Belgian Nagant Revolvers
Notes: At the
turn of the 20th Century, the Belgian military adopted a number of
the revolvers designed by the Nagant Brothers (their company being called E&L
Nagant). For many countries in
Europe, Nagant revolvers were the
handguns to have in the late 1880s to early 1910s, and their designs saw much
use during World War 1 (and in some cases, as late as just after World War 2);
the Russians are well-known for their use of the Nagant 1895 revolver, which was
a status symbol for officers into the 1960s.
However, by World War 1, most Nagant revolvers used by the Belgian
military were well-used (but still perfectly serviceable due to their quality),
as by 1900, Emile Nagant had gone blind and retired from weapons manufacturing
and Leon Nagant had died. Their
sons preferred to go into the automotive business, and did not continue the E&L
Nagant firm, and by 1914, manufacture in Belgium had essentially stopped except
for some small batches made under license.
Most Nagant revolvers are essentially standard-type revolver designs,
which are unremarkable except for their good quality and some unusual design
“quirks” common to most Nagant revolvers.
The M-1878 was
the first of the “modern” Nagant revolver designs.
It had many of the features that are associated with Nagant designs,
including the large spur-type hammer, reloading through a reloading gate instead
of a hinging cylinder, and an ejection rod with a large disc at the end to aid
in quick case ejection. The M-1878
(also known as the Officer’s Model, as they were issued almost exclusively to
Belgian Army officers) used a fluted cylinder, a solid steel frame, and an
octagonal 5.5-inch heavy barrel.
The M-1878 was withdrawn from official Belgian service just before World War 1,
but still saw some use in that war.
The M-1878 was replaced in 1886 by the M-1878/86 version (also called the
M-1886); this version is essentially the same as the M-1878 for game purposes,
though the grip shape allows the M-1878/86 to sit better in the hand.
The M-1878/86 was used by the Belgians until 1940, though after World War
1, the primary user was the Belgian Customs Service.
In 1883, another version of the M-1878 was also produced, the M-1883.
The M-1883 was a simplified version of the M-1878, using single-action
instead of double-action operation, and some other design simplifications such
as a non-fluted cylinder. The
M-1883 was primarily issued to NCOs, artillery troops, and vehicle drivers,
though again after World War 1, it was used by the Belgian Customs Service until
1940. In 1886, the double-action
lockwork was returned to M-1883, producing the M-1883/86; the model’s history is
similar to that of its kin, being used until 1940.
The M-1878, M-1878/86, and M-1883/86 are
identical for game purposes; the M-1883 is identical for game purposes except
for its single-action operation.
The M-1893 was
used by Argentine forces and built for them by Suhl in Germany; it is based on a
large-framed prototype of the Belgian M-1878, but much larger, chambered to fire
the 11mm German Ordnance round (which was the standard German revolver round at
the time). It is double-action and
used the same octagonal 5.5-inch barrel.
Due to the much-larger cylinder (to hold the much-larger cartridge), the
M-1893 is a rather large weapon.
The Balkan Republics, before World War 1, also used this revolver; some can
still be found in civilian hands today.
Though the
Norwegians used a copy of the Belgian M-1878 revolver from 1883 to about 1940,
some officers were also issued a smaller version, the M-1887/93, starting in
1887 and continuing use until also 1940 (though by then replaced for most
purposes by copies of the Colt M-1911A1.)
These had a shorter, though still octagonal, 4.5-inch barrel, and
chambered for a much smaller cartridge.
It was of the handiest Nagant revolver versions ever produced.
The Swedes also adopted this version in 1887, but used it until 1947, in
dwindling numbers, and ending up in police departments in a few cities.
They were also used by Yugoslavia, who acquired them between World Wars 1
and 2; there was some Nazi use, but most were not thought worthy of use by Nazi
soldiers or their allies and simply confiscated.
After World War 2, they were handed back out, then were used in dwindling
numbers, until now, where the survivors are primarily found in civilian hands.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
M-1878 |
9mm Belgian Nagant |
0.94 kg |
6 Revolver |
$165 |
M-1883 |
9mm Belgian Nagant |
0.94 kg |
6 Revolver |
$161 |
M-1893 |
11mm German Ordnance |
1.11 kg |
6 Revolver |
$215 |
M-1887/93 |
7.5mm Norwegian Nagant |
0.79 kg |
6 Revolver |
$136 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
M-1878 |
DAR |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
13 |
M-1883 |
SAR |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
13 |
M-1893 |
DAR |
2 |
1-Nil |
2 |
4 |
Nil |
15 |
M-1887/93 |
DAR |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
9 |
FN Barracuda
Notes: The
Barracuda was FN’s only revolver design (though they later built Manhurin
revolvers for the short period in the early 1990s that Giat owned FN).
The Barracuda was a high-quality weapon designed for police forces that
preferred revolvers to automatic pistols; unfortunately, at the time of the
Barracuda’s introduction in the late 1970s, police departments were overcoming
their trust of automatics, and production stopped in 1987 after nearly a decade
of poor sales. For the most part,
the design of the Barracuda was conventional, though it is one of the few
revolvers with a trigger guard designed with a shaped trigger guard for the
supporting hand. The hammer spring
had tension adjustable to one of four settings.
A replacement cylinder could be used to change the caliber to 9mm
Parabellum, with star-shaped insert allowing the use of an inserted 9mm
cylinder. Speedloaders and half and
full-moon clips may be used. Barracudas were built only with a 3-inch or 4-inch
barrel.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
Barracuda (3” Barrel) |
.357 Magnum and .38 Special
and 9mm Parabellum |
1.05 kg |
6 Cylinder |
$278 |
Barracuda (4” Barrel) |
.357 Magnum and .38 Special
and 9mm Parabellum |
1.1 kg |
6 Cylinder |
$288 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
Barracuda (.357, 3”) |
DAR |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
4 |
Barracuda (.38. 3”) |
DAR |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
4 |
Barracuda (9mm, 3”) |
DAR |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
6 |
Barracuda (.357, 4”) |
DAR |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
7 |
Barracuda (.38. 4”) |
DAR |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
7 |
Barracuda (9mm, 4”) |
DAR |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
10 |