Original Belgian "Versailles" Style Rifled Officer's Percussion Pistol marked EX on Lock and Barrel - Circa 1840

Original Item. Only One Available. This is a lovely Belgian-made Officer's Pistol, made very much in the high end French style of the day, known as the "Versailles" style. Designed by famed gunsmith Nicolas-Noël Boutet, this pattern pistols were very popular and extensively made for French Officers. This example was almost certainly made in Liège, Belgium, a gunmaking center even today, which had been under French and then Dutch control until the early 1830s. It has an octagonal 8 inch barrel with a lovely taper that narrows towards the middle, which has numerous fine rifling grooves inside. This was very typical for the style, and we have seen several examples with this same shape on the barrel, which is very attractive.

The overall length is 14 inches, and the pistol is all bronze mounted, including the bronze-tipped ramrod. The trigger guard and octagonal butt cap features some lovely engraved designs. There are some faded markings on the top of the barrel, but we are not able to read them accurately, except for a faded EX marking, which matches the marking on the lock plate. The iron work definitely looks to have been polished and cleaned over the years, which definitely would have removed markings and engraving if present. The lock is still fully functional, holding correctly at half cock, and the cap nipple cone does show wear from use.

The walnut stock is checkered around the wrist and terminates in a lovely wide ring of the Versailles style. We can also see some lovely figuring to the wood, which shows some lovely chatoyancy in the light. There is even some silver wire inlay down the back of the wrist, though it is worn and incomplete. Both sides of the fore stock near the muzzle show cracking and past repairs, with a wood graft repair on the right side measuring about 4 inches long along the woodline. The pistol definitely looks to have seen a good amount of use, followed by cleaning and restoration.

A very nice Belgian-made 'Versailles' style percussion pistol, ready to research and display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1840
Caliber: about .61" pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 8 inches
Overall Length: 14 inches
Action: Flintlock Side Action with Set Trigger
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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