Known as "Systeme Lefaucheux", the pin fire system was named after the French inventor, Casimir Lefaucheux. The M1858 double action pinfire cartridge revolver was in limited use during our American Civil War. The Union imported a large number of the earlier 1854 single action pinfire revolvers. The double action model 1858 pinfire revolver was commercially available in Europe prior to the Civil War and was generally produced for the Civilian market. This example was has Belgian proof marks, and is shaped with a walnut broom handle grip, but is otherwise unmarked.

This antique revolver is caliber 11mm pin fire, with six chambers in the cylinder. Old Ely pinfire drawings list this as a 12mm cartridge, but the bullet is only 11mm or .43 caliber in diameter -one of the early mysteries of early cartridge naming. The exterior surfaces have a speckled gray patina with some areas of light texture. The 6" barrel has a tall brass post front sight, no rear sight is fitted. The front sight appears to be an old replacement, as they are typically steel. The style of the sight is correct in shape. The bore is mostly bright but does have some scattered dark spots. The loading gate swings upward and the spring works correctly to secure it closed. The cartridge ejector rod is mounted and retained by a boss at the side of the octagon portion of the barrel. Unlike later Colt revolvers, this ejector rod is all manual in operation. Press the rod to the rear to eject the cartridge, and return it manually to the front. No return spring is used, so the rod must be manually returned after each use. The rod is held snugly in position.

The M1858 revolver is double action, and has a very firm trigger pull in double action. The large hammer spur allows easy operation to cock for single action, and the trigger pull is very crisp in single action. The triggerguard is rounded and the broom handle walnut grip has a lanyard loop on the bottom to prevent loss in the field, which is common revolvers designed for cavalry use.

This revolver includes 50 unprimed pinfire rounds and cast bullets. You must use brass pins to prevent damage to the hammer if you plan to fire this revolver. The pins are not included.

Pinfire revolver rounds are found at many Civil War battlefields. The M1858 double action pinfire revolver was not as common as the earlier 1854 single action versions. The Union eventually replaced the 1854 pinfire revolvers with Colt and Remington revolvers as they became available, likely due to the logistics of suppling different cartridges to different units. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.