Pair Of Officers’ Pistols From The Versailles Manufactory

A pair of pistols from the Versailles Armory, made for a senior officer during the First Empire.

Originally flintlock, this pair was very skillfully converted to percussion, probably around 1840. This conversion was not limited to the installation of a hammer in place of the flint. It involved a complete replacement of the breech with an insert featuring a narrowed chamber, which is supposed to provide numerous improvements despite the smooth bore barrel:

- better powder combustion due to its greater compression
- better bullet centering preventing wobble
- greater accuracy
- fewer deposits and therefore less fouling.

Octagonal smooth bore barrel with facings along its entire length, tobacco-colored bronzed finish. Smooth bore. On the left side of the barrels is the pair number“24.” After modification, these pistols were retested at the St. Etienne proofhouse, whose hallmark appears on the left side of the barrels (interlaced palms with a crown). Fixed rear sight cast onto the breech tail. Brass front sight.

Flat-bodied lock engraved “Manufacture de Versailles.” It has been very finely modified. Traces of the flintlock mechanism are virtually invisible.

Long-barreled stock made of select walnut. Stock finely checkered. The breech block recess is beautifully carved. Fittings in polished steel. Faceted octagonal caps. Whale-bone grips with horn tips.

These pistols are characteristic of the work of Boutet and the Imperial Manufactory of Versailles. They are in excellent condition with a beautiful patina.