Original Item. Only One Available. This is a lovely French Napoleonic 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 made in Liège, Belgium, a gunmaking center even today, which at the time was controlled by France. It has an octagonal 8 3/4 inch barrel with a lovely taper that narrows towards the middle, which has numerous fine rifling grooves inside.

The lock plate is marked M. Berleur in script, for the very well-known Belgian gunsmith Michel Berleur, who operated 1758-1810. We have seen many other examples of his fine work, and he was also the older brother of the famous Guillaume Berleur, also listed as an arquebusier et fournissieur (gunsmith & contractor) in Liège, Belgium and was active from about 1780 until about 1840. Berleur’s reputation for quality arms was significant enough for him to be brought to France around 1800 to work at the Imperial Armory at Versailles, directly under renowned arms maker Nicholas Noël Boutet, who developed this style of pistol.

The pistol has all iron mounts extensively engraved with Lions on the side plate, and stands of arms around the finials of the trigger guard and the ramrod pipe. The butt cap displays a fantastic hunting hound engraving, while the trigger guard shows what looks to be a fox. There is really a very high level of craftsmanship used to make this pistol, which in its prime must have been quite the head-turner.

The lock on the pistol is still fully functional, though at some point it was converted to the much more reliable percussion cap firing system. The original hammer was replaced, and the breech plug and barrel adapted with a cap nipple cone bolster. This type of conversion was very common during the early half of the 10th century, and if the pistol was passed down to a descendant to use in the military, it would have certainly been converted, regardless of the quality. We checked the bottom of the barrel, and it is marked UMBRET or OMBRET, though we do not know if this from original manufacture, or the conversion. The lock is fully functional, and as an added treat, the pistol is fitted with a "set trigger", which allows the pistol to discharge with a very light trigger pull. This type is actuated by pushing the trigger forward until it clicks, after which it requires very little pressure to fire, though it may be a bit out of adjustment.

The walnut stock is checkered around the wrist and comes complete with its original horn-tipped wooden ramrod. This also has a patch slot on the other end, which also has a threaded tip, either to use as a clearing worn or for some kind of attachment. It shows wear from long use, however the checking is still well retained, and even with the wear and staining of the wood, the high quality figured walnut still shows a lot of curl.

Recently acquired from an old collection, this is a very fine example of a Napoleonic French Officer's sidearm by a famous Belgian maker, later converted to percussion. Just lovely and ready to display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1800 - converted later.
Caliber: about .49" pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 6 3/4 inches
Overall Length: 14 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.