Mateba Autorevolver

The Mateba Model 6 Unica (often known simply as the Mateba or the Mateba Autorevolver) is a recoil operated semi-automatic revolver, one of only a few of this type ever produced. It was developed by Mateba, based in Pavia, Italy.

Mateba Autorevolver
Mateba Model 6 Unica (Dynamic Sportiva)
TypeAutomatic revolver
Place of originItaly
Production history
DesignerEmilio Ghisoni
Designed1997
ManufacturerMA.TE.BA. Arms (Macchine Termo-Balistiche), via Villa Serafina, 2/B. 27100 Pavia (Italy) MATEBA Montebelluna, Italy
Produced1997—2005, 2018—present
VariantsVariants
Specifications
Mass2.96 lb (1.35 kg)
Length275 mm (10.83 in)
Barrel length76 mm (3 in), 102 mm (4 in), 127 mm (5 in), 152 mm (6 in), 178 mm (7 in), 203 mm (8 in), and 457 mm (18 in)
Cartridge
ActionRecoil operated semi-automatic revolver
Rate of fireSemi-automatic
Feed system6-Round Cylinder
SightsIron sights
Fixed Two-Dot Night Sight

Emilio Ghisoni (d. 2008) is listed as the owner of U.S. Patent 4,712,466 which details the operation of the weapon.

As of 23 March 2018 Mateba in Montebelluna, Italy has reintroduced the 6 Unica and Grifone Carbine.[1][2]

Mateba is making the Unica in .357 and .44 Mag only.

Design

The Mateba Model 6 uses the recoil from firing to rotate the cylinder and cock the hammer, unlike conventional revolvers, which depend on the user physically pulling the trigger and/or cocking the hammer to actuate the weapon's mechanism of operation.

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 axis (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.[3]

The gun's entire upper assembly (barrel, cylinder and frame) are mounted on rails on the lower frame, which houses the trigger, hammer, and grip, and recoils 1/2 of an inch, or 12.7mm, on firing. The rearward motion of the upper assembly cocks the hammer, and the cylinder is rotated on the forward stroke.[4] This unique action makes this revolver a semi automatic weapon, making it one of the very few semi automatic revolver designs, another notable design being the Webley–Fosbery Self-Cocking Automatic Revolver. The inclusion of the 454 Casull chambering makes the gun one of, if not the, most powerful semi-automatic handgun ever produced. This chambering places the Mateba in comparison to firearms like the Wildey pistol chambered in .475 Wildey Magnum and .44 Mag examples of the AutoMag pistol.

Variants

The following are variants of the Mateba revolver:[5][6][7][8]

  • Defense - 4" Barrel, .357 Magnum
  • Home Protection - 5" Barrel, .44 Remington Magnum
  • Dynamic Sportiva - Either 5" or 6" barrel, .357 Magnum
  • Hunter - 8 3/8" Barrel, .357 Magnum and .44 Remington Magnum (.44 S&W Special)

In addition, their barrels can be changed with interchangeable 3", 4", 5", 6", 7" and 8" inch barrels.

Mateba Grifone

Also available was the Mateba Grifone, which mated an 18-inch barrel, hand guard and butt stock to the Autorevolver's frame and action. It was available in .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum. A version in .454 Casull was available which also allowed .45 Colt ammunition to be fired.[9]

Multiple cartridge capability
Rear view of the Unica 6 with cylinder in open position.

Mateba Autorevolvers chambered in .357 Magnum can be loaded with .38 Special ammunition. Typical .38 Special loads do not have enough power to fully cycle the recoil mechanism, but the weapon will still function with a double-action trigger pull.[3] There are two optional recoil springs designed specifically for .38 Special cartridges that can be installed by the operator to overcome this problem (.38 Special and .38 wadcutter). Replacing the spring requires the removal of the slide assembly, which is blocked by a retaining pin held in place by a small set screw in the triggerguard. The barrel shroud acts as the spring keeper and guide rod bushing.

Autorevolvers chambered in 44 Magnum can have the recoil spring swapped out to shoot 44 special and 454 Casull can fire 45 Long Colt with a spring swap.

See also

References
  1. "MATEBA revolver". www.mateba-italy.com.
  2. "MATEBA still making the 6 Unica". www.thefirearmblog.com. March 23, 2018.
  3. Mateba Model 6 Unica. Archived 2007-08-23 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
  4. Mateba, the future of revolvers?. Archived 2008-10-06 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
  5. MATEBA AutoRevolver 6-Defence. Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
  6. MATEBA AutoRevolver 6-Dynamic Sportiva. Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
  7. MATEBA AutoRevolver 6-Home Protection. Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
  8. MATEBA AutoRevolver 6-Hunter. Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
  9. MATEBA Grifone. Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
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