Edmond Berny – Lefaucheux System Firearms and Hunting Supplies

Description

This invoice from Edmond Berny, a firearms dealer based at 46 Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière in Paris, dated 1868, provides a record of a transaction involving firearms and related hunting equipment. The letterhead prominently mentions the sale of fusils Lefaucheux (Lefaucheux system shotguns), emphasizing Berny’s connection to this important breech-loading firearm technology that revolutionized 19th-century firearms manufacturing. The mention of armes de Liège et de St. Étienne (arms from Liège and St. Étienne) also indicates that Berny dealt in a range of firearms from these renowned manufacturing centers, which were famous for their high-quality weapons.

The items listed on this invoice are mostly shotguns (fusils), confirming that Edmond Berny specialized in the sale of hunting firearms. The letterhead further highlights the business’s broad inventory, including shotgun shells, accessories for fusils Lefaucheux, and supplies such as primers and wadding (fabrique d’amorces & bourres), catering to hunters and sport shooters alike.

This document reflects Edmond Berny’s role as a supplier of firearms and hunting equipment during a period when the Lefaucheux system was gaining popularity across Europe. It also illustrates the importance of firearms produced in key centers like Liège and St. Étienne, whose craftsmanship contributed significantly to the proliferation of modern breech-loading firearms in France.