Identification of an old gun

shaka · October 17, 2017, 08:06 AM

Hello,
Can somebody help me identify this old one?
The only text on the barrel says: "American extractor patented The caucasus special"

Jim Watson · October 17, 2017, 10:02 AM

Wow, that is a beaut.
Mechanically, it is a copy of the Smith & Wesson Second Model .38 Single Action. Looks like the sideplate was replaced with a plain one.
Probably Spanish make, they liked to get sly references to American guns on their knockoffs.
Otherwise, neither Zhuk nor Google show the like.
I was able to find pictures of muzzleloaders with that ivory knob butt ascribed to the Caucasus. Obviously a continuation of the style into the breechloader era.
Note that it has no sights, like the muzzleloaders.

T. O'Heir · October 17, 2017, 12:03 PM

The Caucasus' are between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. North East of Turkey and Iran. Kind of doubt it's Spanish. Spanish stuff will have assorted proof marks on it. Eastern European maybe.
"...that ivory knob butt..." Arabic as well.

James K · October 17, 2017, 06:40 PM

I doubt that that revolver was made anywhere near Europe (or the Americas). Everything about it looks to me like the product of a place like the Khyber pass, which has a long history of producing crude but working copies of Western firearms.

The sideplate appears to be a poorly fitting and non-original part, possibly from a real S&W revolver. The gun has little real value, either as a working gun or a viable weapon for self defense. But it is a novelty and as such demonstrates that when people want weapons, for good or ill, laws will be ineffective in preventing them from obtaining arms.

Jim

October 17, 2017, 12:03 PM	#3
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	The Caucasus' are between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. North East of Turkey and Iran. Kind of doubt it's Spanish. Spanish stuff will have assorted proof marks on it. Eastern European maybe. "...that ivory knob butt..." Arabic as well. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

October 17, 2017, 10:02 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	Wow, that is a beaut. Mechanically, it is a copy of the Smith & Wesson Second Model .38 Single Action. Looks like the sideplate was replaced with a plain one. Probably Spanish make, they liked to get sly references to American guns on their knockoffs. Otherwise, neither Zhuk nor Google show the like. I was able to find pictures of muzzleloaders with that ivory knob butt ascribed to the Caucasus. Obviously a continuation of the style into the breechloader era. Note that it has no sights, like the muzzleloaders.

October 17, 2017, 06:40 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I doubt that that revolver was made anywhere near Europe (or the Americas). Everything about it looks to me like the product of a place like the Khyber pass, which has a long history of producing crude but working copies of Western firearms. The sideplate appears to be a poorly fitting and non-original part, possibly from a real S&W revolver. The gun has little real value, either as a working gun or a viable weapon for self defense. But it is a novelty and as such demonstrates that when people want weapons, for good or ill, laws will be ineffective in preventing them from obtaining arms. Jim