TEXAS RANGER REVOLVER
I am wondering if you could give me some information on a pistol? It is an older .38 caliber and the marking on the barrel is: TEXAS RANGER FOR 38 S & W SPECIAL CTGES. On the underside of the barrel it is stamped BELGIUM. The other side of the frame is stamped 38 W. The pistol is both single and double action. I know that Smith & Wesson 38 Special cartridges were not developed until 1899. I have attached two pictures of the pistol. Any information would be helpful.
John, CA.
.38 S & W Special cartridge was introduced in 1902. TEXAS RANGER revolver was a Belgian copy of Spanish EIBAR Model 1929 revolver, made sometimes in 1930s. Nobody know manufacturer(s) of these Belgian "pirate copies". Engraving or stamping of the factory brand on the firearms was not mandatory in Belgium, and therefore just the makers of high-quality arms (like AUG. FRANCOTTE, F.N., PIEPER/BAYARD, A. SIMONIS, CENTAURE and some others) were proud enough to tell: "We've done this gun!" There were presumably hundreds of small workshops, especially around the township of Li?ge, producing cheap handguns and shotguns, usually unlicenced cheap copies from the firearms of better quality, or just the parts of these unmarked guns.
Is this the gun you have? It is Bob's link ....