Venus
Tomás de Urizar y Cía. · Pistol · Discontinued · 1911
Also known as: Venus 6.35, Venus Pocket, Automatic Pistol Venus, Pistolet Venus
Overview
The Venus is a Spanish .25 ACP (6.35mm Browning) vest-pocket semi-automatic pistol produced by Tomás de Urizar y Cía. of Barcelona and Eibar in the early twentieth century. Built closely on the pattern of the Browning Model 1906 and Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket (without the grip safety), it is a striker-fired, blowback-operated pistol feeding from a six-round detachable box magazine. Roughly 110mm long with a 50mm barrel, it is blued with pressed-horn grips and a nickel-plated magazine; the left side of the slide is marked "AUTOMATIC PISTOL VENUS PATENT" over the calibre. The firm also offered a larger 7.65mm (.32 ACP) "Venus Pocket" model on the same Browning-pattern lines. The Venus was one of many Eibar-type trade-name pocket pistols offered for civilian concealed carry and personal defence.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 350 g (12.3 oz) |
| Overall Length | 110 mm (4.33") |
| Barrel Length | 50 mm (1.97") |
| Height | 78 mm (3.07") |
| Width | 22 mm (0.87") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 230 m/s (755 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 86 J (63 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Horn |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .25 ACP · primary — also known as 6.35x16mm Browning, 6.35mm Browning, .25 Auto
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Vest Pocket Size, Fixed Sights, Concealed Carry
Production
Production years: 1911-1921
Produced as one of numerous Spanish Eibar-type trade-name pocket pistols; the firm's pocket-pistol trademarks were reportedly absorbed by Garate, Anitua y Cía. around 1921. Offered in both 6.35mm (.25 ACP, ~110mm overall) and a larger 7.65mm (.32 ACP) "Venus Pocket" model (~122mm overall, ~540g). No reliable serial-number ranges or total-production figures have been published.
Origin
Country of origin: Spain
Discontinued: 1921
Notes
"Venus" was a commercial trade name used by Tomás de Urizar y Cía., a firm better known for its Velodog revolvers and small 6.35mm Browning-pattern pocket pistols. It should not be confused with the unrelated German Venus Waffenwerk (Oskar Will) of Zella-Mehlis, which made air rifles and sporting guns.
Background
Tomás de Urizar y Cía. marked its products with a distinctive dragon emblem and a "TU" monogram, and sold inexpensive pocket pistols under evocative trade names such as Venus, Le Secours, and Phoenix to a booming early-1900s European self-defence market.