mawkie
C&R Whisperer
-Having collected just about every version of French military auto pistol there was just one vast arena that I had purposely ignored: the Spanish Ruby. Most are found in the range of poor to good, rarely VG or excellent, having served in most cases for two world wars. I made the decision I wanted one of the versions that the French kept in service post war and then installed the big, ugly slide rivet.
-Found a fair example built by La Armeria Elgoibaresa, Eligobar – under the odd “Lusitania” name. There were four major producers of the Ruby and a vast host of Mom 'n Pop small shops hammering them out during WWI. This manuf. was one of the major four though you don't see them all that often. The French assigned a manuf. code to many of the Spanish companies and this one happens to be "AE". You'll find the code on the left side of the frame near the tang. You'll also find two French acceptance stars on the bottom of the frame near the magazine heel release.
-The slide rivet was added to help keep the safety lever from being swept from safe to fire modes when withdrawing it from a holster. It's a big lump of a pistol made from questionable quality steel. Chambered in .32 ACP. This one is matching but for the magazine (bought it sans mag, found an original AE marked one).
-The barrel looks hand carved and the bore has damned near no rifling left, yet it's not pitted. Can't tell if it's badly worn (it's been said that the French gave Ruby pistols an estimated lifespan of 500 rounds) or just that poor a quality. I'm thinking worn. Let's just say this one is at the bottom of my large inventory list for range duty. I value my life that much.
-But it did serve at a time when the French losses were so dramatic that they took anything that could shoot. I'm sure 500 rounds was acceptable given the circumstances.
-Found a fair example built by La Armeria Elgoibaresa, Eligobar – under the odd “Lusitania” name. There were four major producers of the Ruby and a vast host of Mom 'n Pop small shops hammering them out during WWI. This manuf. was one of the major four though you don't see them all that often. The French assigned a manuf. code to many of the Spanish companies and this one happens to be "AE". You'll find the code on the left side of the frame near the tang. You'll also find two French acceptance stars on the bottom of the frame near the magazine heel release.
-The slide rivet was added to help keep the safety lever from being swept from safe to fire modes when withdrawing it from a holster. It's a big lump of a pistol made from questionable quality steel. Chambered in .32 ACP. This one is matching but for the magazine (bought it sans mag, found an original AE marked one).
-The barrel looks hand carved and the bore has damned near no rifling left, yet it's not pitted. Can't tell if it's badly worn (it's been said that the French gave Ruby pistols an estimated lifespan of 500 rounds) or just that poor a quality. I'm thinking worn. Let's just say this one is at the bottom of my large inventory list for range duty. I value my life that much.
-But it did serve at a time when the French losses were so dramatic that they took anything that could shoot. I'm sure 500 rounds was acceptable given the circumstances.