Archived Posts » 60,595,333
Picked up something you don't see every day, a Chamelot-Delvigne 1873
2/19/2012 7:59:17 PM
It's the same gun Brandon Frazier uses in The Mummy.
The picture is crappy, it's in museum quality shape!
The picture is crappy, it's in museum quality shape!
2/19/2012 8:24:41 PM
more info please?
2/19/2012 9:03:39 PM
Originally Posted By bmnpa:
more info please?
more info please?
This. It looks like a very interesting piece. What is the caliber?
2/19/2012 10:35:52 PM
Looks like a regular Model 1873, not a uber rare or $ gun but interesting pieces way ahead of anyone else at the time but the ammo was very anemic....
David Fortier has done some articles on them for Shotgun News and the Surplus magazines and loaded ammo for them. He's a member..Gunwritr or something like that...
David Fortier has done some articles on them for Shotgun News and the Surplus magazines and loaded ammo for them. He's a member..Gunwritr or something like that...
2/20/2012 8:34:03 AM
Originally Posted By OIF_Vet08-09:
This. It looks like a very interesting piece. What is the caliber?
Originally Posted By bmnpa:
more info please?
more info please?
This. It looks like a very interesting piece. What is the caliber?
It's a Belgum/French design like many of the european pistols of the era.
Its caliber is 11mm French in BP centerfire. In the early 20th century, the developed a smokeless powder cartridge for them.
There were three hundred thousand or so made and they were quickly made obsolete by smokeless powder.
They issued the 1892 Lebel revolver, which also started out with a BP center fire cartridge and converted to smokeless. There's one of these at the gunshop also. Looks too much like a nagat '95 for my taste. THey are both Belgum made, so that must be why they are so similar. I'd need to research the nagat. I have no interest in something made by the billions.
They were both used in WWI and the MAS '73 (Chamelot-Delvigne) even made it's way to Vietnam, being converted to .45 ACP.
The example I purchased is unfired, from an estate that the man's father brought it back from Fance in WWI. The photo does the white unfinished metal no justice.
While it may not be super rare, I have never seen one in person. Ever. I've only seen them in a few movies and one SciFi tv show, Tin Man. It's what piqued my interest.
2/20/2012 11:50:25 AM
It looks very similar to my Forehand and Wadsworth British Bulldog revolver in .32 S&W.
The loading/unloading gate, the pivot ejector and the stubby grips make me glad that these turn of the century/early 20th Century revolvers were made obsolete; they are a PITA to load at a range I could not imagine using one for "real".
The loading/unloading gate, the pivot ejector and the stubby grips make me glad that these turn of the century/early 20th Century revolvers were made obsolete; they are a PITA to load at a range I could not imagine using one for "real".
2/20/2012 12:08:13 PM
The european guns of that era were pretty remarkable. In 1868, the British adopted the Adams double action revolver in .450 centerfire. That's 5 years before Colt's vaunted 1873 SAA, which was, of course, only single action! Webley was producing its No. 1 model in this time frame too. Another quality double action revolver. The Brits had, in fact, been using double action revolvers since the early 1850's, when the Beaumont-Adams percussion double action was on the scene. It was so successful in Britain that Colt closed down their London factory in 1856 and limited British sales to their Pall Mall retail outlet.
2/20/2012 12:24:25 PM
I love the vintage European weapons.
They absolutely nail the sweet spot between ugly and utilitatian.
Before the war, most European pistols were extravagantly articulate delicate weapons designed for the elite. Then in around 1870, Belgum developed that frame all the gun makers used for everything, even that Nagat was based off the design. Ugly was king.
Heck they even used the pinfire ammunition while we were still using percussion caps with regards to the slow reaction to adopt rimfire metallic cartridges.
They absolutely nail the sweet spot between ugly and utilitatian.
Before the war, most European pistols were extravagantly articulate delicate weapons designed for the elite. Then in around 1870, Belgum developed that frame all the gun makers used for everything, even that Nagat was based off the design. Ugly was king.
Heck they even used the pinfire ammunition while we were still using percussion caps with regards to the slow reaction to adopt rimfire metallic cartridges.
2/20/2012 2:51:01 PM
I love these, but they always seem to be way out of my price range.
Any plans to shoot it?
Was reading up on it earlier during my lunch break and apparently the original BP load got the round going a paltry 550 FPS
2/20/2012 3:55:04 PM
Now you neeed to find one of these and than pick up a 1892 for the trifecta ! 
