Rare Domingo Alberdi Exhibition Grade Pinfire Revolver

[Old Guns Canada]

The city of Eibar is perhaps the best known center of arms manufacture in Spain, its prolific artisan and large-scale gun manufacturers dating back well into the sixteenth century. Among them the family of Alberdi has been active as gun makers for several generations. Domingo Alberdi was first mentioned in the Eibar Industrial Register in 1870. Although he was registered as a single artisan from 1881 to 1887, his prolific manufacture of firearms would suggest that he had other shops producing weapons under his name. The “Basque Review” of 1884 included Alberdi among the previous eight months’ most productive makers and listed an impressive 178 single barrel Lefaucheux shotguns, 55 double barrel, 236 Remington shotguns, 12 percussion pistols, 1,696 Lefaucheux revolvers, 44 single shot Remington pistols, and another 884 revolvers of various types coming from the shops of Domingo Alberdi.
Alberdi died in 1888 and the firm was registered under his widow’s name of Maria Ansola, who carried on business for another three years as “Vda. e Hijos de Domingo Alberdi” (widow and sons of Domingo Alberdi), wholesalers and exporters. This particular revolver is in museum quality condition and may be the only one of its kind in existence. The exquisite gold and silver inlay on all components (including the screw heads), the fine, intricate execution of the milling of the extractor, and the elaborate woodwork make this an extremely interesting piece. Of note is the matte finish on the cylinder which has been achieved by a fine cross-hatch pattern almost invisible to the naked eye. Alberdi’s precise workmanship, the detail in the inlay and the silver pins in the grips, plus the fact that this gun is in such fine condition make this an extremely rare and desirable collectors’ piece. Chambered for the 12mm pinfire cartridge.

[Longstud]

Absolutely stunning specimen. Thanks for the history and the pics.