Original Item. Only One Available. This is a lovely Belgian-made 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 an octagonal 8 inch barrel with a lovely taper that narrows towards the middle, which has numerous fine rifling grooves inside. This was very typical for the style, and we have seen several examples with this same shape on the barrel, which is very attractive.

The overall length is 14 inches, and the pistol is all bronze mounted, including the bronze-tipped ramrod. The trigger guard and octagonal butt cap features some lovely engraved designs. There are some faded markings on the top of the barrel, but we are not able to read them accurately, except for a faded EX marking, which matches the marking on the lock plate. The iron work definitely looks to have been polished and cleaned over the years, which definitely would have removed markings and engraving if present. The lock is still fully functional, holding correctly at half cock, and the cap nipple cone does show wear from use.

The walnut stock is checkered around the wrist and terminates in a lovely wide ring of the Versailles style. We can also see some lovely figuring to the wood, which shows some lovely chatoyancy in the light. There is even some silver wire inlay down the back of the wrist, though it is worn and incomplete. Both sides of the fore stock near the muzzle show cracking and past repairs, with a wood graft repair on the right side measuring about 4 inches long along the woodline. The pistol definitely looks to have seen a good amount of use, followed by cleaning and restoration.

A very nice Belgian-made 'Versailles' style percussion pistol, ready to research and display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1840
Caliber: about .61" pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 8 inches
Overall Length: 14 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.