2/20/2012 5:30:48 PM
My father played with one of these as a child in the 40's that was a WWI family bring back. Supposedly a relative shot a German soldier who was on his way back to his own side after raiding a nearby French section of the line. Later on he recovered the pistol, holster, belt, and some ammo. Sadly my alcoholic grandfather gave it away sometime in the 60's......
2/20/2012 5:55:39 PM
The european guns of the period do not HAVE to be ugly. Here's two I have. The top one is an Adams Model of 1872 (identical to the Military Mk III Adams) and the lower one is a copy of teh Webley No. 1 (RIC) model (British produced, possibly also by Adams). Both are types used during teh Anglo-Zulu War. Lt John Chard (officer in command at Rorke's Drift) used a Webley No.1 during his famous fight. Bromhead is thought have used the Adams. Both are chambered for the rather weak .450 Adams cartridge. I personally think both are quite attractive.
2/20/2012 5:58:27 PM
Originally Posted By Mars_Attacks:
It's the same gun Brandon Frazier uses in The Mummy.
The picture is crappy, it's in museum quality shape!
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/lebel1.jpg
It's the same gun Brandon Frazier uses in The Mummy.
The picture is crappy, it's in museum quality shape!
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/lebel1.jpg
That the one you never have to reload?
Nice find.
2/20/2012 6:51:38 PM
WOW! All of those are nice!
There was the 1892 and the '73 to choose from, but the '73 is more popular in the movies, so I chose it.
They were $500 each and I could only afford one.
There was the 1892 and the '73 to choose from, but the '73 is more popular in the movies, so I chose it.
They were $500 each and I could only afford one.
2/20/2012 6:55:53 PM
$500 is an exceptional deal for that 1873.
Prices for nice 1873's are in more of the $600-900 range these days.
Prices for nice 1873's are in more of the $600-900 range these days.
2/24/2012 8:36:18 AM
I took some better pictures last night after I picked it up.
2/24/2012 8:44:51 AM
Holy crap! That is nice.
2/24/2012 8:57:57 AM
Cool gun. Great pics!
2/24/2012 9:35:44 AM
That's a gorgeous old revolver. Nice pickup!
2/24/2012 9:46:20 AM
Originally Posted By Mars_Attacks:
I took some better pictures last night after I picked it up.
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/P1013681.jpg
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/P1013690.jpg
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/P1013689.jpg
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/P1013687.jpg
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/P1013688.jpg
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/P1013691.jpg
I took some better pictures last night after I picked it up.
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/P1013681.jpg
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/P1013690.jpg
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/P1013689.jpg
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/P1013687.jpg
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/P1013688.jpg
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/R_Tison/Shooting/P1013691.jpg
From the pictures, it looks like all the patina has been removed. Was it cleaned or is it just the lighting in the pictures?
DT
2/24/2012 11:27:17 AM
No, they are all bare metal.
I've had it apart and the only patina it ever had is on the trigger and hammer and ever so slightly on the backstrap.
That's the way they look when boxed up for decades.
I've had it apart and the only patina it ever had is on the trigger and hammer and ever so slightly on the backstrap.
That's the way they look when boxed up for decades.
2/24/2012 11:29:56 AM
Originally Posted By MVolkJ:
That's a gorgeous old revolver. Nice pickup!
That's a gorgeous old revolver. Nice pickup!
+1
2/24/2012 4:05:33 PM
That has been cleaned. Not horribly but it has been.
Originally would have been highly polished in the white bare metal but you won't find one in that condition after 125 135 yrs .........outside of a unissued piece in the MAS museum....
Originally would have been highly polished in the white bare metal but you won't find one in that condition after 125 135 yrs .........outside of a unissued piece in the MAS museum....
2/24/2012 7:10:10 PM
Very nice
3/9/2012 7:55:42 AM
I played with it. It's has the typical 40# trigger pull.
I swear Europeans had the strength of gorillas in the 19th century.
I swear Europeans had the strength of gorillas in the 19th century.
3/14/2012 11:41:37 AM
Very nice, I'm trying to buy one but they are even more expensive in France...
Here is a chart with the number produced by years:
Here is a chart with the number produced by years:
3/15/2012 12:55:19 AM
Originally Posted By Mars_Attacks:
It's a Belgum/French design like many of the european pistols of the era.
Its caliber is 11mm French in BP centerfire. In the early 20th century, the developed a smokeless powder cartridge for them.
There were three hundred thousand or so made and they were quickly made obsolete by smokeless powder.
