Spanish Ruby pistol

Pistol is a small, semi-automatic "pocket pistol" in blued steel with plastic or bakelite grips. There is a safety lever on the left side of the frame and a magazine release at the bottom of the grip. There are 15 vertical serrations on the rear of both sides of the slide. The pistol is hammerless and, unlike the similar Browning model 1905/06 pistols, does not have a grip safety.

  • OCLC #: 1023812823
  • Physical Location: Pritzker Military Museum & Library — Safe — REALIA 04015
  • Personal Collection:
    • Lt. Sollie Kaplan Collection
  • Production, Publication, Distribution, Manufacture, and Copyright Notice: [Spain?]: [manufacturer not identified], [not before 1914?]
  • Physical Description: 1 pistol : steel and plastic, .25 ACP caliber ; 11 cm in length
  • General Notes:
    • Title by cataloger.
    • Date based on when the first Ruby pistols were manufactured.
    • Pistol is chambered in .25 ACP also known as 6.35×16mmSR.
    • There are no makers marks or other manufacturer information on the pistol.
    • Spanish manufacturers started copying the John Browning designed M1903 pistol in 1914, calling it the Ruby. In 1915, the French government contracted with Gabilondo and Urresti to produce Ruby pistols for World War I. Eventually, over 50 different manufacturers in Spain produced variants of the Ruby pistols. Production ceased in the 1950's.