Pistol identification challenge

[ccdjg]

Here's one you will not see very often. Can anyone identify the pistol shown here (the nickel plated one, not the Abas! The Abas is just there just for comparison )

Without giving too much away, I can tell you that it is a British design that predates the Abas by quite a few years.

Danny and Jimmy are excluded from this challenge as they will have a pretty good idea what it is .

[Lawrie Amatruda]

Here's one you will not see very often. Can anyone identify the pistol shown here (the nickel plated one, not the Abas! The Abas is just there just for comparison )

Without giving too much away, I can tell you that it is a British design that predates the Abas by quite a few years.

Danny and Jimmy are excluded from this challenge as they will have a pretty good idea what it is .

Looks very much like a French MAS 50

[ccdjg]

Looks very much like a French MAS 50

Well Lawrie, I mjust admit that it does seem to have more in common with the MAS 50 than the Abas. But it is definitely an all-British design and made in this country. As the design was patented well before the War, and the MAS dates from the 1950's, perhaps the French got their inspiration from it?

[Ragle Jnr]

Looks a bit like an under lever version of a webley, family sights and grip? David

[ptdunk]

Is it the first version of an ‘A.H Hill’ ?
If so it must be pretty rare.
Would be great to see pics of the cocking cycle.

Cheers,
Matt.

[Abasmajor]

Is it the first version of an ‘A.H Hill’ ?
If so it must be pretty rare.
Would be great to see pics of the cocking cycle.

Cheers,
Matt.

An impression of the A.H. Hill patent appears in the prototype, experimental section of John's Encyclopedia of Spring Air Pistols which looks very similar, but presumably the pistol in question here is from a production run albeit a short one.

Brian