Mateba Autorevolver
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| Mateba Autorevolver | |
|---|---|
| Type | Automatic revolver |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Sergio Mateba |
| Designed | 1997 |
| Manufacturer | MA.TE.BA. Arms (Macchine Termo-Balistiche), via Villa Serafina, 2/B. 27100 Pavia (Italy) |
| Produced | 1997 - 2005 |
| Variants | 3, 4, 5, and 8 in (76, 102, 127 and 203 mm) barrel 18 in (457 mm) rifle conversions |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 2.96 lb (1.35 kg) |
| Length | 275 mm (10.83 in) |
| Barrel length | 152 mm (6 in) |
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| Cartridge | |
| Feed system | cylinder |
| Sights | Iron sights fixed 2 dot Night sight |
The Mateba Autorevolver (also Mateba Model 6 Unica) is one of the few types of hybrid automatic revolver handguns developed by the Italian gunsmith Sergio Mateba. The revolver is not automatic in the traditional sense of firing as long as the trigger is depressed, but called "automatic", because it uses the energy of a fired shot to rotate the cylinder and cock the hammer for the next shot technically making it a "semi-automatic".
The Mateba Autorevolver's barrel alignment is different from most other revolvers. The barrel is aligned with the bottom of the cylinder instead of the top. This lowers the bore sight (line of the barrel) which directs the recoil in line with the shooter's hand thereby reducing the twisting motion or "muzzle flip" of normal revolvers.
There was a modified Mateba Autorevolver called the Mateba Grifone, which was nothing more than a Mateba Autorevolver with an 18 inch barrel, forward stock, and rifle butt.
MA.TE.BA also made sporting and defense versions of the Colt M1911 in .45 ACP and 9x21mm IMI calibers. In the late year 2005 / early year 2006, MA.TE.BA has filed for bankruptcy, and is thus out of business[citation needed].
Mateba Autorevolvers designed for using .357 Magnum rounds could be loaded with .38 Special ammunition but most .38 Special rounds do not have enough power to operate the cylinder rotation mechanism. However, a weaker recoil spring designed specifically for .38 special loads can be purchased as a separate accessory. These guns currently sell for approximately $1,500 in the USA[1].