Original Item. Only One Available. This is a lovely European Officer's Pistol, made very much in the high end French style of the day, known as the "Versailles" style. Designed by famed gunsmith Nicolas-Noël Boutet, this pattern pistols were very popular and extensively made for French Officers. This example was almost certainly made in Liège, Belgium, a gunmaking center even today, which had been under French and then Dutch control until the early 1830s. It has a 7 inch barrel which is partly angular near the breech end, and also features a lovely embossed decorative plate on top of the barrel that is continuous with the front sight. There is another brass fitting at the rear that also comprises the rear sight.

The overall length is 11 3/4 inches, and the pistol is all brass mounted, save for the nose cap and ramrod tip, which are both lovely brown horn. We were not able to locate markings of any type on the pistol, and the pinned barrel precludes easily removing the barrel to check on the underside. It does however show a very high level of manufacture, so we definitely feel that it is European in origin, originally made as a flintlock and then converted to percussion, as we can see some plugged holes in the lock plate.

The walnut stock is checkered around the wrist and terminates in a lovely wide ring of the Versailles style, which in this case is octagonal, with the "corner" sides quite short, just as on the butt plate. We can also see some lovely figuring to the wood, which shows some lovely chatoyancy in the light. We did not notice any structural damage or major repairs to the pistol, though there is a crack on the left side near the muzzle running through one of the barrel securing pin locations.

A very nice European 'Versailles' style percussion pistol, ready to research and display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1840
Caliber: about .45" pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 7 inches
Overall Length: 11 3/4 inches
Action: Flintlock Side Action with Set Trigger
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.