Belgium Top Break 44 Win - The Firearms Forum

jgriffin9 · 05-31-2008, 10:21 PM

Can someone provide me with information about this gun and also where i might find parts on this gun. Its a Belgium Top Break double action revolver with serial number 4713. It has written on the top " for 44 winchester cartridge". This gun looks a lot like the smith & Wesson DA first model. I would like to know when it was made and if parts are available. Thanks..

b.goforth · 06-01-2008, 06:27 PM

the reason most of these large belgium 44 are in poor condition today is the caliber they are chambered for beat them to pieces. they were manufactured mostly between the 1890's and the 1920's and most can not stand up to a lot of firing of the 44-40 WCF cartridge. being a foriegn made revolver the only parts available will have to come from other broken similar revolver or make from strach. the actual manufacturer of these mostly unmarked revolver is very very hard to determine.

these revolvers were mostly sold by large wholesale/retail catalog companies and actually were not cheap. the 1907 iver johnson sporting goods co. of boston offered one in their 1907 catalog marked the 'SCHOFIELD FRONTIER REVOLVER' for $6.00, same as the iver johnson safety automatic revolvers and more than other imported revolvers in their catalog. ten years later one in the 1917 "fred biffar co." catalog (markings unknown) sold for $12.75

you may never find the parts you are seeking or they could turn up at the next gun show but that is highly unlikely.
bill

Alma · 06-15-2008, 09:03 PM

I have a gun like the model you are speaking of. This one appears to have a two digit number, possibly 31 on the left side (same side as BELGIUM) and a much larger number 18 stamped on the right side (same side as the 'crown over R' and 'star over A' marks). The number 67 is stamped behind the trigger. Unfortunately, the grips are gone. But that reveals the letters JD stamped in two different fonts. There also appears to be a small globby weld on the top of the barrel near the cylinder. To the naked eye, no cracks are evident. On the ring at the end of the grip, it looks like there are seven notches hammered in randomly.
Does anyone know how many of these may have survived? This one is gummy and loose, clearly not a shooter. But the top break design is interesting and the inside diameter of the barrel is imposing. It was exciting to read your post concerning the revolver's history, Bill. It would be nice to find grips.
Alma

05-31-2008, 10:21 PM	#1
jgriffin9 Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4	Belgium Top Break 44 Win Can someone provide me with information about this gun and also where i might find parts on this gun. Its a Belgium Top Break double action revolver with serial number 4713. It has written on the top " for 44 winchester cartridge". This gun looks a lot like the smith & Wesson DA first model. I would like to know when it was made and if parts are available. Thanks.. -->

06-01-2008, 06:27 PM	#2
b.goforth Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: houston, tx Posts: 3,174	Re: Belgium Top Break 44 Win the reason most of these large belgium 44 are in poor condition today is the caliber they are chambered for beat them to pieces. they were manufactured mostly between the 1890's and the 1920's and most can not stand up to a lot of firing of the 44-40 WCF cartridge. being a foriegn made revolver the only parts available will have to come from other broken similar revolver or make from strach. the actual manufacturer of these mostly unmarked revolver is very very hard to determine. these revolvers were mostly sold by large wholesale/retail catalog companies and actually were not cheap. the 1907 iver johnson sporting goods co. of boston offered one in their 1907 catalog marked the 'SCHOFIELD FRONTIER REVOLVER' for $6.00, same as the iver johnson safety automatic revolvers and more than other imported revolvers in their catalog. ten years later one in the 1917 "fred biffar co." catalog (markings unknown) sold for $12.75 you may never find the parts you are seeking or they could turn up at the next gun show but that is highly unlikely. bill __________________ Author: Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works 1871-1993 H&R Arms Company 1871-1986 (due spring 2010) available from www.gunshowbooks.com website; iverjohnsoncollector.x10hosting.com Last edited by b.goforth; 06-01-2008 at 06:40 PM..

06-15-2008, 09:03 PM	#3
Alma Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1	Re: Belgium Top Break 44 Win I have a gun like the model you are speaking of. This one appears to have a two digit number, possibly 31 on the left side (same side as BELGIUM) and a much larger number 18 stamped on the right side (same side as the 'crown over R' and 'star over A' marks). The number 67 is stamped behind the trigger. Unfortunately, the grips are gone. But that reveals the letters JD stamped in two different fonts. There also appears to be a small globby weld on the top of the barrel near the cylinder. To the naked eye, no cracks are evident. On the ring at the end of the grip, it looks like there are seven notches hammered in randomly. Does anyone know how many of these may have survived? This one is gummy and loose, clearly not a shooter. But the top break design is interesting and the inside diameter of the barrel is imposing. It was exciting to read your post concerning the revolver's history, Bill. It would be nice to find grips. Alma