Austrian Marine Revolver (Gasser) Model 1870

[kotkinjs1]

Hello,

I'd like to know if anyone knows a source (unlikely) or rough measurements to fabricate a replacement ejector rod for for a Model 1870 Marine Gasser.

Also, does anyone have any specific information on that model variation as far as serial number ranges, ratio to standard Army m1870s, etc?

Information

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[gblacksmith]

This looks like one of the Gasser "Montenegrin" revolvers rather than a military issue. These were said to have been very common in the regions of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that had formerly been Ottoman dominated and local men were commonly armed with this weapon.

[Patrick Chadwick]

This looks like one of the Gasser "Montenegrin" revolvers rather than a military issue...

Not so. Please look more closely.

The revolver is indeed an example of the Gasser M/1870 Marine model. The wedge that holds the barrel is a feature unique to this model.

Another feature visible in the photos is that the barrel block is facetted, instead of being rounded off at the top.

A third feature, not so obvious in the photo (kotkinjs1, perhaps you could make a photo with the gate open?) is that the loading gate is hinged at the top, not the bottom.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Hello, I'd like to know if anyone knows a source (unlikely) or rough measurements to fabricate a replacement ejector rod for for a Model 1870 Marine Gasser.
Also, does anyone have any specific information on that model variation as far as serial number ranges, ratio to standard Army m1870s, etc?

This is the definitive work on Gasser revolvers:


Joschi SCHUY Gasser-Revolver

Lebenswerk einer österreichischen Büchsenmacherfamilie
30 x 21 cm, 272 Seiten, cellophaniert gebunden, über 220 Color- und SW-Abbildungen, ISBN 3 853 20 5884. Braunau1992,

[kotkinjs1]

Still looking for a replacement hammer and ejector rod.

[Patrick Chadwick]

If you wait to find spare parts for a non-US revolver from 1870 you are going to miss years of shooting opportunities with the thing!


The firing pin can be turned up from silver steel and case-hardened with Casenit, if you are a perfectionist. Not being a perfectionist, just a practical shooter, I would simply make up two or three and keep a couple in reserve. After all, the striker only has to bash a bit of brass, not steel.
I do not have a big Gasser myself (sob!) and Santa failed to deliver one. So I do not know how the firing pin was fixed. There may be a hole with a screw thread - if so, be prepared for it to be an oddball size. Or the striker was a force fit or ??? No matter - here comes another practical tip: since the striker only has to bear a compression load, it will be quite satisfactory if you fix the stub in the socket hole with - wait for it! - an impact adhesive! E.g. Pattex, Thixofix or whatever your local brand is called. Welding/brazing should be avoided, as that will soften up the steel components. Soft-solder will turn brittle and the striker will eventually become loose. But an impact adhesive will remain rubbery for probably as long as you want to shoot the revolver AND (purists can breathe again!) it is a reversible fix, as the adhesive can be loosened by soaking the assembly in acetone.


As to the ejector rod, more soon... watch this space.


... thanks for waiting!


Scaling a couple or four good side elevations of Marine Gassers, I find that the ejector rod+slider (at the front) has an overall length of 0.655 x barrel length = 0.65 x 185 mm = 120mm near enough for our purposes. It just has to look right and function properly, the length to 1/10 mm is not important.
The detent groove in the rod should be place so that about 1-1,5mm of the rod projects out of the back of the barrel mounting block when the rod is in the forwards position.
The style of the slider block at the front you can scale up for yourself from photos available on the internet (curiously, my photos are all side elevations and do not show how it is shaped).
The size of the rod and detent groove you will have to deduce by measuring your own example.


That's about as much as I can do without having the revolver in my hands!

[Snipione]

Hello guys!
I saw this thread, short time later i registered to this forum.
My homecountry is Austria, i'm very interested in ordonnance firearms, collecting some of them.
If you like to, I can give some more informations about gasser revolvers, also if you like to get some pictures from j.schuy's famous 2 books about them..
I know this absolute expert on gassers personally.
Kind regards
Christoph

[kotkinjs1]

Hello snipione! A year later but I just saw your reply also! lol
Anyway, thank you for the offer and I am still looking for either parts or recommendations to fix the hammer and or push rod (and its little piece that connects it to the barrel). Patrick Chadwick has excellent advice above...just wondering if there are any other recommendations, diagrams of my missing parts...or a source for parts!
Thank you!

[jonnyc]

If anyone runs across any old original Gasser-Montenegrin rounds, they're not much good for shooting, but I do collect them.

Wink-wink, Nudge-nudge......