Mateba Autorevolver
A recoil-operated semi-automatic revolver with a low bore axis.
The Mateba Model 6 Unica—commonly called the Mateba or Mateba Autorevolver—is a semi-automatic revolver that operates via recoil, a rarity among revolvers. Designed by Emilio Ghisoni (1937–2008) and produced by Mateba in Pavia, Italy, it uses the force of firing to rotate the cylinder and cock the hammer. This differs from standard revolvers, where the shooter must pull the trigger or manually cock the hammer to work the mechanism.
Its barrel sits at the bottom of the cylinder rather than the top, lowering the bore axis. This alignment directs recoil more in line with the shooter’s hand, reducing muzzle flip. The entire upper assembly—barrel, cylinder, and frame—slides on rails attached to the lower frame (which holds the trigger, hammer, and grip), moving backward about 12.7 mm (half an inch) when fired. That rearward motion cocks the hammer, and the cylinder rotates during the forward return stroke. This makes the gun a semi-automatic revolver, one of very few such designs, alongside the Webley–Fosbery. Chambered in .454 Casull, it ranks among the most powerful semi-automatic handguns ever made, comparable to the Wildey in .475 Wildey Magnum and the AutoMag in .44 Magnum.
The Autorevolver and its carbine variant, the Grifone, came in three finishes: blued, satin nickel, and polished nickel (the last until 2000). Early Unica 6 models lacked a mounting point forward of the trigger guard, instead having a simple bevel. Late models and Grifones sometimes show mismatched parts—like a blued cylinder on a nickel frame—because Italian bankruptcy laws forced the company to keep operating after declaring insolvency without making new inventory, only selling off existing stock. After this receivership, all remaining parts were bought by CDNN Investments in Abilene, Texas, and sold at discount.
Primary variants include: Defense (4-inch barrel, .357 Magnum); Home Protection (5-inch, .44 Remington Magnum); Dynamic Sportiva (5- or 6-inch, .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum); and Hunter (8 3/8-inch threaded barrel, .357 Magnum, .44 Remington Magnum/.44 S&W Special, .454 Casull). Barrels are interchangeable in lengths of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 inches. A chambering in .41 Magnum was listed in 2000 manuals, but it is unknown if any were actually produced.
The Mateba Grifone is a revolver carbine using the Autorevolver’s frame and action.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Italy
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Designer
- Emilio Ghisoni
- Design Date
- 1997
- Manufacturer
- Mateba
- Production Date
- 1997–2005
- Variants
- Variants
- Weight
- 2.96 lb (1.35 kg)
- Length
- 275 mm (10.83 in)
- Part Length
- 76 mm (3 in), 102 mm (4 in), 127 mm (5 in), 152 mm (6 in), 178 mm (7 in), 203 mm (8 in), or 457 mm (18 in)
- Cartridge
- .357 Magnum / .41 Magnum / .44 Magnum / .454 Casull
- Action
- Recoil operated semi-automatic revolver
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Mateba Autorevolver's barrel aligns with the bottom of the cylinder instead of the top, lowering the bore axis and directing recoil in line with the shooter's hand to reduce muzzle flip. The entire upper assembly—barrel, cylinder, and frame—mounts on rails on the lower frame and recoils 1/2 inch on firing; the rearward motion cocks the hammer, and the cylinder rotates on the forward stroke. This makes it a semi-automatic revolver, one of very few, alongside the Webley–Fosbery. The .454 Casull chambering makes it one of the most powerful semi-automatic handguns ever produced.
Variants include the Defense (4" barrel, .357 Magnum), Home Protection (5" barrel, .44 Magnum), Dynamic Sportiva (5" or 6" barrel in .357, .41, .44 Magnum), and Hunter (8 3/8" threaded barrel in .357, .44, .454 Casull). The Mateba Grifone is a revolver carbine with barrel lengths of 320 mm, 460 mm, or 510 mm, available in .357, .41, .44 Magnum, and .454 Casull. Finishes include blued, satin nickel, and polished nickel (up to 2000). Early models lacked a front mounting point; late models sometimes have mismatched parts due to Italian bankruptcy laws requiring continued operations without new inventory, with remaining stock sold to CDNN Investments in Abilene, Texas.
Reader's Guide
The Mateba Autorevolver's significance lies in its unique recoil-operated semi-automatic action, which sets it apart from traditional revolvers and places it among the very few semi-automatic revolver designs ever produced. Its low bore axis, achieved by aligning the barrel with the bottom of the cylinder, reduces muzzle flip and improves recoil management, a feature later echoed in Ghisoni's Chiappa Rhino. The inclusion of the .454 Casull chambering makes it one of the most powerful semi-automatic handguns ever made, comparable to the Wildey pistol in .475 Wildey Magnum and the AutoMag in .44 Magnum. The ability to swap recoil springs allows .357 Magnum models to cycle .38 Special and .44 Magnum models to cycle .44 Special, though standard .38 Special loads may not fully cycle the mechanism without the optional spring. The Grifone carbine variants extend the design's versatility. The company's bankruptcy and subsequent liquidation of parts through CDNN Investments led to some late-model guns with mismatched components, adding to the model's collector interest. The design remains a notable example of engineering innovation in handgun mechanics.
Did You Know?
- The Mateba Autorevolver is one of only a few semi-automatic revolver designs ever produced, alongside the Webley–Fosbery.
- Its barrel aligns with the bottom of the cylinder to lower the bore axis and reduce muzzle flip.
- Late models sometimes have mismatched parts due to Italian bankruptcy laws requiring liquidation of existing inventory without manufacturing new stock.
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