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Do you know this model?

tube8

Well-Known Member
I have realy no idea?
maybe you can hlp me.
 

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Pistol

You do not say what calibre it is so it could be any of a hundred US, Spanish or Belgian revolvers.

However, if I were to venture a guess, I would say one of the Spanish made "Old Pattern" .455 inch revolvers as purchased by Britain in WWI. What does it say on the top strap or barrel?

It looks like it has gone through a hydraulic press to destroy it.

See below.

Regards
TonyE
 

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Are there any markings visible?

Falcon:
My guess is someone's idea of de-milling. Mashing vs cutting. Effective, to say the least.

Rick

Update: TonyE probably has it right.
 
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Falcon

Slick is correct about the de-mil. You'll find all sorts of WWII firearms with a similar treatment. When I was stationed with the mothball fleet in the 1950s I spent many an enjoyable hour de-milling small arms taken from the tired and worn out ships. At first, we would disassemble down to the tiniest part and demil the frame only, but when ordered to hurry things up we would simply cut or crush the entire pistol or revolver. Big stuff was taken off shore and dumped.

There were vicious rumors about Gunners Mates trading parts for cigarettes or beer, but I refuse to believe such things.

Ray
 
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I was following orders like every good sailor boy should do.

Here's a S&W Victory Model that received the combination Cut n Crush treatment. I found it in my seabag when I got home.

Ray
59sbxz.jpg
 
I did wonder if it was demilling, I also wondered if it had been mangled in an explosion or caught underneath something heavy. I suppose tube8's pistol never made it into the blast furnace.
 
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Falcon

I can't speak to other countries, but in the US, the demils were sold as scrap. I would guess that the idea was that buyers would melt them down and re-cycle the metals. But, many of the pieces and parts found their way back into circulation and quite a few were welded back together and sold as complete rifles and pistols. You can also find welded SMGs, MGs, BARs, you name it. The supply of de-milled frames dried up years ago but it's still possible to find parts.

Ray
 
I was following orders like every good sailor boy should do.

Here's a S&W Victory Model that received the combination Cut n Crush treatment. I found it in my seabag when I got home.

Ray

It must be your magnetic personality Ray!

Regards
TonyE
 
Falcon

I can't speak to other countries, but in the US, the demils were sold as scrap. I would guess that the idea was that buyers would melt them down and re-cycle the metals. But, many of the pieces and parts found their way back into circulation and quite a few were welded back together and sold as complete rifles and pistols. You can also find welded SMGs, MGs, BARs, you name it. The supply of de-milled frames dried up years ago but it's still possible to find parts.

Ray
So even in the 1950s was it "politically incorrect" for the military to sell them as complete guns and make alot more money?
 
It must be one Italien.
nearly like a Smith&Wesson build.

It was destroyed officiel from police. Big press meet small gun :)
 
Same thing they did in Greece...
Seen simular examples...

I was following orders like every good sailor boy should do.

Here's a S&W Victory Model that received the combination Cut n Crush treatment. I found it in my seabag when I got home.

Ray
59sbxz.jpg
 
Falcon

After WW II the destruction of suplus military equipment had nothing to do with political correctness. It had everything to do with the economy. Dumping billions of dollars of surplus stuff on the market would probably have bankrupted the businesses who had geared up to produce it and then suddenly had to return to the civilian buyers.

At least, that's the "official" reason.

Ray
 
I was thinking in today's terms where the UN says that all surplus military firearms have to be torched.
 
de mill

Of course here in parts of the UK de mill is not a currently accepted method of destroying a firearm. It must be deactivated to proof house rules and stamped as such to not require a firearm certificate, any modern hand gun is of course generally prohibited any way and not certificate-able. 2pr
 
Sorry Gunni but it is not a W & S. As I and others have pointed out, it is a Spanish copy of the old pattern Smith & Wesson. These were made on contract during WWI either in .455 inch for Britain or 10.4mm for Italy.

In Britain they were known as the O.P No.1 Mark 1 and No.2 mark I depending on manufacturer. Pictures of O.P. and Webley attached to compare. (amd it is almost impossible to tell a Webley Mark IV from a II, III or V from a thumbnail picture)

Regards
TonyE
 

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Of course here in parts of the UK de mill is not a currently accepted method of destroying a firearm. It must be deactivated to proof house rules and stamped as such to not require a firearm certificate, any modern hand gun is of course generally prohibited any way and not certificate-able. 2pr

Reminds me of something I saw at Beltring about 5-10 years ago. There were two men who had a pile of chopped, torched and crushed chunks of guns laid out on a tarpaulin for sale. From memory it was bits of guns like AK-47's, SKS's and the Yugoslav M56 SMG.

I recall picking up a crushed and bent semi-auto pistol thinking it would make an interesting paperweight. But on asking the price I decided not to bother and in hindsight this was probably a good idea from a legal standpoint.

I assume there must have been a crackdown on 'not technically deactivated' guns as you don't see much in the way of relic weapons for sale at Beltring anymore. I remember in the past seeing European dealers there with piles of rusted K98s, but not in the last few years.

Mark
 
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