Bayard 1908

johnwill · June 10, 2001, 11:47 AM

I'm looking for a source for disassembly/assembly information for a Bayard 1908. It's a small 7.65mm pistol. There is no obvious way to field strip it for cleaning, so I'm looking for help.

**Mike Irwin** · June 10, 2001, 12:26 PM

John,

Try this. See if the barrel will rotate. Some of these early pocket pistols used a barrel that had a wedge that fit into a dovetail on the frame.

You should be able to tell if this is the case by looking in the action with the slide back.

johnwill · June 10, 2001, 04:01 PM

Mike,

I got it field stripped, you have to pull out the front sight with the recoil spring and plug! This is the first pistol that I've seen like that, but I did wonder why the sight was so big.

I'm now trying to soak 80 years of accumulated sludge from it's innards, what a mess!

**Mike Irwin** · June 10, 2001, 04:25 PM

You have to pull the front sight?

Holy crap, what a design.

You got a digital camera?

How about taking some pictures and sending them to me?

Gun & disassembly procedure.

I'm REALLY interested in seeing that...

johnwill · June 11, 2001, 08:13 PM

Mike,

I'll be posting a picture of it in the Firearms Forum library when I get it cleaned up, maybe I'll post one with the sight off and the spring hanging out.

LFOD1776 · November 26, 2006, 12:22 PM

I'm resurrecting this ancient thread because I bought myself a minty Bayard 1908 .32 auto, and I'd like to take it apart to give it a nice cleaning and lube! Has anyone got any tips on how to do this?

Thanks!

James K · November 27, 2006, 10:17 PM

The thread is almost as old as the gun, but here is the field stripping info.

You have to pull back then up on the front sight bar. Be careful not to let the recoil spring go flying off into the corner. That is about it. With the spring out, the slide is removed by pulling it all the way back and then lifting it up and over the spring tunnel.

Further disassembly is definitely NOT recommended; especially DO NOT try to remove the extractor as it breaks very easily and parts are not available.

I see Mike thought this was a really wild design. It was so wild, in fact, that it was later used in a small pocket pistol by an obscure company called Smith & Wesson. Anyone who is familiar with the S&W Escort is looking at the basic Bayard design.

Jim

June 10, 2001, 11:47 AM	#1
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	Bayard 1908 I'm looking for a source for disassembly/assembly information for a Bayard 1908. It's a small 7.65mm pistol. There is no obvious way to field strip it for cleaning, so I'm looking for help.

June 10, 2001, 12:26 PM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	John, Try this. See if the barrel will rotate. Some of these early pocket pistols used a barrel that had a wedge that fit into a dovetail on the frame. You should be able to tell if this is the case by looking in the action with the slide back. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

June 10, 2001, 04:25 PM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	You have to pull the front sight? Holy crap, what a design. You got a digital camera? How about taking some pictures and sending them to me? Gun & disassembly procedure. I'm REALLY interested in seeing that... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

November 26, 2006, 12:22 PM	#6
LFOD1776 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 127	So? I'm resurrecting this ancient thread because I bought myself a minty Bayard 1908 .32 auto, and I'd like to take it apart to give it a nice cleaning and lube! Has anyone got any tips on how to do this? Thanks! __________________ NRA Life Member

June 10, 2001, 04:01 PM	#3
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	Mike, I got it field stripped, you have to pull out the front sight with the recoil spring and plug! This is the first pistol that I've seen like that, but I did wonder why the sight was so big. I'm now trying to soak 80 years of accumulated sludge from it's innards, what a mess!

June 11, 2001, 08:13 PM	#5
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	Mike, I'll be posting a picture of it in the Firearms Forum library when I get it cleaned up, maybe I'll post one with the sight off and the spring hanging out.

November 27, 2006, 10:17 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The thread is almost as old as the gun, but here is the field stripping info. You have to pull back then up on the front sight bar. Be careful not to let the recoil spring go flying off into the corner. That is about it. With the spring out, the slide is removed by pulling it all the way back and then lifting it up and over the spring tunnel. Further disassembly is definitely NOT recommended; especially DO NOT try to remove the extractor as it breaks very easily and parts are not available. I see Mike thought this was a really wild design. It was so wild, in fact, that it was later used in a small pocket pistol by an obscure company called Smith & Wesson. Anyone who is familiar with the S&W Escort is looking at the basic Bayard design. Jim