What Am I - Firearms Curiosa?

Jon MB · 9th October 2017, 12:41 PM

http://www.icollector.com/French-Mit...o-mo_i14159400

fernando · 9th October 2017, 12:54 PM

Good find Jon.
This one has a solid frame and loads by a side window, while Cathey's example breaks open for loading ... and seems to have a nuch smaller caliber, as mentioned, thus unable to function as a "mitrailleuse" (machine gun).
I still find hard to swallow the military purpose of the ones, even with a larger caliber, but ...

.

Jon MB · 9th October 2017, 01:07 PM

Agree, not sure I go with the 'French Customs boat gun' theme.

Richard G · 9th October 2017, 01:45 PM

Hello,
My guess, and it is only that, is that it might be some form of starting\signaling device. For example, to signal when a race competitor has passed a line so that someone else can start or stop a stopwatch or record a time. I can imagine this being useful in time trials where you cannot get all competitors to start at the same time such as dinghy racing in restricted waters or road racing on narrow lanes. All you would have to do do is tug a lanyard as a competitor goes by as the gun itself could be mounted on something else, like a starting boat or dais.
Regards
Richard

Cathey · 10th October 2017, 05:35 AM

Hi Guys

I have today created an email account for my friend Les who owns this strange firearm so he can get involved in this post as soon as his registration comes through.

He is not very IT savvy and only recently got access to a note book, but he is now looking forward to getting involved in this forum His user name should be Les-M when he get's online, and he has an extensive and impressive collection of Antique Firearms Curiosa.

Cheers Cathey and Rex

Les-M · 13th October 2017, 05:22 AM

Hi guys

Thanks for all of your responses thus far.

The pistol is 45 calibre centre fire, takes a colt 45 round. Has no marks what so ever and is complete with nothing missing.

If you would like to see any other picture angles let me know.

Cheers Les

fernando · 13th October 2017, 04:36 PM

Welcome to the forum, Les

.
Now, with such caliber, my previous humble perspective ought to be reviewed. Without a point of reference, only judging by the images, i thought this was not such a sturdy gun. This being a 'forty fiver', one may then think it was made for more argumentative purposes. Despite some (plausible ?) doubts that this type of multishot pistols was to mount on boat rails, it remains highly potential that its function would require it to be fixed onto some base or extension, and its trigger able to be pulled with a string or a wire. In line with that, i would reiterate my fantasy that the slight protuberance on the grip back works as a fixation spring. Can you confirm that ... or is it just an irregularity of the material ?
It is good to have you around; further riddles may be on their way to our appreciation

.

9th October 2017, 12:54 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Good find Jon. This one has a solid frame and loads by a side window, while Cathey's example breaks open for loading ... and seems to have a nuch smaller caliber, as mentioned, thus unable to function as a "mitrailleuse" (machine gun). I still find hard to swallow the military purpose of the ones, even with a larger caliber, but ... . Attached Images

10th October 2017, 05:35 AM	#5
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 284	Watch this space Hi Guys I have today created an email account for my friend Les who owns this strange firearm so he can get involved in this post as soon as his registration comes through. He is not very IT savvy and only recently got access to a note book, but he is now looking forward to getting involved in this forum His user name should be Les-M when he get's online, and he has an extensive and impressive collection of Antique Firearms Curiosa. Cheers Cathey and Rex

13th October 2017, 05:22 AM	#6
Les-M Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Adelaide Australia Posts: 3	20 shot revolver Hi guys Thanks for all of your responses thus far. The pistol is 45 calibre centre fire, takes a colt 45 round. Has no marks what so ever and is complete with nothing missing. If you would like to see any other picture angles let me know. Cheers Les

9th October 2017, 12:41 PM	#1
Jon MB Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 143	http://www.icollector.com/French-Mit...o-mo_i14159400

9th October 2017, 01:07 PM	#3
Jon MB Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 143	Agree, not sure I go with the 'French Customs boat gun' theme.

9th October 2017, 01:45 PM	#4
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 409	Hello, My guess, and it is only that, is that it might be some form of starting\signaling device. For example, to signal when a race competitor has passed a line so that someone else can start or stop a stopwatch or record a time. I can imagine this being useful in time trials where you cannot get all competitors to start at the same time such as dinghy racing in restricted waters or road racing on narrow lanes. All you would have to do do is tug a lanyard as a competitor goes by as the gun itself could be mounted on something else, like a starting boat or dais. Regards Richard

13th October 2017, 04:36 PM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Welcome to the forum, Les . Now, with such caliber, my previous humble perspective ought to be reviewed. Without a point of reference, only judging by the images, i thought this was not such a sturdy gun. This being a 'forty fiver', one may then think it was made for more argumentative purposes. Despite some (plausible ?) doubts that this type of multishot pistols was to mount on boat rails, it remains highly potential that its function would require it to be fixed onto some base or extension, and its trigger able to be pulled with a string or a wire. In line with that, i would reiterate my fantasy that the slight protuberance on the grip back works as a fixation spring. Can you confirm that ... or is it just an irregularity of the material ? It is good to have you around; further riddles may be on their way to our appreciation .