My Reichsrevolver...

Snow Dog · August 31, 2005, 12:55 PM

Hey guys!

This looks like the place to show off my antique M1879 Reichsrevolver. Its not something you see everyday! It is in 10.6mm Service Ordinance (aka .44 Russian). A lot of fun to shoot on occasion - heavy, awkward, poorly balanced, no case ejecting system and clouds of blackpowder smoke - I just love it!

fal308 · September 1, 2005, 09:15 AM

That looks like a fun gun to shoot!

James K · September 5, 2005, 10:54 AM

I have always wondered about the muzzle fillet on those guns. It could have been to reduce holster wear, protect the muzzle, or just for decoration. Or some other purpose. Anyone know for sure?

Jim

Wildalaska · September 5, 2005, 12:14 PM

I just saw one of those for sale and was intrigued.....you have a load for it?

WildplottinandscheminAlaska

Snow Dog · September 5, 2005, 04:01 PM

Hey Jim - as far as I know the cannon barrel type muzzle was done for strength. Even in the 1880's when the gun was made it was a throw back from another time and probably unnessary. Likely just kept out of habit more than anything else.

WA - I have made up a mild load of a 240 grain cast lead bullet over 16 grains of Goex FFFg in a Starline .44 Russian case. I have only shot the gun a couple of times, more for function and fun than anything. I haven't put the load through a cronograph or tried for accuracy but I'm thinking I'll stick with this load for now. I don't want to push the old girl with a higher pressure load - another guy on a different board has a similar gun and shoots a bit of 20 grains of FFFg. There is also nitro powder recipies for the .44 Russian available but I have been warned not to try them in the Reichsrevolver as the pressures are too much for it.

Later,

Snow Dog

**Mike Irwin** · September 5, 2005, 10:37 PM

Very similar to the .44 Russian in most regards, but not the same cartridge.

Some years ago when I was with NRA I used .44 Russian cases and a steel plate with an appropriately sized hole in it to form some 11mm Mauser revolver from .44 Russian.

deadin · September 6, 2005, 10:53 PM

Did you notice that the charge holes are numbered 1 thru 6 ?
Pity the poor soldier that didn't fire his cartridges in the proper order

(Only the German Army could be so anal)

Dean

**4V50 Gary** · September 6, 2005, 11:04 PM

Note the muzzle. It's like a field piece. Only the Germans would do that.

Snow Dog · September 7, 2005, 01:57 PM

As Deadin noted the chambers are numbered sequentially. Also, every part, including the screws and all internal components are serial numbered to the gun

brandx · September 13, 2005, 03:37 PM

Is that a safety lever on the left side?

deadin · September 13, 2005, 09:54 PM

Brandx...Sure is. Now we have to take back all those nasty thoughts about fiction writers that wrote "He pulled a revolver from his pocket and slipped off the safety"

DT Guy · September 14, 2005, 05:34 PM

No cartridge ejection system? So after six shots you throw it away?

Crafy Germans....sell lots of guns that way!

Larry

deadin · September 15, 2005, 07:45 AM

It probably had to be reloaded by a specialist. Besides then they could check that you had fired the cartridges in the proper order.

Actually I read somewhere that the thought process of the time was that it was a last ditch weapon and if six didn't do it, you probably wern't going to have time to reload anyway. (I wonder if the stick that was issued to push the empties out was numbered to the gun......)

Dean

August 31, 2005, 12:55 PM	#1
Snow Dog Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2005 Location: Too close to Toronto! Posts: 106	My Reichsrevolver... Hey guys! This looks like the place to show off my antique M1879 Reichsrevolver. Its not something you see everyday! It is in 10.6mm Service Ordinance (aka .44 Russian). A lot of fun to shoot on occasion - heavy, awkward, poorly balanced, no case ejecting system and clouds of blackpowder smoke - I just love it!

September 6, 2005, 11:04 PM	#8
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	Note the muzzle. It's like a field piece. Only the Germans would do that. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

September 14, 2005, 05:34 PM	#12
DT Guy Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2001 Posts: 958	No cartridge ejection system? So after six shots you throw it away? Crafy Germans....sell lots of guns that way! Larry __________________ He who fights and runs away had better run pretty damn fast. Government, Anarchy and Chaos

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September 1, 2005, 09:15 AM	#2
fal308 Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,992	That looks like a fun gun to shoot!

September 5, 2005, 10:54 AM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I have always wondered about the muzzle fillet on those guns. It could have been to reduce holster wear, protect the muzzle, or just for decoration. Or some other purpose. Anyone know for sure? Jim

September 5, 2005, 12:14 PM	#4
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	I just saw one of those for sale and was intrigued.....you have a load for it? WildplottinandscheminAlaska

September 5, 2005, 04:01 PM	#5
Snow Dog Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2005 Location: Too close to Toronto! Posts: 106	Hey Jim - as far as I know the cannon barrel type muzzle was done for strength. Even in the 1880's when the gun was made it was a throw back from another time and probably unnessary. Likely just kept out of habit more than anything else. WA - I have made up a mild load of a 240 grain cast lead bullet over 16 grains of Goex FFFg in a Starline .44 Russian case. I have only shot the gun a couple of times, more for function and fun than anything. I haven't put the load through a cronograph or tried for accuracy but I'm thinking I'll stick with this load for now. I don't want to push the old girl with a higher pressure load - another guy on a different board has a similar gun and shoots a bit of 20 grains of FFFg. There is also nitro powder recipies for the .44 Russian available but I have been warned not to try them in the Reichsrevolver as the pressures are too much for it. Later, Snow Dog

September 5, 2005, 10:37 PM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	Very similar to the .44 Russian in most regards, but not the same cartridge. Some years ago when I was with NRA I used .44 Russian cases and a steel plate with an appropriately sized hole in it to form some 11mm Mauser revolver from .44 Russian.

September 6, 2005, 10:53 PM	#7
deadin Junior member Join Date: September 6, 2005 Location: Ocean Shores, WA Posts: 1,052	Did you notice that the charge holes are numbered 1 thru 6 ? Pity the poor soldier that didn't fire his cartridges in the proper order (Only the German Army could be so anal) Dean

September 7, 2005, 01:57 PM	#9
Snow Dog Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2005 Location: Too close to Toronto! Posts: 106	As Deadin noted the chambers are numbered sequentially. Also, every part, including the screws and all internal components are serial numbered to the gun

September 13, 2005, 03:37 PM	#10
brandx Member Join Date: December 8, 2004 Posts: 41	Is that a safety lever on the left side?

September 13, 2005, 09:54 PM	#11
deadin Junior member Join Date: September 6, 2005 Location: Ocean Shores, WA Posts: 1,052	Brandx...Sure is. Now we have to take back all those nasty thoughts about fiction writers that wrote "He pulled a revolver from his pocket and slipped off the safety"

September 15, 2005, 07:45 AM	#13
deadin Junior member Join Date: September 6, 2005 Location: Ocean Shores, WA Posts: 1,052	It probably had to be reloaded by a specialist. Besides then they could check that you had fired the cartridges in the proper order. Actually I read somewhere that the thought process of the time was that it was a last ditch weapon and if six didn't do it, you probably wern't going to have time to reload anyway. (I wonder if the stick that was issued to push the empties out was numbered to the gun......) Dean