Aaron Newcomer -
  • Ammunition Articles
  • Gun Articles
  • Books and Documents Articles
  • Pinfire Ammo for Sale
  • Pinfire Guns for Sale
  • fr_FRFrançais
Items (0)
$0
Aaron Newcomer -
  • Ammunition Articles
  • Gun Articles
  • Books and Documents Articles
  • Pinfire Ammo for Sale
  • Pinfire Guns for Sale
Ammunition Articles
Gun Articles
Books and Documents Articles
Pinfire Ammo for Sale
Pinfire Guns for Sale
Documents

Jean Samuel Pauly, Henri Roux, and Successors by Georg Priestel

August 31, 2020 by Aaron Newcomer 2 Comments

Note to visitors linked from Forgotten Weapons, and everyone else too:
Much of the information in Ian’s video came from this book, but its central argument that Pauly only produced fire piston type guns is incorrect. Pauly absolutely created and patented a percussion-firing system. I have recently acquired the complete set of French military reports and memos from his 1812 to 1814 trials, and they make this beyond dispute. The book also relies on faulty translations and misinterprets evidence. For example, the firearms shown on pages 24 and 25 are cited as fire piston examples, but I have examined images of their internal mechanisms and can confirm they are percussion arms.

After Pauly moved to the UK in 1814, he did patent and produce fire piston versions of his design, likely as a way to work around Forsyth’s overly broad patent on percussion ignition systems in Britain.

For those asking about access to the book, PDF copies are available in two places:

  1. In the Jean Samuel Pauly archives at the Lefaucheux Museum (Pauly’s company was later acquired by Lefaucheux), available to supporting members.
  2. In the International Ammunition Association’s Resource Center, also accessible to members.

For the most accurate and updated research on Pauly, follow this blog (sign up with your email to the right) and the Lefaucheux Museum. I will also be publishing a detailed monograph to accompany a forthcoming ASAC presentation and display.

This book is an important source examining the company of Jean Samuel Pauly and his successors. It collects and analyzes many of the earliest documents and patents surrounding this revolutionary step in firearms design, making it one of the few substantial modern works devoted to the subject.

However, readers should be aware that while the book is deeply detailed, many of its conclusions are now known to be incorrect. Chief among these is the author’s claim that Pauly only produced fire piston–type arms. Extensive archival material from Pauly’s 1811–1813 French military trials demonstrates that he in fact created and patented a percussion-firing system, and even some of the firearms illustrated in the book (such as those on pp. 24–25) are percussion rather than fire piston examples. The book also suffers from mistranslations and other interpretive errors, though it nonetheless remains valuable for the breadth of contemporary documentation it reproduces and its attempt to synthesize earlier scattered sources.

Continue reading
Reading time: 6 min
Ammunition, Documents, Guns

The Pinfire Patents by James Erskine

August 29, 2020 by Aaron Newcomer 2 Comments

James Erskine, a gunmaker and inventor from Newton Stewart, Scotland had a prolific career inventing and patenting many improvements to guns and cartridge loading machines. His patented cartridge filler was universally accepted and used by all of the great British gunmakers of the day!

Erskine was born on September 12, 1812, in Penninghame, Wigtownshire, Scotland, the son of Mary Watson and Thomas Erskine. He married Elizabeth Sinclair on December 4, 1854, in his hometown. They had eight children over 21 years. He died on November 20, 1891, in Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, Scotland, having lived a long life of 79 years.

During most of those 79 years Erskine was active learning and then working in the gun trade. The IGC Historical Database indicates that Erskine began his apprenticeship at 14 years old, working as a gun finisher for Williams & Powell, or their predecessor, Edward Patrick in Liverpool.

Sometime after 1841 and before the 1851 Scotland Census, Erskine moved to Newton Stewart and began working for himself as a gun maker.

He displayed two guns at the 1851 Great Exhibition and was awarded a bronze metal.

On July 20, 1859 he delivered the following provisional specification to the British patent office for an update to the Lefaucheux-style pinfire shotgun:

Continue reading
Reading time: 18 min
Documents

Description des Machines et Procédés spécifiés dans les Brevets D’Invention

August 7, 2020 by Aaron Newcomer No Comments
Pauly Guns from Description des Machines et Procédés spécifiés dans les Brevets D’Invention

Description des Machines et Procédés spécifiés dans les Description des machines et procédés spécifiés dans les brevets d’invention, de perfectionnement et d’importation, dont la durée est expirée was the official printed record of the patents granted in France that were issued under the 1791 patent laws. These patents were not printed until after their expiration date of either 5, 10 or 15 years from when they were issued.

