Does anyone know what this old Revolver is?

deerslayer303 · December 18, 2014, 10:13 AM

It has 1892 stamped on the barrel.

deerslayer303 · December 18, 2014, 10:14 AM

deerslayer303 · December 18, 2014, 10:15 AM

Jim Watson · December 18, 2014, 11:07 AM

It is as marked, a Modele 1892 service revolver made in St Etienne, France for the French military from 1892 til 1935. Often miscalled the Lebel revolver.

Calibre is 8mm 1892, which can be a challenge to buy or load.
Fiocchi lists it but Buffalo Arms is out.

Design and build quality are very good. Jan Stevenson wrote that all that would be required was a filler grip, a bull barrel, and heat treated cylinder to shoot serious ammunition, and it would be as modern as any revolver.

deerslayer303 · December 18, 2014, 11:09 AM

Ok thanks Jim, I've never seen one before

Jim Watson · December 18, 2014, 11:11 AM

They used to be pretty common, along with the 1935 French autos, and not very expensive because of their proprietary ammo.
I guess most are on the back shelves of gun cases these days, without much to do.

aarondhgraham · December 18, 2014, 11:25 AM

I recently bought 550 rounds of new stuff.

Fiocchi only makes a run of this every few years,,,
I snail-mailed their office in Missouri,,,
They sent me a list of dealers.

Then I just hit the websites and bought until I had enough.

Margaux is as accurate as any of my other revolvers,,,
And it's pure fun to shoot this old gal.

Here is some load data you might find useful,,,

Also Gads Custom Cartridges will reload powder-puff rounds for not too much money.

Aarond

.

g.willikers · December 18, 2014, 11:27 AM

"Does anyone know what this old revolver is?"
That's a better answer than what I had in mind.
Mine was "Ugly."

deerslayer303 · December 18, 2014, 11:30 AM

Lol

James K · December 18, 2014, 06:57 PM

Ugly, but as Jim Watson says, a darned good revolver, though the cartridge is underpowered. It is unusual in that the cylinder swings to the right for reloading, not the left, but the drill for a right-handed shooter was to transfer the gun to the left hand, then get fresh ammunition and reload with the right hand.

Jim

Gaucho Gringo · December 18, 2014, 08:30 PM

Almost has Nagant look to it.

noelf2 · December 19, 2014, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Almost has Nagant look to it.

Yes, has many similarities. Was designed in the same part of the world (Nagant was Belgian I think), and at about the same time.

James K · December 19, 2014, 01:34 PM

Around 1888-1895, most nations recognized that with the greater efficiency of smokeless powder, they could get the required lethality from smaller caliber bullets. That resulted in the various 6.5-8mm rifles and also in the reduction of handgun calibers from the older 10-12mm to 7-9mm. The Swedes and Swiss adopted 7.5 mm revolvers, the Russians a 7.62mm, the French an 8mm, and the Americans a .38 caliber. The Germans later adopted a 9mm auto pistol. Only the British held onto their large bore .455 for almost a half century, and the Americans returned to .45 caliber for about the same length of time.

Jim

bedbugbilly · December 20, 2014, 09:09 AM

Hey . . . I don't think it's ugly . . it's kind of cute - certainly different!

I'm not familiar with the cartridge so am just curious - is there any cartridge brass that could be "converted" - re-formed for these revolvers?

I know it's not the profile of a Colt or a Smith but I'd be happy to find one of those to display just because it is "different". Did you purchase it deerslayer?

deerslayer303 · December 20, 2014, 09:30 AM

Billy, I think folks use 32-20 WCF for reloading for it. And no sir I didn't buy it.

Model12Win · December 20, 2014, 01:31 PM

That is a Mosin Nagant revolver... I believe shoots a .32 Russian round with a deep seated bullet. My uncle has one and it had a very heavy trigger.

James K · December 20, 2014, 01:45 PM

No, it is not a Russian Nagant; it is just what Jim Watson says it is in post #4.

Jim

**Mike Irwin** · December 20, 2014, 02:36 PM

Not even close to being a Nagant revolver.

December 18, 2014, 10:13 AM	#1
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,654	Does anyone know what this old Revolver is? It has 1892 stamped on the barrel.

