[ryan42]

A friend just called me and asked me if i could get a french 1901 revolver appraised for him.Im picking it up tommorrow so when I get it home I will take detailed pictures of it for you guys and maybe somebody will know something about it.This is a picture of the one I have I couldnt get my pictures to load.This is a French army model 1892 its called a 8mm lebel.I have found them on the net from $201 all the way to $795.This paticular one is on sale for $595 and the one I have is in better condition than this one.I was wondering what you guys could tell me.

 

[Lanrezac]

We'll be interested to see it! The French Army adopted an new revolver in the 1890's, and they were dated by the year of production. I think it is generally known by the year of introduction, as the Model 92.

It was kind of an odd design - it has a swing-out cylinder, but it opens on the "wrong" side, the right instead of the left. This may have been because the old style gate-loaded revolvers, like the Colt Single Action Army, usually had their loading gates on the right.

They take an 8mm cartridge that Fiocchi still makes. Fiocchi calls it 8mm Lebel, which is both confusing and incorrect - 8mm Lebel was the French rifle cartridge. The revolver cartridge didn't have a name, and is often called just 8mm French Revolver. I think it is more powerful than 32 S&W Long, but less powerful than .32-20 or 32 Magnum.

These guns don't show up very much, so I have no idea what they are selling for these days, unfortunately.

PS - The French bought hundreds of thousands of 8mm revolvers from Spain in the First World War. They were mostly rough copies of Smith & Wessons. I assumed your friends was an actual French Model 92 because he put a year on it. If it is one of the Spanish ones, value will probably be low if any, and shooting is often not recommended. The Model 92's were very well made, and can be fired if in decent condition. (Not many people want to because of the cost of the ammo.)

 

[ryan42]

OK here are the pictures. on the top of the barrel it has a L and a B each in its own circle.The barrel 3 sides on top of the barrel and the bottom is rounded.On the top of the barrel it says M 1892 and on the side it says 1901.Below the cylinder on the frame it has the letters and numbers G69795. It also has two words back by the grips on the frame.M Armes theres some type in between the letter M and the word armes.the type below that says St. Etiemme Im Sorry I cant get these pictures to upload.

 

[ryan42]

I finally got the picture up for this 1901 french lebell revolver.

 

[Lanrezac]

I can't tell anything more, really, ryan42. It looks like it's in pretty good shape for a gun from 1901 that had two World Wars to get through. They were extremely well made guns.

I don't know values myself; maybe someone with a Blue Book or a Standard Catalog will chime in. Good luck!

 

[ryan42]

I can't tell anything more, really, ryan42. It looks like it's in pretty good shape for a gun from 1901 that had two World Wars to get through. They were extremely well made guns.

I don't know values myself; maybe someone with a Blue Book or a Standard Catalog will chime in. Good luck!

Thanks buddy

 

[JUNKKING]

My brother has a bayonet that has st etienne 1818 and some other writing on the top I always wonder about the history of it. I will try and get pictures and see if anyone knows anything about it.

 

[ryan42]

My brother has a bayonet that has st etienne 1818 and some other writing on the top I always wonder about the history of it. I will try and get pictures and see if anyone knows anything about it.

Cool.I took the gun to my gunshop and the owner said he would only pay about 75 bucks for it.He has one he bought for that price and cant find any ammo for it.

 

[JUNKKING]

I have no idea what its worth Ryan but why would he want another if he cant manufacture or find loads for it. I think he may just be trying to get it cheap.

 

[JUNKKING]

Ryan, Did you happen to look at this page? They are showing one similar with a serial number in the F28 thousands from about 1930. They got 375 for it. and another near a little younger then yours for 575. http://www.empirearms.com/antique.htm

 

[ryan42]

I have no idea what its worth Ryan but why would he want another if he cant manufacture or find loads for it. I think he may just be trying to get it cheap.

You might have something there.I was look online and I found 3 of them and the one gunshop wanted 201.one wanted 525 and one wanted 700.They were all over the place.I was hoping someone on here would have a bluebook they could look it up in.You would think its over 100 years old and made it through 2 world wars it would be worth something although just cause it old doesnt always make it worth alot.I would like to see that bayonette you are talking about.

 

[JUNKKING]

I live fairly far from my brother but when I get there I will get pics of it for you. Has Jim K been here to look at this? He seems pretty sharp on odd guns. I dont know a whole lot I just like to see and read about them.

 

[ryan42]

I live fairly far from my brother but when I get there I will get pics of it for you. Has Jim K been here to look at this? He seems pretty sharp on odd guns. I dont know a whole lot I just like to see and read about them.

I havent seen Jim on for a couple of days but your right hes a pretty sharp fellow.

 

[deadin]

The Standard Catalog of Military Firearms 4th Edition has the M1892 at $150 to $450 (Poor to Excellent)

 

[Lanrezac]

ryan42, I'm sorry not to reply to your PM directly, but I couldn't find it again after I read it.

The Model 1892 is a finely made gun with a rich history. Unfortunately, few people in the USA want to own one, and those who do often feel they should be able to get one cheap because the demand is so low. It's one of those guns where most of the sellers ask high prices and almost never sell one.

The best way to sell it, or have it sold for you, would be on one of the internet auction sites. Internet selling is a hassle compared to selling for cash at a store or a show, but it lets you tap into the whole national market for such a gun. Generally the local market for it is tiny, even if you live in or near a good-sized city.

IMHO, when selling on the internet, it is important to know either what the minimum price you would be OK with getting for it and start it out at that (allowing for expenses, of course), or to decide what you want for it, put it up at that, and be prepared to wait a long, long time. (Actually, that's probably true for any kind of selling, now that I think of it.)

As I said, I really don't know market values at all. I bought a Model 92 about 25 years ago and sold it about 10 years ago, and I don't remember the price either time - not that it would mean much now. Wonderfully made gun, though.

 

[ryan42]

ryan42, I'm sorry not to reply to your PM directly, but I couldn't find it again after I read it.

The Model 1892 is a finely made gun with a rich history. Unfortunately, few people in the USA want to own one, and those who do often feel they should be able to get one cheap because the demand is so low. It's one of those guns where most of the sellers ask high prices and almost never sell one.

The best way to sell it, or have it sold for you, would be on one of the internet auction sites. Internet selling is a hassle compared to selling for cash at a store or a show, but it lets you tap into the whole national market for such a gun. Generally the local market for it is tiny, even if you live in or near a good-sized city.

IMHO, when selling on the internet, it is important to know either what the minimum price you would be OK with getting for it and start it out at that (allowing for expenses, of course), or to decide what you want for it, put it up at that, and be prepared to wait a long, long time. (Actually, that's probably true for any kind of selling, now that I think of it.)

As I said, I really don't know market values at all. I bought a Model 92 about 25 years ago and sold it about 10 years ago, and I don't remember the price either time - not that it would mean much now. Wonderfully made gun, though.

Thanks youve answered alot of questions for me and I appreciate it.