Guns International #: 101466964
Seller's Inventory #: CM20-858

Category - Military Pistols - US - .32 Pistols

Category
Military Pistols - US
.32 Pistols

WW1 Vintage French Military Model 1914 Ruby .32 acp Pistol by the Retolaza Firm in Spain ** Matching Mag! ** SOLD **

Description:
Designed in 1914 just prior to WW1 by the Gabilondo firm in Spain, the self-loading semi-automatic Ruby pistol was based off of the Browning Model 1903.  Chambered for the .32 ACP cartridge, the Ruby featured very robust construction, a 9-round detachable magazine, and a blow-back operated action.  In 1915 Gabilondo sent examples of the Ruby to the French government who were desperately in need of small arms with the outbreak of WW1.  The French government found the Ruby to be satisfactory and officially adopted the pistol as "Pistolet Automatique de 7 millimètre 65 genre "Ruby".  An open-ended initial order was placed for 10,000 of these pistols a month.  Soon it was determined that 10,000 per month was not enough and the order was upped to 30,000 per month, and again several months later to 50,000 per month.  Gabilondo could not possibly hope to keep up with French demand and arranged for four other companies to produce them in partnership.  Each of these four firms would produce 5,000 per month and Gabilondo would manufacture 10,000.  Incredibly, French Military demand continued to increase as the war progressed and another 3 firms were contracted to begin production to keep up with demand. As the French became desperate military procurement of the Ruby spiraled out of control, with France contracting directly with at least 45 other companies to produce the Ruby.  This progression caused numerous problems with quality control and interchangeability.  The French simply could not properly oversee the production with so many entities involved and the result was not good.  Guns were not heat treated properly and would wear out quickly, magazines would not interchage betweem different makers creating malfunctions in combat and logistical nightmares procuring extra magazines, spare parts would not interchange between many of the makers causing small repairs to be impossible.  With all of that said, the early production guns from the original 7 makers were well-liked by the troops and very reliable.  The larger capacity of the magazine and relatively small size of the pistol made it a popular back-up weapon with front-line troops living and fighting in the trenches.  The Ruby was the standard issue sidearm for French telephonists, stretcher bearers, machine-gun & tank crewman, mortar crews, and various rear-echelon personnel of all descriptions.  After it's service in WW1 the Ruby continued to serve thru WW2 until it was decommissioned in 1958, an incredibly long service life for a pistol.  This particular example was made by Retolaza, one of the original 7 firms that was partnered with the Gabilondo company.  It is in good condition overall and 100% functional with an original matching magazine.  All of the numbered parts on this Ruby are matching, both inside and out.  The original blue finish on this gun is still approximately 60% present and shows wear typical of a combat-used pistol from WW1.  As you can see from the pictures, most of the finish wear is on the left-hand side of the slide.  There is virtually no pitting, only some scattered minor handling and storage marks showing.  The factory stampings are faint, but still visible.  The factory slide legend is partially obscured by the protruding bump on the left side of the frame.  This bump was added to the pistol at the factory to protect the safety from being turned off when drawn from a holster, a design flaw that was discovered in combat situations.  The French military code "RH" for this maker is stamped on the rear left side of the gun.  The bore in this Ruby is in excellent condition overall.  The rifling still shows sharp lands and grooves, the bore is bright and shiny, and there is no visible erosion or major imperfections visible.  The original fully-checkered wooden grips on this Ruby show some carry and handling wear in the checkering, as well as some dings and dents in either grip but are in solid condition overall.  Both grips are free from any cracks, chips, repairs, or major damage, and both sides are tight to the gun with no wiggle.  This Retolaza Ruby comes complete with it's original serial-numbered 9-round magazine in perfect working order.  The action on this WW1 French Ruby is slick and smooth, and the slide to frame fitment is excellent.  All of the controls on this pistol work 100%, the mechanics are in excellent condition with little to no wear,  and the slide and barrel lock-up is superb.  We have no doubt that this pistol will function 100% like the day it left the factory over 100 years ago.  This Ruby would be an excellent addition to any World War 1 or military weapons collection.  It is not too often that we encounter these in functional condition without import marks, much less with their original matching magazine.

SOLD

Curio/Relic: Yes
Manufacturer: Retolaza
Model: 1914
Caliber Info: .32 ACP (7.65 mm)