{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-era-belgian-engraved-9mm-pinfire-12-shot-double-action-revolver-retailed-by-bertonnet-of-buenos-aires-circa-1860","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Era Belgian Engraved 9mm Pinfire 12 Shot Double Action Revolver Retailed by Bertonnet of Buenos Aires - Circa 1860","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One of a Kind. In many ways the martial pinfire revolver, based upon the patents of Casimir and Eugene Lefaucheux, was one of the most modern and advanced military handguns to see use on the battlefield during the American Civil War. Thousands of these pinfire revolvers were imported for use by US troops, and at least a few hundred saw service with Confederate troops as well. Although US government purchases only record about 13,000 M-1858 Lefaucheux patent pin fire revolvers as being officially purchased (along with over 2.2 million cartridges), surviving examples and regimental records indicate that far more than that were imported.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeriod documentation indicates that pinfire revolvers saw significant use by Confederate soldiers as, and many deep south arsenals maintained inventories pin fire cartridges and even offered the pistols for sale to officers. However, the use of pin fire revolvers by the North and South was not limited to the large bore 12mm military guns. Many men took privately owned, \"civilian\" pattern pin fire revolvers into the field. It is not uncommon for relic diggers to find 7mm, 9mm as well as the more common 12mm pinfire cartridges in known Civil War campsites. Excavated and recovered pinfire revolvers are known from these campsites as well, and at least one privately owned 9mm pinfire was recovered from the wreck of the USS Cairo gunboat, and is on display at Vicksburg National Military Park.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a very interesting Belgian Pinfire revolver, made very much in the French style, with some lovely engraving on the frame and sides of the cylinder. It is however FAR from a typical example! It looks to be in \u003cstrong\u003e9mm Lefaucheux pinfire\u003c\/strong\u003e chambering, with double \/ single action, however it features a \u003cstrong\u003emassive 12 round cylinder!\u003c\/strong\u003e We have only had a few of these large capacity revolvers, and they are usually in very small calibers, but this is in 9mm, about 0.35\", equivalent to a \"Naval Caliber\" pistol. We often see these almost unmarked, but this example looks to have been retailed by a company in Argentina, whose address is engraved on the top of the barrel:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBERTONNET\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCALLE SAN-MARTIN 50\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBUENOS AYRES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBertonnet was a known retailer in Buenos Aires, who operated at several different locations. They look to have mostly imported and \"finished\" arms, mostly from Belgium. For more information and other examples retailed by this company please see this website:\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.littlegun.info\/arme%20francaise\/artisans%20a%20b\/a%20bertonnet%20gb.htm\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e BERTONNET\u003c\/a\u003e. The revolver is also marked on the left side of the barrel breech with F.M. BREVETÉ, indicating it is a patented design. We removed the grips, and there is a \u003cstrong\u003eDS\u003c\/strong\u003e stamping on the grip frame, which could be a maker. The front of the cylinder is marked with a \u003cstrong\u003eCROWN \/ G\u003c\/strong\u003e Belgian inspection mark, as well the \u003cstrong\u003eE \/ L G \/ * in an Oval\u003c\/strong\u003e proof, indicating manufacture in Liège, Belgium. During the U.S. Civil War, the area full of contractors producing guns for the export market, particularly to the C.S.A.. Many were already making guns under contract to French makers, so they already had all the designs and tooling on hand. While this one was shipped to Argentina, C.S.A. agents traveled far and wide to acquire arms for the war, as they had little industrial capacity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is definitely a full-size revolver, 10 3\/4 inches in overall length with a 5 3\/4\" barrel, which is cut with six-groove rifling. It features a standard trigger guard and trigger, most likely intended for use in a holster, though with a width of 2 1\/2\" that must have been hard to find. It looks to be a intended more for service than for show, with tasteful engraving on the frame and cylinder, but none on the barrel or in high wear areas. From what we see, the pistol originally had a bright steel finish, however it now displays a lovely lightly oxidized patina, with no evidence of major oxidation. The wooden grips on this revolver are lovely, and they are quite dark, even on the inside, so we suspect that they may be ebony. They show some wear to the checkering but no damage such a cracks or chunks missing. As with many of these revolvers, it has a lanyard loop attached to the bottom of the grip frame, which is intact and moves freely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFunctionally, the revolver cycles well and functions in both double and single action, though it seems much more intended for double action. It indexes accurately and has a strong cylinder lockup in single action, though the trigger does not release when pulled back in single action after cocking, so the hammer will not strike unless the trigger can move back forward. We are not sure if this is just how it is designed, or whether there is a catch that is not releasing internally. The bore is in very good condition, with crisp lands and grooves and a mostly bright finish. It does not look to have seen heavy use during its service life, and there is just a bit of light past oxidation overall. The ejector is present and functional, and the loading gate is present with a functional spring, though both are a bit loose from wear, and can move accidentally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fantastic example of a very substantial pinfire revolver, which definitely would have packed a serious punch! Ready to research and display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: circa 1860\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: 9mm Lefaucheux\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAmmunition Type: Pinfire Cartridge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 10 3\/4 inches\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 5 3\/4 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction: Double \/ Single Action\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeed System: 12 Shot Revolver\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNOTE: 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44975192735813,"sku":"ONSV26GTGS069","price":2895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/780AAB32-C8DA-44AC-BB17-E0F8A9DAFB7C.jpg?v=1778095068","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-era-belgian-engraved-9mm-pinfire-12-shot-double-action-revolver-retailed-by-bertonnet-of-buenos-aires-circa-1860","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}