In 1914, with the beginning of the First World War, Gun manufacturers located in the City of Eibar Spain began equipping the French Army with revolvers. At that time Smiths & Wesson’s American patents did not protect their designs in Spain and the Spanish companies produced revolvers identical to S&W Russian Calibre top break and hand ejector type revolvers. In WW1 the British Army faced a shortage of their standard Officer’s issue Webley MK VI revolvers and ordered supplies of the Spanish made large calibre revolvers (see pages 57-58 of Revolvers Of The British Services 1854-1954) . This example of the Spanish made service revolver which is designed using S&W Russian Calibre top break action designs is in very good condition and is of the type issued to British & French Officers during WW1. It has a 5” barrel with top rib which is stamped ‘Smith Pattern Made In Spain’. It has military fixed sights and lanyard ring. Finished in blue the right side of the frame is stamped with a trademark. The frame is stamped with numbers ‘504’ & ‘C608’. The pistol has a colour case hardened hammer & trigger. The barrel block has British proof marks and calibre information (illustrated). It has undamaged chequered wood grips. Deactivated to UK specification in 1997 the pistol has a ringed cylinder and open over bored barrel & it cocks and dry fires in both single & double action. The price includes the deactivation certificate and UK delivery. Sn 17699:14
£875.00