Antique 6” .44 Russian/.44 Special DA/SA "Improved Automatic" Belgian Revolver Counterfeit Smith & Wesson $3800

Please text anytime 6476871484. Fully functional antique revolver in perfect and ready to shoot condition ,very good single and double action.

Reloadable ammo is available but sold separately
No PAL required.
Tested fired with smokeless powder ammo.

Antique 6” .44 DA/SA Improved Automatic Belgian Revolver Counterfeit Smith & Wesson

Description:
Make: F.D.C. Belgian

Model: 1st Model 44

Serial Number: NSNV

Year of Manufacture: 1882-1890s

Caliber: .44 Russian/ .44 Special

Action Type: Break action revolver.

Markings: This revolver has “Belgium” on the bottom of the grip frame. The top of the barrel is marked “IMPROVED AUTOMATIC”. The Cylinder face has Belgian proofs.

Barrel Length: 6”

Stock Configuration & Condition: This revolver has two-piece hard rubber grip panels. The panels have flowers at the top. Grips are in very good like new condition. This one has longer 41mm cylinder.

Type of Finish: Blued 99% intact. 

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with strong rifling.

The action is strong and the cylinder lockup is good with no play.

The action functions correctly. The barrel has an extractor that does operate as it should. This model has very special safety system, manufacturer decided

that shooting revolver straight up as unsafe and pointing revolver up puts it on safe disconnecting trigger from hammer but pointing barrel down takes it off safe and makes it ready to shoot again.

The .44 Double Action First Model was introduced in 1881 and a total of 54,668 revolvers were produced. All frames were manufactured before 1899, making this model an antique.

There were many copies of S&W designs made in Europe. Some were licensed, but most were not. Some were outright forgeries trying to pass themselves off as genuine S&W products. Generally speaking, the copies made by Ludwig and Lowe in Germany and the Tula arsenal in Russia were high-quality copies. There were also copies, or counterfeits is probably a better word, made in Belgium, Spain, and Mexico.

According to The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, by Supica and Nahas, in the 1890s S&W went as far as to bring legal action against one Belgian firm for marketing counterfeits of the S&W design. After a lengthy legal battle, S&W eventually won their case, resulting in 'heavy damages' to the Belgian firm. Not what we usually expect of Belgian gun makers, who are normally known for high quality. This Revolver is one of those counterfeits. This item was produced under military contract in Europe and eventually stamped for import to the U.S. This gives us great reason to believe there may be some story behind this revolver. It is a Belgium copy of an American classic that helped to shape country and culture today. With a rich history and multiple different models, collecting these revolvers has been growing in popularity; this would make a great addition to any arms collection.