Pinfire Links

Your definitive source for all things pinfire! Dive deep into the fascinating world of antique firearms and ammunition with us. From detailed articles about the history and intricacies of pinfire guns to reliable sources where you can acquire these vintage beauties and their ammo. Whether you're a seasoned collector, a budding enthusiast, or just curious about the world of antique firearms, out sites have something to ignite your interest. Load up on knowledge and let your passion for vintage armory fire away!

Pinfire

4 days 8 hours ago

Merry Pinfire Christmas!

Pinfire

1 week 1 day ago

๐Ÿ“– Les Aventures dโ€™un Chasseur de Lions by Eugรจne 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.

๐Ÿ’ฅ Missed last weekโ€™s full article on these fascinating cartridges? Check it out in the comments!

Pinfire

2 weeks 1 hour ago

๐Ÿšจ New Blog Post Alert! ๐Ÿšจ

Explore the incredible story of Eugรจne Pertuiset’s explosive cartridgesโ€”how they revolutionized ammunition, shocked military trials, and even played a role in a dramatic assassination attempt. Learn about their devastating power and surprising history in our latest post!

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Pinfire

3 weeks 5 hours ago

A superb American-made pinfire

Pinfire

1 month 1 week ago

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 Lefaucheuxโ€™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 timeโ€”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.

Pinfire

1 month 3 weeks ago

Hereโ€™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 cartridgesโ€”a 12mm metallic designโ€”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.

Pinfire

1 month 3 weeks ago

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 processโ€”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.

Pinfire

3 months 1 week ago

๐๐ž๐ฐ ๐Œ๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐š๐ฉ๐ก ๐‘๐ž๐ฅ๐ž๐š๐ฌ๐ž: ๐”๐’๐€ & ๐๐ข๐ง๐Ÿ๐ข๐ซ๐ž: ๐“๐ก๐ž ๐”๐ง๐ญ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐’๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ข๐ง๐Ÿ๐ข๐ซ๐ž ๐ข๐ง ๐€๐ฆ๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐œ๐šโฃ
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To go along with a few displays and presentations Iโ€™ll be doing on the topic, Iโ€™ve created a new monograph, ๐˜œ๐˜š๐˜ˆ & ๐˜—๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ: ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜œ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜—๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ข. This book explores the impact of pinfire technology on American history, focusing on its crucial role in the Civil War, where pinfire revolvers and cartridges were widely used by Union forces. It highlights how these innovations shaped military strategy and battlefield efficiency.โฃ
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The monograph also covers the post-war period, examining how pinfire shotguns and cartridges influenced American sporting arms and how this technology continued to play a role in firearm development.โฃ
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Grab your copy today on Amazon! Link in the comments. Stay tuned for future releases on early Pauly guns, Casimir Lefaucheuxโ€™s contributions, and more.

Pinfire

3 months 2 weeks ago

Did you know that nearly 14,000 Lefaucheux Model 1854 pinfire revolvers were purchased by the Union during the American Civil War? These revolvers, like the one pictured here, were some of the first to use self-contained cartridges, making them faster to reload and more reliable than many older designs.

In 1862, units like the 2nd Kansas Cavalry were issued similar 12mm pinfire revolvers, imported from France to supply the Union Army with more modern firearms. While we donโ€™t have detailed records for every cartridge or revolver, battlefield excavations and historical documents reveal that pinfire technology saw widespread use during the war. The box of cartridges next to this revolver adds another layer to the story, representing the type of ammunition that would have accompanied these weapons on the front lines.

Pinfire

3 months 2 weeks ago

I haven’t had any 15mm pinfire cartridges for sale for a long time and added some to the site today!