Metadata
Object Type
Title
Casimir lefaucheux Patent No. 1371 for Swivel-Breech-Loading Pistol
Summary
This patent, issued to Casimir Lefaucheux, marks a significant milestone in the evolution of firearm technology, introducing a swivel-breech pistol that utilizes his revolutionary pinfire cartridge system, an innovation he had developed a decade earlier. This patent represents Lefaucheux's return to firearm innovation following a ten-year hiatus.
Description
This comprehensive patent document comprises nine pages, detailing the design of a breech-loading pistol and an accompanying technical drawing. The patent begins with an official grant from the French Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, acknowledging Lefaucheux's request for a fifteen-year patent.
The core innovation of this design is the integration of the swivel-breech mechanism with the pinfire cartridge system. This combination represents a significant leap forward in firearm technology, enhancing the ease and safety of loading and firing. Lefaucheux's design emphasizes a simplified, more efficient loading process and improved overall firearm performance.
The patent meticulously describes the mechanics of the pistol, focusing on its unique breech-loading capability. It highlights the features that make the firearm simpler to handle, more rapid to discharge, and more reliable than its contemporaries. Lefaucheux also addresses the durability and efficiency of the design, underscoring the reduced need for gunpowder and the possibility of decreasing the weapon's caliber without sacrificing power.
Significance
Casimir Lefaucheux's patent is a landmark in the history of firearms, representing a fusion of his innovative pinfire cartridge system with a practical and effective breech-loading mechanism. This design paved the way for subsequent developments in firearm technology and stands as a testament to Lefaucheux's expertise and creativity in gunmaking. The patent also marks a critical period in Lefaucheux's career, signaling his return to firearms innovation after a decade-long break.
Year Made
1845
Country
France
Firearm Designer and Influential System
Casimir Lefaucheux
Firearm Type/Category
Pinfire Pistol
Specific Model/Variant
Model 1845