“The Formidable” was the name given to one of many different civilian pocket-carry revolvers made by the French Manufrance firm in St Etienne. This particular model was introduced in 1895, although it went through a significant redesign in 1902. The example I have here is the later pattern, which was sold until 1916 (when arms production completely shifted to military weapons). It is a 5-shot, swing-out cylinder double action revolver chambered for the 8mm French Ordnance (aka 8mm Lebel Revolver) cartridge. The double action trigger pull is very heavy at about 17 pounds, and the hammer is bobbed to prevent snagging in a pocket.
Light MGs
Mythbusting with the .30-06 American Chauchat: Reliability Test
Everyone knows, of course, that the Chauchat is the worst gun ever, and can’t normally get through an entire magazine without malfunctioning. Well, let’s try that out…and with an ever worse culprit; an M1918 Chauchat […]
Percussion
Pinfire LeMat Grapeshot Revolver at RIA
Colonel Jean Alexandre LeMat was a native Frenchman who emigrated to the United States and in 1856 secured a patent for a “grapeshot revolver”, which had both a 9-shot .42 caliber cylinder and a 20-gauge […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Vintage Saturday: Snipers in Shorts
The man in the front has an FR-F1, a French-issue sniper’s rifle roughly based on the MAS-36. The man others appear to have MAS 49/56 semiauto rifles. And of course, it wouldn’t be a desert […]
If I identified it correctly in Alfa weapons catalog 1911 this weapon was also available chambered for Nagant revolver for same price, following variants are known to said catalog:
– 5 shots Colt ejector, steel barrel, horn grip, black, 440 g, price 31.00
– same as above but case hardened, marbled, blued cylinder, price 31.50
For comparison 7-shot Nagant service model price was 30.00
I must disagree with you Ian about the rear sight. It’s a scratch not a sight.
The British did quite well during WW2 with a 17 pounder so no excuse.
Handguns were scarcely a decisive factor in the war.
Horrid grips, hammer, capacity, sights and trigger pull but some plates went down and the gun in your hand is better than the gun you left at home!
A completely fun gun for casual plinking similar to the S&W Chiefs Special in .38 Special which also has only five rounds, but a significantly lighter trigger pull and more visible sights.
Very French that you have to bring your own bag, just like at the Carrefour or Cora!