Innovations in Hunting Firearms: Featured in the February 18, 1829 Issue of Le Courrier Français

Description

French Industry.
Hunting Weapons.

The invention of Pauli rifles has produced a true revolution in the hunting weapons system. Like all useful inventions, it has received progressive improvements that have gradually eliminated the inconveniences of the original model. The modifications made to the primer device have allowed these rifles to use percussion caps common to ordinary weapons. The most important and necessary improvement is the way the barrel’s loading orifice is closed. The initial modifications to the Pauli rifle in this regard were not entirely satisfactory, but after the work of MM. Roux and Pichereau, M. Lefaucheux has solved this difficult problem. He has made the breech so tightly adherent to the barrel that lowering it hermetically seals the double barrel entry. This improvement completes the advantages of the Pauli rifle, and the model established by M. Lefaucheux is likely to be adopted by all hunting enthusiasts. Besides the convenience it offers hunters for extremely quick loading, it prevents many fatal accidents that make hunting a dangerous pleasure. These accidents almost always result from the triggers firing while the hunter is loading the gun, or from double charges that burst the barrel. With the rifle perfected by M. Lefaucheux, these inconveniences disappear. The hunter is freed from double loading each charge, a long operation prone to errors. He no longer needs a shot pouch or powder flask, which are prone to explosion, as happened to M. A..., who was seriously injured. He only needs to carry cartridges and caps. He lifts the breech of his rifle, inserts a cartridge into each barrel through the breech, lowers the breech, places the primers, without interrupting his walk, and in any position he might take to hide from the game. He can thus fire a large number of shots with a speed unattainable with ordinary weapons. The barrel being chambered for the cartridge, it is impossible to double load it. Another advantage that should prevent many accidents is the ease with which one can remove the charge; simply lift the breech and give the rifle a slight shake. M. Lefaucheux's rifle has a ramrod, so it can be loaded by ramming if cartridges run out. It is not heavier or more expensive than an ordinary rifle. We are not surprised that it has already been adopted by many connoisseurs, and we believe that as it becomes better known, it will be more appreciated and come into general use.

One can view the model at M. Lefaucheux’s, rue J. J. Rousseau, no. 5, which supplies complete cartridges.