What is this?

[daveboy]

31842 I have not touched this revolver, but a friend sent me this photo wanting to know what they had. Any help?

[SMOKEY]

Its a pistol. Now what kind, I sir, have not a clue.

[dave]

Pistol generally mean semi-auto, its a revolver. More pics, markings, would certainly help. It is a cartridge gun, so post 1870?, unless it defied the S&W patent, does look foreign.

[daveboy]

Well, I knew I wasn't giving you much to work with, was just hoping that it would look familiar to someone. If I actually could see the gun I could likely give more details. The only thing I was told was that it had a "cross" mark on both sides and the number 694. No other writing or numbers.

[joem]

Way more pictures would help. Pic of bore and cyl essential as well as hammer configuration.

[Tuna]

I would hazard a guess of it being made in Europe. I would not be surprised if it was made in France or Belgium.

[da gimp]

I'm leaning to early post civil war era... maybe even 1865 or so...as Tuna said likely it was by the folks in Belgium & France who didn't pay much attention to patent rights, maybe English too... and during the war time they freely violated patents...S&W stayed busy fighting their patent rights for years, successfully too.

[Sunray]

Looks like a pin fire to me. Hordes of 'em made in 19th Century Belgium and France. WHAG.

[joem]

Might be military due to the lanyard ring. WAG

[2flasargent]

Looks like it evolved or was converted from a pepperbox, Didn't see notches indicating a pinfire. probably rimfire. Not much else on the little available to be seen.

[Johnny P]

A pinfire has to have a slot in the cylinder for the "pin" to stick up through, and the hammer comes down on top of this pin.

The U.S. military called their revolvers pistols until the auto pistol came out, and then depending on which design, they were revolvers or pistols.

[jgaynor]

There is another revolver design called a "teat fire". The cartridges are inserted from the front of the cylinder and a small, tubular extension containing the priming compound protrudes through the rear of the cylinder. Single action with a spur trigger. The cartridge extension with the priming compound is crushed by the hammer.

We have one of this type in the family made by the Moore Revolver Co and reportedly carried by distant relative in his duties as an NYPD patrolman in late 1800's.

[da gimp]

I've got a Moore teat fire.. this isn't one of them...

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

Pistol generally mean semi-auto, its a revolver. More pics, markings, would certainly help. It is a cartridge gun, so post 1870?, unless it defied the S&W patent, does look foreign.

Smokey is correct. It is a pistol. You have auto pistols, revolver pistols, etc. A pistol is a hand held firearm.

jt

[keith smart]

If large caliber, I think it is a French Devisme

[Andouille]

I believe Keith Smart has nailed it:

http://www.antiquearmsinc.com/devisme-antique-revolver-44-caliber.htm