Another vintage wheelgun

[Mark K]

I've been cleaning this one up, it was frozen with gum and dirt, it is cleaning up well, and is tighter than I expected. From some quick measurements, it looks like a .32 S&W long. It has some interesting features, it's double and single action, it has a type of safety where the hammer is not resting on the firing pin when not cocked. The cylinder swings out to the right and has a spring loaded ejector. The little button on the right side below the hammer turns and the left side of the frame opens up to expose the inner workings for easy service. This is a fat little gun almost an inch wide at the grips. SFM may be Société Française de Munitions, more often associated with munitions than firearms from what I've read. This should be a fun shooter when ammo is available if ever.
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp104/Mbrgr/32dog/dog3.jpg
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp104/Mbrgr/32dog/dog1.jpg
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp104/Mbrgr/32dog/dog7.jpg
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp104/Mbrgr/32dog/dog8.jpg
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp104/Mbrgr/32dog/dog10.jpg
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp104/Mbrgr/32dog/dog6.jpg
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp104/Mbrgr/32dog/dog9.jpg
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp104/Mbrgr/32dog/dog2.jpg

[EMC45]

Looks to be quality made. Load up some mild ammo and let 'er rip! And tell us about it and post targets.

[primersp]

hello
S.F.M. was a ammo factory i think than now they are out of business
our gun loks like a "velodog"of the begining of century perhaps made in belgium
nice gun

[Bret4207]

First thing to check is, is it center fire? If so the 32 Long is a possibility. Without proof marks to confirm it's strength it might be wise to use very, very light loads or black powder. While the cylinder looks stout it appears there nothing between the primer and you except the hammer. Is the case head blocked by the frame at all? It smells of a black powder design to me, but I'm certainly no expert.

[Char-Gar]

I want to chime in with Bret. Be very very careful, the design and materials are probably of the lowest quality even though it appears to be well made. These and similir sold for less than a dollar when new at every cross roads store in the country. They were not intended to be shot with any regularity, but were to be last ditch belly guns better than a slick sole shoe, who those who could not afford a real gun.

They have some historical interest, but are not shooters today. If you just must shoot it, only use black powder and precious little of that.

[Mark K]

Thanks for the input, it is center fire for sure, the firing pin is in the frame and not part of the hammer. The hammer rotates back away from the firing pin when the trigger is released and is locked there until the trigger is pulled again. The head of the cartridge rests entirely on the frame like any revolver, the only difference is 10% of that area is the frame part that opens to expose the innards. If my history is correct, the S&W 32 long was introduced in 1903, and smokeless powder had been around for 10 to 20 years by then, so it should be ok with light loads, I am very careful when waking up a long sleeping pistol, although "let sleeping dog's lie" may be good advice. :~)
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp104/Mbrgr/32dog/pin1.jpg

[wills]

Nice photography

[scrapcan]

it looks to be made as well as many of the older vest pocket revolvers of similar vintage.

Somewhere on the board there was a link to a web page for obscure pocket guns of old. Anyone remember what it was, it may help for history of this little guy.

It looks like you have some pitting going on in the barrel. how did it clean up?

Are you looking for components to get started? Brass is available, you can use 00 buckshot if you don't have a mould. You could ask for some sample castings or buckshot to get you started. Dies should be available.

[SCIBUL]

Hello Mark.
Your gun is a french revolver. SFM means "Société Française de Munitions" or "French Munition Society" for you. If I remind well this kind of revolver were called "revolvers à gousset" = "fob revolver". They were sold mainly by the "MANUFRANCE" who was the first mail order selling society in France. Those revolvers quality went from bad to "about good" and both of them were manufactured in Belgium as was the vast majority of the brittish bulldog at the begining of the 20th century. Your SFM is certainly made of cast iron and certainly chambered for the "terrific" (that was told in the MF catalog) 8mm/92 french revolver ammunition that was loaded with black powder and jacketed bullet. Some commercial loads wore a pb bullet. This revolver is a commercial evolution of the "vélo-dog" series who were designed for cyclists, for their calf protection against stray dogs. In fact the "vélo-dog" calling is the association of vélo (bicycle in french) and dog (chien in french). In theyr vast majority those revolvers were sold with a specific "holster" who looked like a glases case.
Be extremely carefull if you want to shoot it. You can reply french 8mm/92 brass by trimming 32-20 brass.
Hope this helps.

[EMC45]

Cool post Scibul!!

[Mark K]

The 8mm Lebel case length which I assume you are describing is too long at 1.07 this one is 0.82, and the lebel is 1.44 total ctge length, this is no more than 1.29. I also believe this is steel, not iron, I will verify before going ahead, as I said, I am very careful. Thanks for the input.

[Bret4207]

Well that last pic shows the the level of finish, pretty crude, certainly not up to any H+R or IJ I've seen. As Chargar said, be careful.

[SCIBUL]

A last little thing : Try to see onthe barrel, cylinder and frame if the gun wears the "ELG" mark. If it does it means that it has been made in BELGIUM and has been tested in Liège.