French Pistol Help please!!!

[Chris Lee]

Guys,
I just aquired several guns of which I have no knowledge. This seems to be a french pistol of sorts and the info I got on it was that it was used by members of the French Foreign Legion. Of course I take all this with a grain of salt, but I`d really like to know what this might be and also if it has any value. I`ll be showing the other 2 pistols shortly, one being an old colt derringer, the other , an old german flare pistol..

[Chris Lee]

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[Chris Lee]

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[Chris Lee]

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[Douglas Jr.]

It's a Saint Etiènne Modele 1892 (a.k.a. Lebel Modele 1892), the official sidearm of the French Army from 1892 until the adoption of the SACM Modèle 1935 - but it was widely used after that date until the 1950s. It fires the 8mm Lebel cartridge, which is very close (but not interchangeble) with the .32 S&W Long.

These guns were made up to 1927, with a total of 385,000 made. The right barrel flat is marked with the year of manufacture and the left barrel flat is proofed with two small letters, each within a circle. The proof nearest the muzzle is the initial of the St. Etiènne arsenal and the one closest the cilinder is the proof mark of the producer of the steel used in the revolver's manufacture.

Hope it helps you.

Douglas

[Chris Lee]

Gun

Douglas,
Thanks so much much for the info!!! Last question but not the least, does this piece hold any value, and if so, any idea on how much?
Thanks!!

[Douglas Jr.]

Douglas,
Thanks so much much for the info!!! Last question but not the least, does this piece hold any value, and if so, any idea on how much?
Thanks!!

Chris,

It is always difficult to give someone an estimative about this kind of thing. What I would do is the take a look at some auction sites and check how the price of this item are going. Here are a few examples:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/912722204...Model_1892.htm

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=137799074

Good luck!

Douglas.

[SIGNALMAN]

Value in the condition shown is ~ $250 to $300. Unless it has a Navy anchor on the butt. If navy you can add another $100 or so.

Good Collecting