This firearm is a significant example of the transitional period in gunmaking. It is a Lefaucheux percussion pistol, crafted during an era when the Pauly cartridge system was giving way to new innovations in firearms. Casimir Lefaucheux, having acquired the Pauly workshop, made pivotal changes that would eventually lead to the widespread adoption of percussion firearms. This pistol represents Lefaucheux's early experimentation with breech-loading mechanisms and external percussion systems.
The pistol features a breech-loading design with a hinged breechblock, which would have originally been made for paper cartridges, and an external percussion cap mechanism, rather than Pauly's self-contained cartridge system. The mechanism of the pistol shows Lefaucheux's departure from the internal piston system to an external lock similar to other percussion guns of the day.
This particular model showcases the utilitarian elegance of early 19th-century gunsmithing, with a sturdy wooden grip and a metal barrel and lock mechanism. Intricate engravings on the metalwork display the craftsmanship and decorative artistry of the period. The underside of the grip also opens to reveal a storage area, possibly for percussion caps or other small items, a design that marries form and function in the compact architecture of the firearm.
