St. ETIENNE 1892 Cal. 8X27 FO

French Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne revolver, Model 1892 (“Revolver d’Ordonnance Modèle 1892”), one of the most elegant European service arms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This model was produced by the Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne (MAS) for the French army. The Modèle 1892 revolver was adopted by the French army in 1892 and remained in service for a very long time – through the First World War, the interwar period and the Second World War – and continued to see some colonial use even after 1945. It fired the 8×27 mm French Ordnance cartridge, relatively modest ballistically but accurate and controllable. French M1892 revolvers are rarer than Webleys or Nagants.
Our example is authentic and unaltered, with a natural military patina and no polishing, showing believable wear with part of the original finish preserved. It does not appear to have been aggressively restored, which is a plus for collectors. Worth noting are the period-correct grips, even wear, an “honest wear” surface and edges that are still fairly crisp.
The barrel and frame suggest a genuine military example rather than a late commercial copy. The revolver has matching numbers.
Estimated market valuation (2025)
Configuration Estimated value
Worn / mixed parts 500 – 900 €
Authentic original military 1,000 – 1,800 €
Matching numbers + original finish 1,800 – 3,000 €
Premium/documented example 3,500 €+