Early 1900's TAC Revolver

[rick6336]

I  have a Tracaola, Aranzabel, y Cie (TAC) revolver made in Spain sometime in the early 1900's.  I'm trying to get more info about it and trying to find out what to insure it for.  It is a .32 long, 5" barrel, looks like a early model S&W hand eject.  I know that the company was in business untill the mid 1930's, but that's it.   It is a 4th Gen. hand down.  Thanks for any help 

[fightingquaker13]

I  have a Tracaola, Aranzabel, y Cie (TAC) revolver made in Spain sometime in the early 1900's.  I'm trying to get more info about it and trying to find out what to insure it for.  It is a .32 long, 5" barrel, looks like a early model S&W hand eject.  I know that the company was in business untill the mid 1930's, but that's it.   It is a 4th Gen. hand down.  Thanks for any help 

Here is what a (very) basic search turned up. I'd say a good company, but maybe an odd ball caliber produced during the Great War. Its just a jumping off point, but at least a place to start.
Good luck
FQ13

http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20espagnole/ancien%20artisan/a%20trocaola%20aranzabal%20y%20cia%20gb.htm


On this particular gun, the cylinder latch is of a different design as the original, but other copies are so close to the originals that some parts are interchangeable.

Various Spanish makers made close copies of American swing-out cylinder revolvers. T.A.C., Cordoba, Crucelegui and others also made close copies of the S&W Top break New Model, Colt New Model Army & Navy and Colt Police Positive.

During WW1 both France and the UK ran short of handguns since the home manufacturers could not fill the demands. The British ordered Colt New Service revolvers in the .455 caliber, but Colt could only deliver 107.000 of them by 1917.

France needed a revolver that could chamber the 8 mm Lebel cartridge used in their St-Etienne 1892 Regular Service model.

Since the Spanish copies were of good quality and could easily be produced in the calibres used by both nations, France and England ordered huge quantities of them. The French chose Colt and S&W copies, both chambered for the 8 mm Lebel cartridge, while the British mostly preferred copies of the S&W Top break, which was easy to convert from the original .45 calibre onto the British .455.

Those Spanish guns saw heavy service during WW1 and proved of very good quality. Since they were chambered for the same cartridge as their regular St-Etienne 1892 model, the French gave them later the nickname "Spanish 92's".

Yours is not a war production, since it is chambered for the original .32 Long S&W cartridge.

I assume it was produced short after the war, but I can't tell for sure. It could also have been produced short before.

No matter what anyone would say, those Spanish copies proved to be of a quality comparable to the originals. Many WW1 soldiers thank their life to them. However, for some unknown reason, Spanish guns in general are not very popular in Europe, and are quite unknown in the USA.

During the 19th century and to this day, Spanish arms production has been concentrated around the city of Eibar (north of Spain) and in the area of the French-Spanish border (Hendaye). The Spanish were, just as the Liège makers, very skilled in copying existing popular models.

Marcel

[tombogan03884]

With the possible exception of some Astra models, none of the Spanish guns of that era have much value.
Because , contrary to FQ's article  quality varied widely.
If you can't find anything here try the ask the Experts column in Shooting Times, Guns and Ammo, or American Rifleman.

[twyacht]

Welcome rick6336, can you post a picture? It will help get an idea of what you have. Most here use photobucket to upload pics, but an image would be helpful.

Plus we love gun porn,....even the "old ones",....

Sounds interesting.

[Hazcat]

Welcome rick6336, can you post a picture? It will help get an idea of what you have. Most here use photobucket to upload pics, but an image would be helpful.

Plus we love gun porn,....even Especially the "old ones",....

Sounds interesting.

FIFY

[Sponsor]

[McGyver]

I LOVE the "old" Astras. Have 3 in my collection and carried two of them!

[tombogan03884]

Do you have one with the folding stock 

[rick6336]

This is the best I can do with the equipment I have.  As you can tell, it is a small frame

[Hazcat]

WOW, that's a ity bity thing!  Really cool!  Looks to be in really nice condition, too.

[rick6336]

I'd say it is about 90+%.  It wasnt kept in a holster much due to very little wear on edges and very little wear on cylinder.  My father said he shot it once in the late 40's or early 50's.