December 18, 2014, 11:25 AM	#7
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Fiocchi makes new ammo for it,,, I recently bought 550 rounds of new stuff. Fiocchi only makes a run of this every few years,,, I snail-mailed their office in Missouri,,, They sent me a list of dealers. Then I just hit the websites and bought until I had enough. Margaux is as accurate as any of my other revolvers,,, And it's pure fun to shoot this old gal. Here is some load data you might find useful,,, Also Gads Custom Cartridges will reload powder-puff rounds for not too much money. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

December 18, 2014, 11:27 AM	#8
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	"Does anyone know what this old revolver is?" That's a better answer than what I had in mind. Mine was "Ugly." __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

December 18, 2014, 08:30 PM	#11
Gaucho Gringo Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 366	Almost has Nagant look to it. __________________ 357 Taurus Gaucho, 22 Heritage RR, 2-Pietta 1858 44 NMA Remingtons, Pietta, Euroarms & ASM 36 1851 Navies, 31 Uberti 1849, 12 ga H&R Topper, 16 Ga Western Field, 43 Spanish Remington Rolling Block, 44 ASM Colt Walker, High Point C9 9mm, Winchester 1906 22, Rossi 62 22 rifle, Uberti 1860, H&A & IJ 32 S&W BreakTop, 36 Euroarms 1858, 32 H&R 04, 22mag NAA SS BP revolver, .44 Rodgers & Spencer, IJ 38 S&W BreakTop, IJ 22 Sealed 8

December 20, 2014, 09:09 AM	#14
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	Hey . . . I don't think it's ugly . . it's kind of cute - certainly different! I'm not familiar with the cartridge so am just curious - is there any cartridge brass that could be "converted" - re-formed for these revolvers? I know it's not the profile of a Colt or a Smith but I'd be happy to find one of those to display just because it is "different". Did you purchase it deerslayer? __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

December 18, 2014, 10:14 AM	#2
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,654

December 18, 2014, 10:15 AM	#3
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,654

December 18, 2014, 11:07 AM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	It is as marked, a Modele 1892 service revolver made in St Etienne, France for the French military from 1892 til 1935. Often miscalled the Lebel revolver. Calibre is 8mm 1892, which can be a challenge to buy or load. Fiocchi lists it but Buffalo Arms is out. Design and build quality are very good. Jan Stevenson wrote that all that would be required was a filler grip, a bull barrel, and heat treated cylinder to shoot serious ammunition, and it would be as modern as any revolver.

December 18, 2014, 11:09 AM	#5
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,654	Ok thanks Jim, I've never seen one before

December 18, 2014, 11:11 AM	#6
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	They used to be pretty common, along with the 1935 French autos, and not very expensive because of their proprietary ammo. I guess most are on the back shelves of gun cases these days, without much to do.

December 18, 2014, 11:30 AM	#9
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,654	Lol

December 18, 2014, 06:57 PM	#10
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Ugly, but as Jim Watson says, a darned good revolver, though the cartridge is underpowered. It is unusual in that the cylinder swings to the right for reloading, not the left, but the drill for a right-handed shooter was to transfer the gun to the left hand, then get fresh ammunition and reload with the right hand. Jim

December 19, 2014, 01:34 PM	#13
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Around 1888-1895, most nations recognized that with the greater efficiency of smokeless powder, they could get the required lethality from smaller caliber bullets. That resulted in the various 6.5-8mm rifles and also in the reduction of handgun calibers from the older 10-12mm to 7-9mm. The Swedes and Swiss adopted 7.5 mm revolvers, the Russians a 7.62mm, the French an 8mm, and the Americans a .38 caliber. The Germans later adopted a 9mm auto pistol. Only the British held onto their large bore .455 for almost a half century, and the Americans returned to .45 caliber for about the same length of time. Jim

December 20, 2014, 09:30 AM	#15
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,654	Billy, I think folks use 32-20 WCF for reloading for it. And no sir I didn't buy it.

December 20, 2014, 01:31 PM	#16
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	That is a Mosin Nagant revolver... I believe shoots a .32 Russian round with a deep seated bullet. My uncle has one and it had a very heavy trigger.

December 20, 2014, 01:45 PM	#17
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	No, it is not a Russian Nagant; it is just what Jim Watson says it is in post #4. Jim

December 20, 2014, 02:36 PM	#18
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Not even close to being a Nagant revolver.