Original French Ladies Small 7mm Pinfire Pocket Revolver with Leather Purse Holster circa 1860 Original Items

Original item. Only One Available. This is a very nice French Pinfire Pocket 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 even has a lovely leather purse holster, with a typical clasp. This way it was both stylish, and hid the contents.

The pistol was likely made in France or the Belgian Gunmaking city of Liège, where many operations were making guns under contract to French makers. There is the marking LAM on the right side of the frame, as well as CROWN / R and STAR / M proofs on several locations.

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 example follows the standard French style, with a 2 1/8 inch long barrel, and overall length of 5 1/4 inches. The revolver is totally nickel plated, with a fold-away trigger, and lovely checkered walnut grips. The condition is very good, and the revolver has a functional ejection rod and loading gate. The only issue the revolver has is that the trigger return spring is missing, so the trigger must be manually moved forward after dry firing.

A lovely little revolver, ready to display!

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: circa 1860
Caliber: 7mm
Ammunition Type: Pinfire Cartridge
Overall Length: 5 1/4 inches
Barrel Length: 2 1/8 inches
Action: Double / Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

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