Anyone know of a Pistol Historian?

I have a Francisco Arizmendi 5 shot, .22 cal m/m, pocket pistol aka "velodog", that has been passed through now 5 generations.

I am really trying to nail down an approximate year and location of manufacture so I can edit the family letter that comes with it.

No one in the family has really studied the history, so I am trying to add as much detail as I can.

 

You could (seriously) send an email with a little info to the Forgotten Weapons channel or another Auction company that may have some info for you.

 

You might try looking in auction house (eg: Sotheby's) catalogs, many of which can be found as pdfs online. Don't know of any historians, but Massad Ayoob is probably the most knowledgeable handgun guy on the planet.

Beautiful pistol & it's beyond cool that it's been in your family fir 5 gens. Good luck.

 

Never heard of them. Interesting pocket piece.
http://www.velodogs.com/mobile/

 

Yes, on one side is the caliber, and the star and crescent, which indicates the maker Arizmendi.
The 44, I believe.... is that it was #44 on the rack when it was produced.


On the other side is the star with a "P" in it, which i believe means it passed QA testing?
Along with the FA for Armezmendi


On the top of the barrel is 1022, no clue what that is for

 

Star & Crescent= Turkish? Persian?

 

http://www.littlegun.info/arme espagnole/ancien artisan/a arizmendi francisco velodog hammerless gb.htm

https://www.bevfitchett.us/firearms-identification/arizmendi-pistols-1.html

http://www.velodogs.com/

 

Seconded Ian at Forgotten Weapons may know something about them, or know how to find out something about them.

Had a chance to talk to him a little bit a couple weeks ago in person and he made a good point that most of the ones he could speak to, he's done a video on, and if he hasn't then he probably doesn't if its obscure like this one seems to be.

 

There is also Legacy Collectibles that specialize in rare firearms. They got a channel on YouTube and a website.

https://www.legacy-collectibles.com/

 

Have you tried looking for a ...... pistorian? I'll see myself out.

 

maybe this dude can help http://www.littlegun.info/arme espagnole/ancien artisan/a arizmendi francisco pupy cal 320 gb.htm
looks like it was made in spain around WWll for export to germany, austria-hungary?

very nice! love the proof markings! i have a collection of H&K's and walthers with proof markings. trying to find a nice glock g19 gen 2 with austrian proof marks for my collection. the european firearm craftsmanship is 2nd to none!
good luck