old pistol- MLE 1873

[trophygrl]

this gun came into my family's posession about 60 years or more ago...

my grandfather found it under the floor boards in his boston apartment.

does anyone know anything about this type of gun?

the only thing i really noticed was that it was an interesting gate loader...

let me know if i should grab better pics... i know these suck.

i just took them, but i stink as a photographer and my camera is not much better

 

[trophygrl]

better pics?

 

[Cross-X]

Nice old gun -- the family story is probably worth more to you than the gun.

 

[EddieCoyle]

That's a French Odinance MLE revolver (Revolver d'Ordonnance Mle.1873) built for the French Army at the Saint Etienne Arsenal. It's chambered for 11mm French.

It was the first modern handgun of the French army. They made about 337,000 of them. It was widely used during WWI, and stayed in service in some areas until about 1940. They sell for about $500-$700 depending on condition.

There is a company that still makes ammo for it, I'll send you a link via PM.

 

[trophygrl]

wow- is there anywhere i can read about it?

it is a really neat old gun.. we don;t plan to EVER shoot it, because we like our fingers, but i would love to know more about the gun itself

 

[Dirtypacman]

I love old guns with a bit of family history. Thanks for sharing.

 

[EddieCoyle]

wow- is there anywhere i can read about it?

Google?

Most of the stuff I've seen on it is in French though.

 

[trophygrl]

loads of info in french- i can't really find much

 

[trophygrl]

not to dig up an old thread, but i still have this pistol and am wondering now if i should bother trying to clean this up? it is seized up from years of improper storage and i am not sure if it is now too far gone?

i would love to fire it eventually, maybe

thoughts on what to do, what to look for? anyone here know anything about fixing up oldies?

 

[lord1234]

i wonder how negatively metal would react to some good sprays with some pb blaster

 

[trophygrl]

i wonder how negatively metal would react to some good sprays with some pb blaster

you've got me... it kinda looks like hell... here is a better group of pics:

 

[lord1234]

trophy, mind if i steal your pics and ask on another forum I belong on? I know someone who might have some good ideas. How heavy is the rust on the piece? Does the hammer lock back? Does the cylinder spin? Does it release?

 

[trophygrl]

feel free-- it is a gate loader and it opens/closes-- the cylinder spins freely-- the metal looks like hell and i have never taken it apart

 

[lord1234]

per my friend: oil HEAVILY. Do not attempt to fire. Don't f with it otherwise.

His actual words were: oil heavily by dropping in a 10W30 vat. Don't remove until you can find a gunsmith to look it over. However, if you really love it, oil reasonably, and sell it. Don't redo anything, twill ruin the valley

This is what it once looked like

 

[appraiser]

Someone stole my idea..... take the grips off it and drop it in a can of oil and leave it there. Oil can't hurt it.