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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

Articles about Firearms

Dive into the world of antique and vintage firearms with articles that cover a wide array of gun types and models. From early breech-loading systems to the intricate designs of Lefaucheux and Pauly, these articles will provide insights into the rich history of firearm development, the people behind them, and the innovations that shaped the industry.

Guns

John Krider: Philadelphia’s Renowned Gunsmith and Innovator

November 30, 2024 by Aaron Newcomer 1 Comment
John Krider Gun

John Krider was a name well-known among 19th-century American sportsmen, particularly in Philadelphia, where his gun shop became a staple of the local sporting community. Situated at the northeast corner of Second and Walnut Streets, Krider’s shop wasn’t just a place to purchase firearms; it was a hub of innovation and craftsmanship, where the latest advancements in gunmaking were adapted and perfected for the American market. Among the many firearms that passed through Krider’s hands, a particularly notable piece is a 12-gauge pinfire shotgun that exemplifies his blend of European influences and American ingenuity.

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Reading time: 4 min
Ammunition, Guns, United States

Charles Edward Sneider and an American Pinfire Shotgun

February 24, 2024 by Aaron Newcomer 5 Comments

In the tapestry of American firearms history, few threads are as colorful and as intertwined with the fabric of innovation as the story of Charles Edward Sneider and his journey with the pinfire system. This article ventures into the heart of 19th-century America, a time of rapid technological advancement and societal change, to explore the pivotal role played by Sneider, a Baltimore-based gun maker of remarkable skill and vision. Through the lens of Sneider’s life and legacy, we delve into the symbiotic relationship between the burgeoning United States and the innovative pinfire system, uncovering the profound impact of his work on the course of firearms development.

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Reading time: 11 min
Guns

Fusil Robert and the 1837 U.S. Army Trials of Early Breech-Loading Rifles

July 28, 2023 by Aaron Newcomer 3 Comments

In 1837, the U.S. military tested several innovative new firearm designs in a series of trials at West Point and Fort Monroe. These included early breech-loading rifles designed to improve on the standard muzzle-loading muskets and rifles used by the Army at the time. The tests provide an intriguing look at the state of firearms technology in the 1830s as inventors sought to harness new percussion cap and self-contained cartridge systems.

One of the most advanced rifles assessed was a 1831 French design by Joseph Alexandre Robert, presented by Baron Charles Hackett. Robert’s rifle used a rear-pivoting breechblock to allow a paper cartridge with percussion tube primer to be loaded from the rear. This breech-loading system gave it a major advantage in rate of fire over muzzle-loaders. In testing, Robert’s rifle achieved around 5 shots per minute, similar to the rate for Hall’s breech-loader and far faster than the 3 shots per minute of the standard U.S. musket.

1831 Robert Rifle from Author’s Collection
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Reading time: 3 min
Guns, Lefaucheux

The Lefaucheux-Béringer Connection: Uncovering the Secrets of Early Pistols and Cartridges

July 7, 2023 by Aaron Newcomer 4 Comments

The world of firearms has a fascinating history, with many twists and turns. One such exciting era involves the early pistols made by Casimir Lefaucheux. Recent discoveries of some of his rare firearms have sparked curiosity about the relationship between Lefaucheux and another inventor, Béatus Béringer. In this article, we’ll take a look at the story behind these two inventors and the intriguing features of their early pistols.

A Lucky Find: Lefaucheux’s Early Pinfire Pistols

Lefaucheux pistol
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Reading time: 6 min
Guns, United States

American-made Sliding-Breech Pinfire by N. R. Davis of Assonet, Massachusetts

May 26, 2023 by Aaron Newcomer 3 Comments

Nathan Russell Davis, known as N.R. Davis, was a pioneer in the American firearm industry. Born in 1828, he established N.R. Davis & Sons, a company that would leave a lasting mark on the firearm manufacturing landscape. From its humble beginnings in a small shop in Assonet, Massachusetts, to its evolution into a respected firearm manufacturer, the company’s history is a testament to Davis’s vision and resilience. This article delves into the early years of N.R. Davis’s companies, highlighting their innovative contributions such as a unique pinfire shotgun, and the company’s enduring legacy.

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Reading time: 5 min
Guns

Dogs and Doubles: Exploring 19th Century Portraits of People Posing with their Pinfire Shotguns and Canine Companions

February 11, 2023 by Aaron Newcomer 3 Comments

The 19th century was a time of great change, as the world transitioned from agrarian societies to industrialized nations. Despite these changes, one thing remained constant: the deep and abiding bond between humans, their firearms, and their dogs. This bond is evident in a series of fascinating photographs from the 19th century, which showcase people from all walks of life posing with their pinfire shotguns and their loyal canine companions. From hunters to farmers, from kids to couples, these portraits offer a glimpse into a world where the relationship between a person, their weapon, and their dog was seen as an essential part of daily life. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at these intriguing images and the stories they tell about the relationships between humans, their firearms, and their furry friends.

Ready for the Hunt

The first two portraits depict men preparing for a hunting excursion. Dressed in traditional hunting attire and armed with Lefaucheux pinfire shotguns, they stand ready with their trusty canine companions by their side. These hunting dogs, eager for action, seem to anticipate the thrill of the chase that awaits them in the field.

