Pinfire Links

@followers Discover the fascinating story behind the birth of British pinfire cartridges! Learn how Eley Brothers revolutionized ammunition with their groundbreaking innovations in the 1860s, shaping the future of breechloading firearms.

I love these intricate Eley shotshell boxes!

Merry Pinfire Christmas!

📖 Les Aventures d’un Chasseur de Lions by Eugène Pertuiset, shown here alongside explosive pinfire cartridges designed by the inventor himself. Pertuiset’s autobiography tells the story of his daring adventures and innovations, blending the life of a hunter with that of a groundbreaking inventor.

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This shotgun, crafted around 1834, captures the transitional ingenuity of Casimir Lefaucheux’s early designs. Its elegant form is more than ornamental; the engraved metalwork and polished walnut stock underscore the fusion of artistry and engineering typical of Lefaucheux’s guns. Originally built for early percussion cartridges, the firearm’s design reflects the clean lines and functionality of Lefaucheux’s 1833 breech-loading system.

The later conversion to the 1835 pinfire cartridge system adds another layer of innovation. The delicate scrollwork on the receiver and the rich checkering on the stock not only enhance its grip but also signal its bespoke craftsmanship. The copper-bottomed cartridges it once fired, praised for their gas-sealing ingenuity, were cutting-edge for their time—marrying efficiency with an undeniable aesthetic charm.

This piece, from its sophisticated engravings to its solid mechanical construction, tells the story of a pivotal moment in firearms history, where beauty and utility advanced hand in hand.

Here’s a rare piece of Civil War history: the Model 1859 Perrin Revolver, a French design that competed directly with the renowned Lefaucheux revolvers of the era. Featuring one of the earliest centerfire cartridges—a 12mm metallic design—the Perrin introduced advanced technology for its time. Its double-action-only mechanism and innovative hidden ejector rod distinguished it from its contemporaries. Though only a limited number of these revolvers were imported during the Civil War, they highlight the ingenuity and competition among 19th-century French gunsmiths.

Here is a powerful glimpse into the American Civil War era: a Ruby Ambrotype photograph capturing a Union soldier with his trusted Lefaucheux Model 1854 pinfire revolver. The photograph, with its striking clarity and detail, is made using the Ruby Ambrotype process—a mid-19th century technique that used a thin red glass plate to enhance the contrast of the image. The Lefaucheux revolver he holds was a significant innovation of its time, combining reliability with rapid loading, which set it apart from other sidearms of the period.