The German Commission Revolver, also known as the Reichsrevolver, was the official issue sidearm of the German Empire from the 1870s until the dawn of the 20th century.
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One of the more unique-looking military revolvers from the late 19th century is the Reichsrevolver, also commonly known as the German Commission Revolver. Two models were ultimately produced, the first in 1879 and the second in 1883. Watch our “American Rifleman Television” I Have This Old Gun segment above to see the details of these large, heavy-duty sidearms.
“The German Reichsrevolver is an interesting gun. It’s also, it has kind of a nickname. It’s called the Commission Revolver,” American Rifleman Field Editor Garry James said. “Because why? It wasn’t devised by just one person. It was put together by a committee. And like any gun put together by a committee, it looks like a camel, which is said to have been put together by a committee.”
