WWI MAS St. Etienne Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1873 11MM 4.5″ Revolver Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,175.00
LSB#: LSB260118CT002
Make: French, La Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne (MAS)
Model: 1873
Serial Number: F43013
Year of Manufacture: 1875 / Antique
Caliber: 11mm
Action Type: Single or Double Action SA/DA 6-shot Revolver
Markings: The right side of the frame is marked “Mle d”Armes / St Etienne”, The left side of the frame, bottom of the trigger guard, left side of the barrel and the cylinder are all marked with the serial number “F43013”. The barrel is marked “Mle 1873” / S 1875.
Barrel Length: 4 1/2”
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade pinned to a half moon base that is dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a u-notch that is integral to the topstrap.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood panels. The checkering is worn but still visible. There are multiple compression marks, dings and scratches. There are no cracks or chips. There is a lanyard ring on the bottom of the grip. Overall, the grips rate in Good to Fair condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion but there is minor fouling in the grooves. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8.5/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about none of its metal finish remaining. The metal surfaces all have turned to a mottled gray patina. There are still spots of blue in protected areas. The frame on the left side has scattered minor surface oxidation. There are multiple scratches and dings all along the metal surfaces. Screws show light tool marks with strong slots and pins are unmarred. Overall, this revolver rates in Fair to Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks up with some play on each chamber with the trigger depressed. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The MAS Model 1873 revolver, based on the Chamelot-Delvigne system, holds a pivotal place in French military firearms history as the nation’s first standard-issue double-action revolver. Manufactured by Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne beginning in 1873, it marked a major transition from earlier single-action and percussion designs to more modern cartridge-firing sidearms. Chambered in 11mm, it was built for durability and simplicity, traits that made it exceptionally reliable in military service.
Produced in large numbers through the late 19th century, the Model 1873 saw widespread use not only in metropolitan France but across French colonial territories. It was produced by Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne from 1873 to 1887 in about 337,000 copies. Although replaced by the Modele 1892 revolver, it was nevertheless widely used during the First World War and issued to reserve units in 1940. The French Resistance made widespread use of it during the German occupation.
Despite being officially replaced by the later Model 1892, many examples remained in service well into World War I and even appeared again during World War II in secondary roles, resistance use, and police service. Its longevity speaks to the robustness of its design, even if the 11mm cartridge itself was considered somewhat underpowered by later standards.
This 1875-dated example shows the honest wear expected of a service revolver of its age. The loss of original finish and development of a uniform gray patina are typical for these well-used arms, while the markings remain legible and the mechanical function is intact. With a solid bore and correct configuration, it stands as a representative antique of early European military sidearms. For collectors, it offers strong historical appeal as a revolver that bridged the gap between 19th-century innovation and 20th-century warfare.
BF