They issued the 1892 Lebel revolver, which also started out with a BP center fire cartridge and converted to smokeless. There's one of these at the gunshop also. Looks too much like a nagat '95 for my taste. THey are both Belgum made, so that must be why they are so similar. I'd need to research the nagat. I have no interest in something made by the billions.
They were both used in WWI and the MAS '73 (Chamelot-Delvigne) even made it's way to Vietnam, being converted to .45 ACP.
The example I purchased is unfired, from an estate that the man's father brought it back from Fance in WWI. The photo does the white unfinished metal no justice.
While it may not be super rare, I have never seen one in person. Ever. I've only seen them in a few movies and one SciFi tv show, Tin Man. It's what piqued my interest.
Originally Posted By OIF_Vet08-09:
This. It looks like a very interesting piece. What is the caliber?
Originally Posted By bmnpa:
more info please?
more info please?
This. It looks like a very interesting piece. What is the caliber?
It's a Belgum/French design like many of the european pistols of the era.
Its caliber is 11mm French in BP centerfire. In the early 20th century, the developed a smokeless powder cartridge for them.
There were three hundred thousand or so made and they were quickly made obsolete by smokeless powder.
They issued the 1892 Lebel revolver, which also started out with a BP center fire cartridge and converted to smokeless. There's one of these at the gunshop also. Looks too much like a nagat '95 for my taste. THey are both Belgum made, so that must be why they are so similar. I'd need to research the nagat. I have no interest in something made by the billions.
They were both used in WWI and the MAS '73 (Chamelot-Delvigne) even made it's way to Vietnam, being converted to .45 ACP.
The example I purchased is unfired, from an estate that the man's father brought it back from Fance in WWI. The photo does the white unfinished metal no justice.
While it may not be super rare, I have never seen one in person. Ever. I've only seen them in a few movies and one SciFi tv show, Tin Man. It's what piqued my interest.
Need to look at a 1892, and a Nagant revolver side by side. Then internally.
The 1892 makes the best Nagant revolver look like it was whittled from styrofoam with a butterknife. Straw finish on internals, immensely smooth finish and fit. The DA pull is heavy by modern standards, but very very smooth.
I have a 1901 vintage St Etienne 1982, and had a 1940 vintage Nagant revolver. I sold the Nagant.
3/15/2012 9:09:38 AM
All of these revolvers are absolutely beautiful. Amazing how artfully these guns were made back then.
ETA: Pet peeve of mine, I know, but a revolver is NOT a pistol. Carry on.
ETA: Pet peeve of mine, I know, but a revolver is NOT a pistol.
Carry on.3/15/2012 11:38:31 AM
Originally Posted By lew:
All of these revolvers are absolutely beautiful. Amazing how artfully these guns were made back then.
ETA: Pet peeve of mine, I know, but a revolver is NOT a pistol. Carry on.
All of these revolvers are absolutely beautiful. Amazing how artfully these guns were made back then.
ETA: Pet peeve of mine, I know, but a revolver is NOT a pistol.
Carry on.The British Army of 1872 disagrees with you. the Adams I posted was adopted as teh issue pistol. yeah, I now, I know... the chamber isn;t part of the barrel. So what? If it's good enough for Queen Victoria, it's good enough for you! ;)
3/17/2012 9:32:37 AM
Tell meif I am pronouncing the name of that revolver correctly.
Shamlowe Delvine?
Does that sound right?
Shamlowe Delvine?
Does that sound right?
3/17/2012 11:24:57 AM
Originally Posted By Milo5:
Tell meif I am pronouncing the name of that revolver correctly.
Shamlowe Delvine?
Does that sound right?
Tell meif I am pronouncing the name of that revolver correctly.
Shamlowe Delvine?
Does that sound right?
I suck at phonetics so here is a link
:http://translate.google.fr/?hl=fr&tab=wT#fr|en|chamelot-del%20vigne
Click on the left speaker.
3/18/2012 7:11:49 AM
Originally Posted By dewoitine:
I suck at phonetics so here is a link:
http://translate.google.fr/?hl=fr&tab=wT#fr|en|chamelot-del%20vigne
Click on the left speaker.
Originally Posted By Milo5:
Tell meif I am pronouncing the name of that revolver correctly.
Shamlowe Delvine?
Does that sound right?
Tell meif I am pronouncing the name of that revolver correctly.
Shamlowe Delvine?
Does that sound right?
I suck at phonetics so here is a link
:
http://translate.google.fr/?hl=fr&tab=wT#fr|en|chamelot-del%20vigne
Click on the left speaker.
Ahhhh
Shamlow Delveen
Thanks!
