Can you identify this revolver?
I received an email from a solider who is currently deployed to Afghanistan. He found this broken revolver at a local bazaar. Neither him nor I can identify it. Can you identify it or identify what design it was copied from?
The only markings are an "H" on the barrel and a "B" on the cylinder.
The extractor is different than anything I've seen, as is the trigger guard, the extra cut in the backstrap makes for an interesting anomaly also the smooth cylinder. The bore of the cylinder appears to be 15/32 of an inch or .469. The trigger still operates the hammer and the extractor still works.
UPDATE: Kurt pointed out that it looks like a "Pryse Army Revolver" aka. the "Chinese Webley" ...
Looks like a "Pryse Army Revolver", also known as the "Chinese Webley" because may were sold to the Chinese government, patented in 1876. Caliber .476 CF, probably. The world's first rebounding hammer revolver.
I would guess that it is a Pakistani made clone of the Pryse Army Revolver.
From the Reme Museum website ...
Commonly known as the Pryse's Army Revolver, it is a Webley made pistol patented by C Pryse in November 1876. It was a great favourite with Army Officers and has the distinction of being the first pistol to have a rebounding hammer (ie one in which the hammer, after striking the cap, rises far enough to be withdrawn from contact with it). It is sometimes called the 'Chinese Webley' due to the fact that the Chinese Government bought large quantities. It is said that the popularity of this pistol started Webleys, who were then emerging from the doldrums due to the success of their 'RIC' (Royal Irish Constabulary) revolver, on the quest for a really first class 'Break-down' self-ejector, which of course they eventually achieved. This particular pistol was sold by Henry of Edinburgh and London (Martini-Henry fame).
Sorry for the long response time. Steve, I will send you photos if I can find time for it. It is a fascinating design.
Belgian Francotte – Pryse
* http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20francotte/a%20francotte%20revolver%20pryse%20gb.htm
Belgian Julien WARNANT with Montenegrin Pryse-System Revolver
* http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20t%20w/a%20warnant%20jean%20et%20julien%20gb.htm
Belgian Philippe Counet for Argentan
* http://www.littlegun.be/ma_collection/belgique/be%20abcde/a%20be%20counet%20philippe%20gb.htm
British Pryse – Deprez
* http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20britannique/artisan%20p%20q%20r/a%20pryse%20deprez%20gb.htm
British Webley “Pryse” “AFRICAN Model”
* http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20britannique/webley/a%20webley%20and%20scott%20pryse%20gb.htm
Belgian DD Levaux :
* http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20l/a%20levaux%20gb.htm
snmp, thanks.
Greetings from Texas,
About 20 years back I came across a very crude single action that couldn’t decide if it was a Remington or a Colt. It had features of both. When I finally chased it down it was a Belgian knock-off.
I first thought Belgian when I saw the photo, but when I saw where Sgt. Bowman had found it the possiblitys were limitless.
Thanks for this post. Somehow I had never come across Pryse’s Army Revolver before tonight. It’s like I’ve always heard, “The more you learn, the more you find out you don’t know.”
just checked my copy of “the webley story” and it does look like a monkey copy of a webley-pryse circa 1878/80. i handled, but didn’t get to shoot one in a gun shop in massachusetts, the guy wanted $35.00 for it but i didn’t have a mass. permit at the time and was broke anyway so no joy. the specimen i saw was a .455 caliber, nickel plated with a sellers name on it, possibly “rigby”, but definitely webley made. as above this one looks like a “khyber pass special” but still a good souvenir to bring home from the wars.
It also resembles the Belgian Leveaux revolver. My Leveaux was found buried near an old house site. While not shootable, the extraction system still works as well as it did in the 1880s. The barrel, cylinder, extractor, hammer and grip frame on mine are identical to the pictured gun, although there are other differences.
Beaumont, can you post a photo of your revolver. You must have been pleased finding that!
being where he found it, chances are its one of a bazillion copies made locally by gunsmiths in the area….
Hey Kurt, thanks a ton. I looked at the Pryse and just discounted it, I didn’t know the history with the Chinese. I thought what the heck a $20 memento from my trip. Now that I’ve got a date and make it will be easier to get back home. Thanks again SGT B
as Kurt said, it appears to be an attempt at copying a Pryse webley. I say copy, because even in it’s dilapidated state, it’s still clear that it’s nowhere near webley’s standards. Look at the hinge pin. It’s a screw!
That also looks like shockingly soft steel!
http://www.rememuseum.org.uk/arms/pistols/armpr.htm
(lot number 271)
Look like a Belgium production in .450 at the end of XIX
You could maybe check in this webpage : http://www.littlegun.be/
Looks like a “Pryse Army Revolver”, also known as the “Chinese Webley” because may were sold to the Chinese government, patented in 1876. Caliber .476 CF, probably. The world’s first rebounding hammer revolver.
Looks like a variant of a Webley. But From the stories I hear about backyard gun manufacturers in Afghanistan they literally make anything requested. Frightening though.