Original French Silver Inlaid 7mm Pinfire Pocket Pepperbox Revolver by J. Chaineux with Ivory Grips c. 1860 Original Items

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

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