Item Description
Original item. Only One Available. This is a very nice French Pinfire Pocket Pepperbox revolver, in the relatively small 7mm pinfire cartridge. These were usually intended for personal protection, particularly for women, who required very small firearms to be able to conceal them with the styles of the day. The revolver features a fold away trigger to keep the profile small and less likely to snag on clothing or other items in the pocket.
The pistol was made in the Belgian Gunmaking city of Liège, where many operations were making guns under contract to French makers. It is marked somewhat faintly on the underside of the frame with J. CHAINEUX / BREVETE, a well known maker of pinfire revolvers. The rear of the cylinder / barrel is marked with the E / L G/ * in an oval marking proof from Liège.
The Pinfire system was the earliest form of "Cartridge" developed with a pin projecting out at 90 degrees to the cartridge case. When depressed by the falling hammer the cartridge discharged. At the time up against muzzle loading Revolvers these were revolutionary. Like most things by the end of the Civil War technology had moved on and in the late 1860's regular type cartridges as we know them today had been introduced.
This revolver is definitely a high end example, with lovely ivory grips, and decorative silver inlay on the frame and cylinder. It is still well retained, and contrasts very nicely against the lightly oxidized steel. Originally this was probably blued, which when combined with the silver inlay, must have been a very striking revolver. The cylinder is held in place by a rotating arm on the front, and can be easily removed. This pepperbox, like most, functions in double action only, and is fully functional.
A lovely little revolver, ready to display!
Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: circa 1860
Caliber: 7mm
Ammunition Type: Pinfire Cartridge
Overall Length: 5 1/8 inches
Barrel Length: 1 15/16 inches
Action: Double Action Only
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver
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.
- This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey
This product is available for international shipping.
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.
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