From 1791 until 1844 it was incredibly expensive to get a patent issued. The patent tax for 5 years was 300 francs, for 10 years it was 800 francs and for 15 years it was 1500 francs. At the time the average worker’s daily wage was 1.5 francs.

Flat Description des Machines et Procédés spécifiés dans les Brevets D’Invention

This feels like a very high quality book with thick linen rag pages, gilded pages and marbled inside covers. It even came with a bookmark!

But the content inside the document is what is really important. This is the official record of what the Conservatoire royal des arts et métiers (i.e. the patent office) believed the patent was about, looking back after it expired. This document is not always a full transcription of the patentee’s original document but rather detailed abstract that specifically describes the patent and heavily focuses on describing the drawings that accompanied it. It does quote specific sections sometimes though, Additionally, all of the drawing in the original patent may not always be reprinted here.

Continue reading
Reading time: 3 min
Ammunition, Editor's choice, Guns

August G. Genez – A Practical Gunmaker

August 4, 2020 by Aaron Newcomer 3 Comments
A. G. Genez, Gunsmith Shop Closeup

August G. Genez was a French Gunsmith that began working in the gun-making industry at 13 years old in France. He died on June 17, 1897 and over the course of his career he had many successful ventures as well as challenging tragedies.

This article will take a look at A. G. Genez, the gunsmith in New York, New York, and follow his 50-year career in the gun industry. We will also take a look at his successors of his gun shop, Vincent Bissig and John P. Dannefelser.

When August Genez was 21 years old he immigrated to the United States from a port in Le Havre, France on a ship named Charles Thompson and arrived in New York, New York on April 10, 1854. The ship log of his emigration record states he was from Germany but his naturalization record, son’s wedding record, various ads of his, son’s various census records all state his birthplace was France.

A. G. Genez shops map

The Genez name first shows up in the 1856/1857 issue of Trow’s New York City Directory where Genez August is listed as a gunsmith at 221 William. The same year the Wilson’s business directory of New-York City list him under the Gunsmiths section with his business at 221 William.

Continue reading
Reading time: 12 min

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Language

  • fr_FRFrançais
  • en_USEnglish

About me

Hello, my name is Aaron Newcomer. I am a collector and researcher of early 19th century breech-loading firearms systems, with a particular focus on the work of Jean Samuel Pauly and Casimir Lefaucheux. I collect cartridges and documents related to these types of firearms and conduct research on these topics, furthering my understanding and knowledge of these historical firearms and their place in the evolution of firearms technology. My collection and research reflect my dedication to preserving and understanding the history and technical innovations of these early firearms systems.

Read more about me and where my work has been published.

Site Sections

  • Ammunition Articles
  • Gun Articles
  • Books and Documents Articles
  • Pinfire Ammo for Sale
  • Pinfire Guns for Sale

Featured Articles

Italian Military Pinfire Cartridges and Revolvers

Italian Military Pinfire Cartridges and Revolvers

Hundreds of Gévelot pinfire cartridges excavated at Civil War site in Rolla, Missouri

Hundreds of Gévelot pinfire cartridges excavated at Civil War site in Rolla, Missouri

Casimir Lefaucheux’s first pistol and the death of Pauly’s Cartridge System

Casimir Lefaucheux’s first pistol and the death of Pauly’s Cartridge System

The Relationship Between the United States and Pinfire Cartridges

The Relationship Between the United States and Pinfire Cartridges

August G. Genez – A Practical Gunmaker

August G. Genez – A Practical Gunmaker

Search

Recent Posts

  • The Davoust Shot Concentrator: A French Answer to Unruly Patterns (1855–1859)
  • Wohlgemuth’s Break-Action Musket Conversion and Rifled Barrel Insert System
  • From Collector to Founder: How My Passion for Historical Documents Led to an AI Startup
  • The Birth of British Pinfire: Eley’s Entry into Breechloading Cartridges
  • Eugène Pertuiset and His Revolutionary Explosive Ammunition: A Tale of Innovation in the Age of Black Powder

Information

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Shipping & Delivery Policy
  • Refund and Returns Policy
  • Contact Us

Social

  • Mastodon
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • CasimirLefaucheux.com

Recent Posts

The Davoust Shot Concentrator: A French Answer to Unruly Patterns (1855–1859)

The Davoust Shot Concentrator: A French Answer to Unruly Patterns (1855–1859)

August 17, 2025
Wohlgemuth’s Break-Action Musket Conversion and Rifled Barrel Insert System

Wohlgemuth’s Break-Action Musket Conversion and Rifled Barrel Insert System

July 12, 2025

Categories

  • Ammunition
  • Documents
  • Editor's choice
  • Guns
  • Le Musée Lefaucheux
  • Lefaucheux
  • Technology
  • United States

© 2010 - 2022 All rights reserved. AaronNewcomer.com