Can you help me identify this gun?

[NoZombies]

I've been looking around the 'net for a while trying to gather more information about this revolver.

It's Rossi branded, and marked "Ruko of Canada limited, Mississauga Ontario" It's marked "made in Brasil", and "32 S&W long". All of these markings are rolls stamped. The model number of "M293" is hand stamped, as is the frame marking of "IV 88" and the import mark for "Ruko Buffalo NY".

The under-lug is grooved for the weights.

I know Rossi firearms aren't normal table fare here, but this gun is clearly designed for target shooting of some kind. I'm hoping someone will have seen one before, and can tell me a little bit about it. This gun is a much nicer piece than any Rossi I've seen before. The fit and finish are excellent, and the action is excellent.

I shoot a lot of 32 S&W long, and that's why I got the gun.

[paulo]

Taurus early model. Taurus is a brazilian company.
http://www.taurususa.com/2010catalog/?catalog_page=51

Check the description for the Comanche II
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llama_fire ... .2C_1984-9

Or else this looks similar too
http://www.rossiusa.com/product-details ... umbseries=

A gun that was made probably for target shooting.

[K. Snyder]

I too would be interested in more info on this revolver. I picked up one of these a few years back, and up to now was the only one I had seen. There are no references to this pistol ever being made by Rossi so I assumed it was possibly a prototype or short production run designed for Intl Centerfire. The Taurus model suggested by Paulo is a larger frame revolver than the .32 but does appear similar. Mine was furnished with a rubber presentation style grip. the fit and finish is quite good compared to other Rossi pistols I've seen, but it could still benefit from an additional lock on the crane. the trigger is terrible on my example. A good smith may be able to smooth out the trigger, but I have serious doubts that it could ever be refined to the level of a standard S&W trigger job. Mine was shipped in it's original box with weights and paperwork (generic to all Rossi revolvers). Made in Brazil and imported to the US by Interarms. A dated pamphlet in the box indicates that it was imported around 1999.

Please post any additional info you may find.

Regards,
Ken

[NoZombies]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the info, I've been looking long and hard for info on this.

I'm hoping to test the accuracy in a few days.

Ken,

Would you mind posting photos of your revolver? Is yours marked in the same way? I compared my action to that of a pre-war S&W, and the comparison was favorable. Fit and finish weren't as good, but far better than any of the taurus/rossi stuff I've seen elsewhere.

I should mention, it's possible it has had internal work, the side-plate has been off, as indicated by the light screwdriver scratch emanating from one of the screw-plate holes.

[K. Snyder]

PM sent

[NoZombies]

Although it's almost certainly not what the gun was designed for, I tested it's accuracy out to 100 yards, and found that with upper level loads, it was the most accurate. Followed directly by low powered wadcutter loads.

At 25 yards, the difference between the 600 FPS wadcutters and the 900+ FPS SWC's was immeasurable, at 100 yards, the heavier loads were the clear victors.