Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a very nice "service worn" example of a French Modèle 1822 Rifled Percussion pistol, which definitely looks to have seen sea service during its life. Despite this being the Model of 1822 and being marked very faintly with Mle 1822 on the barrel tang, this particular pistol was not produced as a flintlock and then converted. The French retained the same model number for the pistol even after they were produced in percussion. This example was produced as a rifled pistol in the mid 19th century, when the percussion system was well established, and actually almost on the way out.

The lock is marked :

This is the abbreviation for Manufacture Impériale de Tulle, the Imperial Arsenal in the French city of Tulle, which is where the majority of Naval and Marine production guns were made during the mid 19th century.

The pistol has the standard 7 3/4 inch rifled barrel, 14 inches in overall length with all brass mounts, though unfortunately the original cup-topped ramrod is missing. The stock is lovely, with a dark brown color, and lovely worn patina. The metalwork however is quite worn, a definite indicator of service at sea. We checked the lock, and it is functional, however it does not hold properly at half cock. The bore of the barrel is quite worn, with a lot of oxidation, and only traces of the original rifling.

The right side of the pistol's stock has some interesting markings, including a faded cartouche, as well as serial 729, which is also stamped on the left side of the barrel. There is also a CHATEL'T stamping, which indicates that the pistol was serviced at some time at the arsenal at Châtellerault.

In nice service used condition, ready to display!

NOTE: the barrel tang screw was left untightened by mistake, and is now properly attached to the trigger frame without any threading issues.

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: circa 1855
Caliber:  17.7mm / .69" pistol
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 7 3/4 inches
Overall Length: 13 3/4 inches
Action: Side Action Percussion
Feed System: Single Shot

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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 posses, 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.

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