Spainish revolver

Jim Burton · January 16, 2002, 10:02 AM

I have acquired a spainish made revolver from my father-in-law. It needs a new cylinder stop and firing pin, and I am trying to identify it. It is a 38 special with a 4" barrel. It appears to be similar internally to the S&W, but it has a different mainspring and does not have the rebound slide. The attached file has a drawing of the trade mark from the left side. Any ideas?

Jim Burton

Jim Burton · January 16, 2002, 10:06 AM

Apparently I goofed attaching the trade mark, here's another try

James K · January 17, 2002, 12:23 AM

Hi, Jim,

That is the trademark "ALFA" used by Armero Especialistas Reunidas (roughly, "United Specialists Armory") in Eibar, Spain around 1920.

I hope you don't have much in that gun because, in all honesty, the Spanish guns of the period were almost all pot metal junk, and the Alfa was not an exception. They were poorly made and the combination of S&W and Colt lockwork was common as being the cheapest and easiest to fit. The whole gun is made from cast iron and not even good quality cast iron. There are no parts available and the gun would not be worth fixing if there were.

In .38 Special, they are dangerous enough, but many do not have shoulders in the chambers and will take a .357 Magnum, which is almost guaranteed to blow the gun apart, as is .38 Special +P. All this is not from reading, by the way; I have seen several of those Spanish revolvers blown up, including one fired with a .38 Special blank.

If there are "gun turn in" programs in your area, you might take the anti-gun creeps for $50 to $200 for that gun. Otherwise, I recommend you either destroy it or grind off the firing pin and treat it as a wall hanger.

Jim

C.R.Sam · January 17, 2002, 12:33 AM

Jim speaks true.

Make an interesting bookend. Or frame it in a wall mount.

Definately render it unfirable.

Sam

Jim Burton · January 17, 2002, 10:15 AM

Thanks,

I have nothing tied up in it. My Father-in-law acquired it when he was rangemaster in Pasadena some 20 years ago. The cylinder stop was worn, and would not lock the cylinder so he confiscated it. The owner never came back to pick it up. I will use it to teach my son the workings of a revolver and how to clean it, but will not fix it. If a gun buyback comes along, I will probably turn it in.

Thanks, again.

Jim Burton

January 16, 2002, 10:02 AM	#1
Jim Burton Member Join Date: January 3, 2000 Location: Huntsville, AL , USA Posts: 28	Spainish revolver I have acquired a spainish made revolver from my father-in-law. It needs a new cylinder stop and firing pin, and I am trying to identify it. It is a 38 special with a 4" barrel. It appears to be similar internally to the S&W, but it has a different mainspring and does not have the rebound slide. The attached file has a drawing of the trade mark from the left side. Any ideas? Jim Burton

January 17, 2002, 12:23 AM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, Jim, That is the trademark "ALFA" used by Armero Especialistas Reunidas (roughly, "United Specialists Armory") in Eibar, Spain around 1920. I hope you don't have much in that gun because, in all honesty, the Spanish guns of the period were almost all pot metal junk, and the Alfa was not an exception. They were poorly made and the combination of S&W and Colt lockwork was common as being the cheapest and easiest to fit. The whole gun is made from cast iron and not even good quality cast iron. There are no parts available and the gun would not be worth fixing if there were. In .38 Special, they are dangerous enough, but many do not have shoulders in the chambers and will take a .357 Magnum, which is almost guaranteed to blow the gun apart, as is .38 Special +P. All this is not from reading, by the way; I have seen several of those Spanish revolvers blown up, including one fired with a .38 Special blank. If there are "gun turn in" programs in your area, you might take the anti-gun creeps for $50 to $200 for that gun. Otherwise, I recommend you either destroy it or grind off the firing pin and treat it as a wall hanger. Jim

January 17, 2002, 12:33 AM	#4
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Jim speaks true. Make an interesting bookend. Or frame it in a wall mount. Definately render it unfirable. Sam

January 17, 2002, 10:15 AM	#5
Jim Burton Member Join Date: January 3, 2000 Location: Huntsville, AL , USA Posts: 28	Thanks, I have nothing tied up in it. My Father-in-law acquired it when he was rangemaster in Pasadena some 20 years ago. The cylinder stop was worn, and would not lock the cylinder so he confiscated it. The owner never came back to pick it up. I will use it to teach my son the workings of a revolver and how to clean it, but will not fix it. If a gun buyback comes along, I will probably turn it in. Thanks, again. Jim Burton