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Russian Galand revovler info

6K views 17 replies 6 participants last post by  jleiper in memoriam  
#1 ·
Does anyone know if the Galand revolvers used by the Russian navy (& customs?) were 9mm or 10.4mm? I'm also trying to locate the specs for the obr. 1870g revolver.

Many thanks.
 
#2 ·
It was designated the 4 and a Half Line Galand Revolver by the Russian Navy, according to the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Handguns, A.B. Zhuk, page 53. So it'd be 10.4 or about 44 cal.

The notice of the contract read: "The Russian imperial Navy adopts the Galand revolver on March 12 1871 pennies(?) name "gun revolver of boarding model 1870" (see Gazette des armes n° 101)."
I found that at http://www.littlegun.be/arme belge/artisans identifies g/a galand gb.htm It's a history of Galand but the translation isn't real intelligible.
 
#4 ·

The Russian Imperial Navy adopted the model 1870 Galand revolver into service on March 12 1871 and gave it the name "Revolver Boarding Model 1870" (Абордажный Ревогьвер Систем Галан обр. 1870 году). It used the 11.6 x 14.5 R Galand Russian Navy cartridge (12mm or 4½ line caliber).
I have specs and service history for the Galand.
Joe
 
#5 ·
I've been talking with a major cartridge collector/historian and he told me he can find no reference anywhere to the 11.5x14.5R Galand cartridge. Does anyone know it's dimensions and ballicstics?????
 
#7 ·
I was going to start an info request for these revolvers, Krag beat me to it! Does anyone know about the Bulgarian Galand also? They adopted one for service use about the same time.

I have one coming to me which is marked "Galand/Paris" where the cyrillic is in the pic above which points to a civilian 1868 model, however it also has an enormous B.L.6. stamped along the top barrel flat, which points to its use in some armed servce
 
#13 ·
On right side below barrel is a star over "F". Below that is a crown over "R". Star over "F" shows in a few different locations. Left side below barrel is "GALAND". On outside surface of cylinder is the crown ELG Belgian proof mark.

I stand corrected. It is not French. Thanks for bringing to my attention.
 
#14 ·
The Russians bought these revolvers from several sources and didn't request standardization of parts except on "the big pieces". The principle sources were the factory of N.I. Goltyakov in Tula, the Industrialists and weapons makers of Liege and the Emile and Leon Nagant factory, also in Liege. I have never been able to verify that they bought weapons from Galand in Paris (or from the English factory).
The grip plates on your revolver are the same as one previously seen that was attributed to the Romanians. I, personally, don't see enough to connect it.


Pictures courtesy CollectibleFirearms.com

Both the Goltyakov and the Nagant factory guns are clearly marked and the other Liege contract revolvers seem to have the same grip plates as the Nagant and Goltyakov revolvers.
Joe
 
#17 ·
I'm assume the Galand round is the short one on the left? Do you happen to know the specs and ballistics?
 
#18 ·
Yes, the Galand cartridge is on the left - they were made at the Petersburg cartridge factory (I have 8 or 9 Galand cartridges). I have been unable to find specs on the cartridge - only penetration data from comparison penetration tests with pine planks from about 1869-70. I am preparing a big post on the Galand (an excerpt from the Russian Revolver book).
Joe