the doggonedest gun

[smithers599]

A friend of mine who collects unusual guns brought this to Scottsdale Gun Club yesterday. It is a Mateba, made by the Italian company that makes the Chiappa Rhino.

Cylinder is front of, rather than above, the trigger. There is a cylinder shield that swings into place to protect your support hand from cylinder gap burns when you put your support hand forward. The sights are atrocious -- a tiny rear notch like from a 1930s pocket auto, and a super-wide cylindrical plastic post that is much wider than the rear notch. Go figure.

It's an 8-shooter.

Why? No idea. The designer was on LSD, I guess.

[marlin39a]

I’m at a loss for words. 38/357? No way I’d have it.

[needsmostuff]

Guessing no self cocking going on and the trigger pull is double action only ,,,,and atrocious ?

[Packer]

Strange! I'm going to guess the lowering of the cylinder is to reduce the upward momentum of recoil. But the sheer clumsiness of this thing limits it usefulness for anything but a boat anchor.

[smithers599]

Guessing no self cocking going on and the trigger pull is double action only ,,,,and atrocious ?

Interestingly, the double action pull is magnificent, because it doesn't have the various hitches and stopping points of a traditional revolver trigger. Smooth as silk. If you look closely, you can see a lever just above and behind the trigger which cocks the firing mechanism to single action. The single action pull is likewise excellent. There is a lever on both sides.

Chiappa/Mateba also makes a self-cocking "automatic revolver," but this is not it.

Here is the auto-revolver:

[xerts1191]

Coming to a local gun show near you

[lostdog99]

Hmmm.... I think that if you could get optics on it and shoot it from laying on your back it would be great for longer range with fast follow up shots using your bent leg as support. You could not do that with a standard revo. Limited application for sure . . .but if that is what your need is . . .

Edit . . . .I just looked at the price . . .$3000- $8000 . . .I just lost all interest . . .

[OH-MAN]

Looks to be a bit hefty as well.
One handing. like dual style would be a job.