Known as "Systeme Lefaucheux", the pin fire system was named after the French inventor, Casimir Lefaucheux. These single action pinfire cartridge revolvers were in common use in Europe, during our Civil War. This revolver is a 1854 pattern revolver and similar revolvers were used by the French, Spanish, and other European powers during the 1860's. They were also commercially available to individuals. This example was made in Eibar Spain in the workshop of Andres Osa and is marked on the barrel. Abraham Lincoln ordered thousands of similar pistols at the onset of the war, but they are rarely encountered, today as many were sold back to Europe for the Franco Prussian War.
This antique revolver is caliber 12mm pin fire, with six chambers in the cylinder. The exterior surfaces retain some of the high polished blue finish with other areas aging to gray brown patina with some areas of light texture. The top of the barrel is marked Fa'de Andres Osa Eibar. The 7-1/2" barrel has a tall post front sight, no rear sight is fitted. The bore is is excellent condition with a few small frosted areas. 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 revolver is single action, so it must be cocked for each use. The large hammer spur allows easy operation. The triggerguard has a finger spur and the walnut grip is a saw handle design with lanyard loop on the bottom to prevent loss in the field. The walnut grips are checkered and decorated with a sea shell design against the action.
This revolver include 10 unprimed pinfire rounds. The pins on these are longer than necessary and will not rotate around the notch between the frame and cylinder.
Both the Union and Confederacy purchased similar revolvers at the outset of the Civil War. The Union eventually replaced them with Colt and Remington revolvers as they became available, likely due 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.