History of WWI Primer 068: Spanish Ona in British and Italian Service Documentary

Published on January 16, 2018
Duration: 51:19

This documentary explores the Spanish Ona revolver, a clone of the Smith & Wesson First Model Double Action, which saw service with British and Italian forces during WWI. It details the historical context of Spanish arms manufacturing, the specific contracts for British 'Old Pattern' revolvers in .455 Webley, and Italian Modello 1916 variants in 10.4mm. The video includes mechanical animations and live-fire testing, highlighting design simplifications and performance limitations due to material quality and wear.

Quick Summary

The Spanish Ona revolver, a clone of the Smith & Wesson First Model Double Action, was used by British and Italian forces in WWI. Britain contracted them in .455 Webley ('Old Pattern') due to shortages, while Italy adopted them as the Modello 1916 in 10.4mm. These Spanish versions featured manufacturing simplifications that could affect performance.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to the Spanish Ona Revolver
  2. 01:58Smith & Wesson Origins
  3. 04:14Development of S&W Double Action
  4. 08:22Spanish Cloning and Orbea Hermanos
  5. 11:06British WWI Contracts
  6. 15:36Mechanical Animation of the Ona
  7. 16:48Range Testing and Performance
  8. 18:51Italian Service: Modello 1916

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Spanish Ona revolver used for in WWI?

The Spanish Ona revolver, a clone of the Smith & Wesson First Model Double Action, was contracted by Britain and Italy during WWI. Britain acquired them in .455 Webley as 'Old Pattern' revolvers to address handgun shortages, while Italy purchased them as the Modello 1916 in 10.4mm Italian Ordnance, often for officers.

Why did Spain produce clones of American revolvers like the Smith & Wesson?

Spanish patent laws required any patented design to be manufactured domestically within three years. This led to widespread cloning of successful foreign firearms, such as Smith & Wesson revolvers, by Spanish manufacturers like Orbea Hermanos to meet both domestic and international wartime demand.

How did the Spanish Ona differ from the original Smith & Wesson design?

The Spanish Ona revolvers were simplified versions of the Smith & Wesson First Model Double Action. These simplifications, particularly in the internal mechanisms for easier manufacturing, could lead to reduced durability and performance issues, as observed in live-fire testing with soft Spanish steel.

What were the performance issues found during testing of the Spanish Ona?

During range testing, the .455 British contract Ona exhibited a crisp single-action trigger but suffered from poor double-action performance. Mechanical wear and the use of softer Spanish steel resulted in timing issues and cylinder drag, impacting its reliability.

More General Videos You Might Like

More from C&Rsenal

View all →