Martin – Firearms Store and Pinfire Pistols, Chartres

Description

This 1894 invoice from Martin, a gunsmith based at 2 Rue de la Tonnellerie in Chartres, highlights the services and products offered by the business, which specialized in firearms and hunting supplies. The letterhead prominently features crossed rifles and pinfire pistols, showcasing Martin's focus on providing both custom-made firearms and essential hunting equipment. The inclusion of pinfire pistols reflects the continued use of this innovative design, based on the Lefaucheux system, which was a significant development in cartridge-based firearms during the 19th century.

The invoice lists various cartridges in calibers 12, 16, and 18, along with a service for maintaining a double-barrel shotgun. This variety of ammunition suggests that Martin catered to hunters and sportsmen, ensuring they had access to the necessary supplies for both small game and larger hunting expeditions. The attention to detail in the products offered, including custom-made firearms, highlights the quality of service provided by this local gunsmith.

Martin's store played a key role in supporting the needs of the hunting community in Chartres. By offering both firearms and ammunition, as well as maintenance services for shotguns and pistols, Martin helped ensure that customers had reliable, well-maintained equipment. The depiction of pinfire pistols on the letterhead serves as a reminder of this important transitional technology in firearm history.