With protruding firing pins the cartridges for pinfire revolvers seem asking for trouble, but their early appearance gave them a lead in the market for self-contained metallic cartridges. Many Lefaucheux pinfires made their way into this country before and during the war through commercial channels, some by way of southern ports: Stonewall Jackson received a very fancy presentation version. They were also purchased by the U.S. government in significant numbers for military issue: estimates run as high as 12,000.

This is a good example of the 12mm military version (about .47 Cal.) with spur triggerguard and lanyard ring in the butt. The octagonal breech of the barrel bears a legible Lefaucheux patent (brevete) stamp: “E. LEFAUCHEUX / INVR BREVETE” with the second line less distinct, and various inspection and proof marks including a Liege “LEG*” oval stamp on the cylinder, Crown/JL, Crown/N, etc. The loading gate, ejection rod, front sight, and lanyard ring are all in place. The lower left frame is serial numbered 34714, which is legible though slightly worn. The metal is smooth overall and plum brown in tone, though the lower frame shows silvery gray areas indicating it may have been tinned at some point, perhaps for naval use. The grips are good, with a tight fit to the metal, good color, and the surface showing only minor handling marks.

This would fit a display of U.S. cavalry sidearms, import weapons, or the pistols using self-contained cartridges. See Schwalm and Hofmann for details on these revolvers and McAulay’s Civil War Pistols. We show the classic photo of a Union trooper with one of these revolvers, an image once in the famed Herb Peck collection and used by McAulay.  [sr] [ph:m]

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