Greetings from Istanbul.
Today I was doing some souvenir shopping and found something unusual at one of these random little antique shops. You see, they sell a lot of crap, a lot of reproductions, and probably a very few number of very valuable items.
One of the items I saw today was a small revolver with a holster. I didn't really check the holster, though it seemed to actually fit the gun it was carrying.
The gun however, was a small revolver. It was not in the best of condition. I'd say 'average' at best, but more likely 'poor'. The exterior wasn't rusty, but it wasn't shiny and maintained either. Not entirely sure of the word.
What really got my attention was the information stamped in the side. It could be false information, but I read:
'Magnum'
'Made in Italy'
9 millimeter,
"117377".
I wish I had a working camera with me so I could show it to everyone, but them's the breaks.
Assuming it's really what it claims and not some forgery, about how much would that gun be worth, or where could I go to find it?
Gonna crosspost this, then head to the TSA restrictions on putting handguns in checked luggage.
X-Post Gun question
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herrhauptmann
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X-Post Gun question
Aniol Jagiello
I can't protect you without holding a sword.
I can't embrace you while holding a sword.
I can't protect you without holding a sword.
I can't embrace you while holding a sword.
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Ironbadger
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Speaking as a gun collector and former gun dealer, theres a few things I'll mention.
First, that if the gun is in Istanbul- good luck in getting it legally imported.
I'm not up on the current regulations, but importing handguns has become something of a nightmare since the 90s.
From the description, the gun is most likely one of the enormous number of cheap, locally made european revolvers that were commonplace from the late 19th century until the late 1960s; when import restrictions from the 1968 gun control act began to reduce the numbers that found their way to the US.
These guns were made in a cottage industry, usually in small calibers and usually of questionable quality materials,and were not intended to last long.
Belgium, Italy, and Spain were all centers of manufacture for this market, and examples range from very well made to complete trash.
many of these guns are not marked with an actual maker's name, and many, many copies of colts and smith and wessons complete with good to very badly/crudely counterfeited trademarks were made as well.
I've owned dozens over the years, and values are typically less than $100- averaging around $50.
In places were guns are expensive, they bring more cash- but many of these guns are not safe to fire, since they were made for black powder.
The pressures of modern smokeless cartridges can damage or destroy some of these guns, and all should be thoroughly inspected by a qualified gunsmith before you even think of shooting one.
From your description, it is possible that what you are looking at is an example of one of these guns, probably more recently made, that has had more impressive looking markings added in hopes it would sell.
The lack of a manufacturer's trademark or name in the description leads me to believe its a knockoff.
The standard 9mm parabellum, or nato cartridge is not a magnum, and since it is a rimless cartridge its not commonly used in revolvers.
9mm is nominal .38 caliber, and .357 magnum is a stretched .38 special.
However, both are long cartridges, and most revolvers made for magnums are not small guns.
(Without a photo of course, I am guessing at size as you mention "small revolver")
.38 smith and wesson was a common caliber for small revolvers in the 19th century, and remained popular for a long time into the 20th.
I have seen it referred to as "9mm rimmed", and it is the same caliber as the British .380 service round.
To sum up, I would say what you looked at is most likely a cheap european pocket revolver of dubious history, that would not be worth attempting to import into the US, if it could even legally be brought in.
its likely value is well under $100, has little or no collector value, and possibly could cost more than its value to import, if you were able to find a way to do so.
-Badger-
First, that if the gun is in Istanbul- good luck in getting it legally imported.
I'm not up on the current regulations, but importing handguns has become something of a nightmare since the 90s.
From the description, the gun is most likely one of the enormous number of cheap, locally made european revolvers that were commonplace from the late 19th century until the late 1960s; when import restrictions from the 1968 gun control act began to reduce the numbers that found their way to the US.
These guns were made in a cottage industry, usually in small calibers and usually of questionable quality materials,and were not intended to last long.
Belgium, Italy, and Spain were all centers of manufacture for this market, and examples range from very well made to complete trash.
many of these guns are not marked with an actual maker's name, and many, many copies of colts and smith and wessons complete with good to very badly/crudely counterfeited trademarks were made as well.
I've owned dozens over the years, and values are typically less than $100- averaging around $50.
In places were guns are expensive, they bring more cash- but many of these guns are not safe to fire, since they were made for black powder.
The pressures of modern smokeless cartridges can damage or destroy some of these guns, and all should be thoroughly inspected by a qualified gunsmith before you even think of shooting one.
From your description, it is possible that what you are looking at is an example of one of these guns, probably more recently made, that has had more impressive looking markings added in hopes it would sell.
The lack of a manufacturer's trademark or name in the description leads me to believe its a knockoff.
The standard 9mm parabellum, or nato cartridge is not a magnum, and since it is a rimless cartridge its not commonly used in revolvers.
9mm is nominal .38 caliber, and .357 magnum is a stretched .38 special.
However, both are long cartridges, and most revolvers made for magnums are not small guns.
(Without a photo of course, I am guessing at size as you mention "small revolver")
.38 smith and wesson was a common caliber for small revolvers in the 19th century, and remained popular for a long time into the 20th.
I have seen it referred to as "9mm rimmed", and it is the same caliber as the British .380 service round.
To sum up, I would say what you looked at is most likely a cheap european pocket revolver of dubious history, that would not be worth attempting to import into the US, if it could even legally be brought in.
its likely value is well under $100, has little or no collector value, and possibly could cost more than its value to import, if you were able to find a way to do so.
-Badger-
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herrhauptmann
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Yep, seemed small.
I'd say, if I laid it out on my palm, it would've been about the size of my hand.
Yeah, it only said 'magnum'. It didn't have a special emblem or anything else. (I'm sure that they'd actually imprint their emblem on it)
But given how random these shops are, with the mix of awesome/crappy stuff. I figured I should check. They seem like the type of place that would have the third edition of action comics buried in the middle of old national geographics. And because it's not a famous comic worth 3 million, they wouldn't realize it's still worth a few hundred grand on its own.
I'd say, if I laid it out on my palm, it would've been about the size of my hand.
Yeah, it only said 'magnum'. It didn't have a special emblem or anything else. (I'm sure that they'd actually imprint their emblem on it)
But given how random these shops are, with the mix of awesome/crappy stuff. I figured I should check. They seem like the type of place that would have the third edition of action comics buried in the middle of old national geographics. And because it's not a famous comic worth 3 million, they wouldn't realize it's still worth a few hundred grand on its own.
Aniol Jagiello
I can't protect you without holding a sword.
I can't embrace you while holding a sword.
I can't protect you without holding a sword.
I can't embrace you while holding a sword.
-
herrhauptmann
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- Location: State College Pa
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Nathan Hartman
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