Today for Gus’ Gear, I am going to do something different. I am going to actually post a German item for a change. This is one of the many variations on the M1883 Reichsrevolver, it is a smaller version (baby Reichsrevolver) made by Dreyse as a commercially available sidearm targeted to officers. It is chambered for a 9x17mmR cartridge (.380) and is a double action weapon with two triggers. The front trigger is used to advance the cylinder and to cock the hammer, the rear trigger is connected to the sear to fire the revolver. I am unsure why there are two triggers on this, the second trigger is not really usable as it is too close to the main trigger, but it can be used to fire the revolver after it has been cocked. I suspect it may have been a way to try to work around the existing double action patents. Or it could be a typical over engineered German product.
The photo of the left side shows the Dreyse maker’s mark just above the front trigger. The safety is removed from the side plate and set on the frame above the grip, behind the hammer. At the base of the barrel is a * over P that I have been told is a patent mark, and the serial number 131. All the small parts are marked with 31. The holster is a smaller version of the standard 1883 leather holster. The cartridge shown is a 38 Short Colt. It was developed with the 9x17R as a pattern and has the same external dimensions, but is loaded with smokeless powder, so may produce too much pressure for the Reichsrevolver.
Here is a comparison of the 1879, 1883 and Baby Reichsrevolvers, there was also a full sized double action, double trigger model produced as well as the double action single trigger model.
Here is a comparison of the 1879, 1883 and Baby Reichsrevolvers, there was also a full sized double action, double trigger model produced as well as the double action single trigger model.
Field stripping of the revolver would normally be the removal of the cylinder to facilitate cleaning, that is done by lifting the top of the spring on the right side of the frame in front of the cylinder and pulling the cylinder pin out. The left side plate can be removed with three screws that hold it in place, a good view of the hammer, trigger, cylinder pawl and cylinder lock with the side plate and grip panels removed. This view shows the separation of the front and rear trigger. It is possible to cock the weapon with the front trigger and then release it, allowing the rear trigger to be used to fire the weapon, it has very poor ergonomics in this usage, but the rear trigger is almost a “set trigger” in that it requires very little pressure to fire the revolver. The trigger pull is rather heavy if it is fired with the front trigger, but would work well in close fighting conditions.
The photo of the right side shows the loading gate and the cartridge ejector rod. The ejector rod is fixed to the frame with two screws, both numbered 31. The ejector is marked “Patent” in the same font as the * P marking on the other side. It is odd that more of these were not produced, as it is a decent improvement on the standard M1883 Reichsrevolver, in my opinion.