieselfarmboy]

Going with knockoff also. Find some that are close but then they have more proof marks and writing on them.

 

[mawkie]

That pin and notch make it appear that the long piece is intended to rotate or slide.

Is that pin spring loaded? Maybe you push it down to slide the panel down or rotate it?

View attachment 375913

That's a take-down lever. It secures the hinged side plate. Very much like a Swiss 1882 revolver. Rotate that catch to the right and now the side plate is free to swing away from the frame. Very clever.
I did a bit of an OCD deep dive online and so far this one is eluding me too. Looking at the quality of the construction I'm leaning hard towards a Belgian builder but who knows at this point. Can't see if it ever had a lanyard ring but can't imagine it being military issue of this era and not have one. That would make me think commercial.

 

[welder516]

I hear you can get 100 round mags. for them and turn them into fully auto.


but i am no expert

 

[DaemonAssassin]

That's a take-down lever. It secures the hinged side plate. Very much like a Swiss 1882 revolver. Rotate that catch to the right and now the side plate is free to swing away from the frame. Very clever.
I did a bit of an OCD deep dive online and so far this one is eluding me too. Looking at the quality of the construction I'm leaning hard towards a Belgian builder but who knows at this point. Can't see if it ever had a lanyard ring but can't imagine it being military issue of this era and not have one. That would make me think commercial.

It does have a hole in the bottom of the grip for a lanyard ring.

 

[govwontletmebuycoolguns]

Galand 1872

http://littlegun.be/arme belge/artisans identifies g/a galand de guerre gb.htm

 

[mawkie]

Good job finding that info. And obviously a great find of what appears to be a failed attempt to get this example adopted for military use. So sold into the civilian market in what have to be tiny numbers. Love the design.