Help Identifying Old Belgian Pistol

Andrew hall

Experts,
Can you help me identify this pistol? I know it is from Leige, Belgium because it has the Leige symbol stamped on the inside of the cylinder rim. The letters ah are also stamped there in such a way that the right side of the A forms the left side of the H. There is a star above it.

Also on the barrel, stamped sideways, are the letters p.v. and R, with a crown type of symbol above it. The cylinder markings match the barrel.

The left side of the frame says EW with the number 24 immediately below.

8 sided barrel, folding trigger.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/aehall10/Belgian Pistol/Photo-0389.jpg
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/aehall10/Belgian Pistol/Photo-0390.jpg

rufe-snow

My reference identifies it as being a "Pistol Type Pocket Revolver", because of the shape of the frame.

The "AH with Star" is a Belgian proof inspectors mark. Each inspector had a specific letters or letters that was his personal marking.

These were made in great quantity as inexpensive self defense handguns, in the years prior to the First World War. As far as I know there is little collector interest/demand/value for them in the States.

Spider7115

It appears to be a typical Belgian "Velo dog" revolver, similar to the one below, intended for bicyclists to protect themselves against attacking dogs. As Rufe Snow pointed out, these are common and were made in the early 20th century by the hundreds of thousands. They have little collector interest.

perry shooter

Rufe S has it pegged but it is an interesting piece with enclosed hammer and what looks to be a very long cylinder for the size of the pistol .what would you guess is the bore diameter?

Andrew hall

Perry,
I'd estimate the barrel diameter at 6 cm (or approximatel .25 inches)and approximately 1.5" long.

By the way, I've asked Santa for a new camera for Christmas. One that takes better close-ups.

rufe-snow

The ones with the long cylinders, were very likely chambered for the original 5.5mm Velo Dog cartridge, as it's overall loaded length was 1.350+.

A lot of the ones that were manufactured later, i.e. in the early 20th Century were chambered for the Browning .25 & .32 Auto cartridges. These were not as long as the original Velo Dog cartridges.