1882 Ordnance Revolver

[Drake]

I picked up this little gem a few weeks ago at my local FFL - they had it set aside to give me first dibs on it.

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It's chambered for 7.5 Swiss Ordnance and is a solid-frame revolver with a loading gate and ejection rod on the right side.

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It has very nice dot and U-notch sights.

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I'll outline the system of reloading on this revolver.

First, rotate the loading gate to the rear

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Second, rotate the ejection rod handle outward from the underside of the barrel. It will engage a spring detent at half open and full open.

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Pull the rod to the rear to eject the empty casing. To advance the cylinder you simply pull the trigger - the loading gate disconnects and locks the hammer.

[Drake]

Cylinder removal-

First, loosen the small screw holding the ejector rod detent and cylinder pin lock and remove it from the frame.

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With the ejector rod handle rotated out of the way, pull the cylinder axis pin out of the revolver. Here you can see the notch in the pin where the lock interfaces.

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The rear of the cylinder axis pin has an unusual spring cut into it - it seems to be one solid piece.

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To remove the ejector rod, remove the long screw the ejector rod rides on then angle the rod out from the hole in the frame. The cylinder slides out the right side when the loading gate is opened.

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[Drake]

Sideplate-

Loosen the large screw at the top right side of the grip frame. It's a captured screw.

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A gap will be visible at the rear of the frame.

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Pivot the sideplate open, it is hinged under the barrel.

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The left side grip lifts out to access the main spring.

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The metal lug just in front of the sear is the hammer disconnect. This pushes the sear back against the hammer when the loading gate is open.

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A few photos with the M1895 Nagant revolver since they look similar. The 1882 is a Schmidt design, however.

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The trigger pull on the 1882 is very heavy but it is smooth and breaks clean, here was my first six shots with it.

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I would practice more but the ammo is about $0.85 per shot and rather hard to find. I ordered some from Graf's when I bought the pistol. I now need to find a holster and perhaps some vintage 7.5 ammunition!

[Guisan]

Nice set of pics and a nice revolver !

One thing, to get just the cylinder out there is no need to unscrew that ejector rod detent, rotating the ejector rod all the way up against the barrel frees the cylinder axis pin so it can be pulled out.
Note also that every part is numbered, from 1 for the cylinder axis pin to 12 for the ejection rod, the numbers indicate the sequense for taking the gun apart or back togegether.

That Fiocchi ammo is probably the last lot they ever made so keep the empty cases for reloading.

Guisan.

[Aughnanure]

Superb revolver and a superb post; congratulations on both counts.

[Karl/Pa.]

Excellent! Nice find.

[Niner]

Drake, as has been said... great picture post. The Swiss ordnance revolver sure is close relative to the Mosin Nagant and not nearly so obtainable.

[awo425]

Ammo is no problem at all, I have a swedish M1887, that uses the same ammo.

I use .32-20 cases, trimm them down(28,6mm) and fill in 17grn of swiss black powder No.2. Than a 100grn bullet is seated, be it HBWC or RN, OAL in such a way, that it uses the whole cylinder lenght minus 0,5mm(36,7mm in my M1887). Bullet has diameter of .313...314".
Outsidelube the bullet with a good BP grease, stuff them in the revolver and shoot.
Gives around 230m/s out of my M1887 and shoots into the bull at 25m with a 6 o'clock hold.

Chris

[LoLo25643]

I think that is the best picture post that I've ever seen on these. Great post and thanks!

[DuncaninFrance]

Thanks for that Drake, a real belter mate