Milsurp After Hours

No names - no pack drill BUT has anyone got any information or pictures of the following.

Original piece; Probably a copy Colt 4½" Octagon barrel revolver or similar
.
Barrel sleeved to take .22" Air Gun Pellets.

The cylinder takes brass "bullet cases" which are in 2 pieces. The larger piece is the cartridge case which has a pressure valve and a firing button in the base where the primer would be. The case is primed with air using a HP bicycle pump which can be screwed onto the neck.

The bullet part can be loaded with a .22" pellet and then screwed onto the case neck where the pump has been attached. The 'round' is then loaded to the cylinder as a normal round would be.
Then the hammer is released the air pressure in the case is released and propels the pellet out of the barrel.
Not a great range but different.


I hope to be able to post pictures in the near future

Try this link
http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2006/01/ ... idges.html

That's the one Robert. I am hoping to be able to take some good pics later......................

Another case of what is technically possible not necessarily being actually useful.

And guess what they banned those in the UK .

Dave

Well, as promised , here are the pics of the revolver.
It is stamped 'Henry Krank Co Ltd. and has a serial no of 7108 which is on the back of the cylinder, the loading gate and the frame just in front of the brass trigger guard.
The cylinder's marked Patent No. and has a Naval Battle engraved on it. There are also words which are difficult to read but look like 'ENGAGED 6 MAY 1843'
It appears to be a converted Uberti 1849 Wells Fargo model.









After some research it would appear that it does not fit into any of the current French firearm categories.
It is not powerful enough as an Air Pistol.
It cannot fire .22 rimfire ammo as the cartridges are too small for the chambers.
It cannot fire .38 special as the barrel is sleeved for .22 and the cylinder is opened out inside .

So, no pump available to prime the cartridges means no range test but I hope that what you have seen is interesting.

Looks like it would surely be "collectible", if only as an oddity. Surely there must be some of those hand loading air pumps around some place. If anyone has one and no gun to go with it they surely would want to dispose of it at a cheap price, you would think. Wonder, as an alternative, what the prospects are of finding a proper fitting to use with a more conventional air pump?

"Anti-Social Behavior Act of 2003" that ended the production is a quaint sounding name for what was probably an unnecessary law.......unless it also banned Rap music played in public.

Hi Duncan

That pistol looks very good indeed , thought this site in the UK may be able to help you finding a pump , as I said they were banned over here so there well may be old kit left that some one wants to get rid of .http://www.airgunbbs.com/index.php .

Dave

I lied about the pump He has got one but he isn't sure where it is after his move from the UK..................