"The pistol is 31 cm in overall length with a caliber of 1.3 cm, a revolver of the type invented in the mid 19th century by the Frenchman Lefaucheux. The Kapitan/Captain is the Director of Dejima Factory. They were found outside the wall of the Kapitan’s quarters. The Danish military fielded the Lefaucheux-Francotte M1865/97 in 11.45mm centrefire.Ī western style pistol along with bullets and other related items were recovered in the Japanese artificial island of Dejima, a Dutch United East Indies Company settlement in Japan.As early as 1836, Lefaucheux had developed a copper based shotshell cartridge, of rolled paper. The revolvers and to a lesser extent the shot gun of Lefaucheux figured in the early days of the War. Among American troops, the pistol was often referred to as the "French" Tranter". Lefaucheux’ most famous design was the innovation of a bottom lever top break action breechloading shotgun, and that became his trademark symbol. However, these pinfire revolvers were replaced in service later in the war as more Colt and Remington revolvers became available. The Federal forces purchased over 12,000 M1858 revolvers, primarily supplying them to cavalry forces in 1862. The revolver was a six-shot open-framed design, which was loaded via a hinged gate on the right side of the frame, through which empty cartridges were also ejected via an ejector rod running along the barrel.ĭuring the American Civil War both sides fielded a wide variety of revolvers, including the M1858. View of the opened hinged gate, with a pinfire cartridge partially ejected Confederate and Federal forces also used them in the American Civil War. The Lefaucheux M1858 was a French military revolver developed for the navy, chambered for the 12 mm pinfire cartridge, and based on a design by Casimir Lefaucheux and his son, Eugene (also a gun designer). Along with those countries, both the U.S. Models were also purchased by Spain, Sweden, Italy, Russia, and Norway. It was first fielded in 1858 by the French Navy, and though never issued by the French Army, it was used in limited numbers by the French Cavalry during their 1862 deployment to Mexico. Pinfire ammunition was invented in 1832 by Parisian gun maker Casimir Lefaucheux. It’s a pocket pistol designed for personal defense and chambered in 7mm Pinfire. It was the first metallic-cartridge revolver adopted by a national government. WTW: Lefaucheux’s 7mm Pinfire Revolver Mike the Mook We recently came across an interesting revolver with a folding trigger that extends itself when the hammer is cocked.
The Lefaucheux M1858 was a French military revolver, chambered for the 12mm pinfire cartridge, based on a design by Casimir Lefaucheux. On display at Morges castle museum.įrance, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, United States, Confederate StatesĪmerican Civil War, French intervention in Mexico, Franco-Prussian War
Lefaucheux-style revolver made in Liège, Belgium, circa 1860-1865.