On other pistols, the safety mechanism wore out. Many Ruby-types were plagued by poor finish and incorrectly hardened steel parts which after a short period of use wore so badly that pistols fired on full-auto. This was to prevent the possibly fatal consequence at the front line of either not being able to insert a new magazine, or having a loaded magazine detach from the gun in action. French officials quickly became aware that few of the Spanish Ruby-types had interchangeable magazines, and insisted the manufacturers mark the base of all magazines. While most Gabilondo produced pistols were of good quality, others were less well made. Įstimates of Gabilondo Ruby production are between 250,000 and 300,000 pistols in total.
Eventually Gabilondo contracted with another three companies and at least 45 other companies contracted with the French directly to produce Ruby-type pistols in a variety of calibres, barrel lengths and magazine capacities. As the number of pistols required increased, the company agreed to purchase any pistols in excess of the agreed number at the same contracted price.Īs the French became more desperate, the procurement process spiraled out of control. Gabilondo would produce 10,000 guns, carry out overall quality control and arrange delivery to the French authorities.
The contract stipulated that each company would produce a minimum of 5,000 pistols per month. Armeria Elgoibaressa y Cia (under the brand name Lusitania).Despite its size, the company could barely cope with the initial contract and arranged for four partners to manufacture the Ruby for them: By August the target had been raised to 30,000 and later still an incredible 50,000 a month. After testing was completed in May 1915, the French decided to accept the Ruby as the Pistolet Automatique, Type Ruby and contracted Gabilondo to produce 10,000 pistols a month. In 1915 Gabilondo sent examples of the pistols to the French government, who were hard-pressed for all sorts of small-arms, even in this early stage of the war. These are believed to have covered the frame-mounted safety (instead of a grip safety on the original Browning), and the substitution of an internal striker for a hammer. This was a six-shot model incorporating improvements patented by Pedro Careaga in 1911, and Esperanza y Unceta in 1912. These copies were less sophisticated than the original, but one was very similar to the eventual Ruby design, the "Victoria" made by Esperanza y Unceta. Other Spanish manufacturers had copied the Browning since around 1905. The pistol was intended for export to the Americas, and despite the small calibre was designed with military and police sales in mind. Unusually for the time, the magazine capacity was nine shots instead of the usual six or seven. In 1914, just before the start of the First World War, Gabilondo created a sturdy self-loading pistol based on the Browning Model 1903 and chambered for the 7.65mm Browning/.32 ACP cartridge. However ingenious, the pistol was difficult to make and not revived after the conclusion of the First World War. Rounds could then be inserted one by one until the magazine was fully loaded and the panel closed again. The magazine was fixed, and was reloaded by sliding one of the grip panels down to expose the mechanism. In 1913, the company manufactured the Radium, a small six-shot self-loading pistol in 6.35 mm/.25 ACP with a unique magazine design patented by Guillermo Echeverria and Valentin Vallejo. 22 long rifle, but later examples are found in 6.35mm Browning/.25 ACP and 7.65mm Browning/.32 ACP calibres. They were initially chambered in 5.5 mm Vélodog or. The "Vélodog" revolvers are small pocket pistols intended for the protection of cyclists and hikers against savage dogs, typically firing five or six shots, and fitted with a short barrel and folding trigger. The firm also produced parts for other companies.
Gabilondo and Urresti initially made copies of Nagant revolvers in 7.62mm Nagant and 8mm Lebel (these lacked the "gas seal" feature of the originals) as well as Colt New Service, and Vélodog-style revolvers under their own brand. In 1912, the company was not among those Eibar manufacturers involved in legal action against Fabrique Nationale so it can be assumed that they had not yet begun to sell self-loading pistols based on Browning patents. In the period from 1908 to 1914, this doubled to eight. Gabilondo and Urresti was founded in 1904, but did not appear in the industrial census of Eibar until 1907 where it is listed as having four gunsmiths at work. 11 Model listing - self-loading pistols.8 Omni and Spanish military competition.Cathedral of the Madeleine (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1.Big Cottonwood Creek (Salt Lake County, Utah) 1.Big Cottonwood Canyon (Salt Lake County, Utah) 114.