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Reading time: 4 min
Ammunition, Guns

What Is the Pinfire System? A Look at Its Invention and Impact

December 2, 2022 by Aaron Newcomer 2 Comments

The pinfire system marked a turning point in firearms technology, enhancing safety and reliability. But what is the pinfire system, and why was it invented? Let’s explore its origins and historical significance.

Pinfire guns and Cartridges

What Is the Pinfire System?

The pinfire system, invented by French gunsmith Casimir Lefaucheux in the early 19th century, introduced a new type of cartridge and firing mechanism for firearms. Distinctively, this system used a small pin protruding from the side of the cartridge. When the firearm’s hammer struck the pin, it ignited the gunpowder, firing the bullet. This innovative approach was a marked improvement over previous firearms, which relied on loose gunpowder and separate ignition devices such as flintlocks or percussion caps.

Lefaucheux, a well-respected inventor in firearms technology, made several key contributions to the field, with the pinfire system being one of his most notable. After patenting the system in France in 1835, it quickly gained popularity and adoption by gun manufacturers globally.

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Reading time: 4 min
Ammunition, Editor's choice, Guns

Italian Military Pinfire Cartridges and Revolvers

February 20, 2022 by Aaron Newcomer 2 Comments
Italian military pinfire revolver and cartridges

Kingdom of Sardinia

The story of Italian pinfire guns and cartridges begins in the Kingdom of Sardinia with an order of 5000 Lefaucheux model 1854 revolvers. This first order was placed in 1859 and delivered in 1861 and these guns were referred to as the Corto model. They were pretty similar to the typical Lefaucheux model 1854 revolver except they had a 21% shorter barrel around 123mm long. At the time that these revolvers were ordered and delivered it is thought that the arsenals had not yet started producing their own pinfire cartridges yet so cartridges were likely imported from France or elsewhere as well.

Sardinian Lefaucheux Corto Revolver
Sardinian Corto model from the collection of GVM and published in the book, Eugène Gabriel Lefaucheux Nineteenth-Century Arms Manufacturer in Paris and Liège.
Sardinian Lefaucheux Corto Revolver
Sardinian Corto model from the collection of GVM

The Kingdom of Italy

Shortly after these revolvers were ordered, the Kingdom of Italy was formed and a new order was made for another 12,000 revolvers.

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Reading time: 6 min
Guns, Lefaucheux

A Matched Pair of Early Pinfire Pistols designed by Casimir Lefaucheux

January 8, 2022 by Aaron Newcomer 2 Comments
Casimir Lefaucheux Pistols

I recently picked up this pair of pinfire pistols designed by Casimir Lefaucheux. I had never seen examples quite like them before and was really excited to get them in. Casimir Lefaucheux was making pistols from the time he took over the Pauly company in 1827 as shown in our recent post on the topic. But these early pistols were much larger and bulkier. In 1833, Lefaucheux was issued a new patent for his fusil à charnière, or hinged gun.

Le Constitutionnel, 29 avril 1833
Le Constitutionnel, 29 April 1833

He advertised and promoted the fact that these pistols and rifles were easier to use and safer and better in every way than his earlier Pauly guns, and especially better than other percussion guns of the day. They could shoot 500 rounds without cleaning or even wiping down which was unheard of for typical percussion guns that loaded from the muzzle. Lefaucheux also emphasized that they were easier to take apart and maintain by the average person.

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Reading time: 3 min
Guns

Pinfire Clock Gun Display won 2021 TGCA Award

October 19, 2021 by Aaron Newcomer 3 Comments
Clock Gun Display

Winchesters and Colts are the major focus at gun collecting organizations in Texas and the American West. If you can associate a gun with a Texas Ranger or a cowboy then it will likely fit right in! European guns and pinfire in particular have often been overlooked by collecting circles in the United States. John Wayne never used one so its appeal never really grew much here.

So I figured if I were going to introduce a pinfire display at one of these shows I had better make it about something unique enough that would really stand out!

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Reading time: 1 min
Guns, Lefaucheux

Finding Lefaucheux on my Trip to Paris!

October 4, 2021 by Aaron Newcomer 12 Comments

I recently took a trip to Germany and France with my wife and I took the opportunity to trace down some Lefaucheux and pinfire related things!

The trip started with a visit to the European Cartridge Research Association international show in Aerzen, Germany where I was able to meet some friends who I had previously only conversed with online and others who I had not seen for a couple years due to COVID. We stayed at a fancy castle and really enjoyed the pristine landscape and atmosphere of the area.

I was able to pick up some great cartridges for my collection including a 13x52R Pinfire carbine cartridge made by the Ottoman Empire. It dates to around the 1880s and was probably made in the Tophane Factory in Constantinople. The headstamp is a tughra (a calligraphic signature of the Ottoman Sultans). This particular one should be of “His Imperial Majesty, The Sultan Abdülhamid II, Emperor of the Ottomans, Caliph of the Faithful” who reigned over the Ottoman Empire from 31 August 1876 – 27 April 1909. It is possible it was made during the time of the prior Sultan as well.

I also picked up a 28g cartridge made for a Czech military pistol made by Anton Vincenz Lebeda that was issued to cavalry officers as well as a 4g Eley pinfire shotshell.

But the highlight would have to be a Pichereau-patented percussion nipple used on his Pauly system rifles. These were also used on the first rifles Lefaucheux made after buying the company from Pichereau.

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Reading time: 6 min
Editor's choice, Guns, Lefaucheux

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

September 11, 2021 by Aaron Newcomer 3 Comments
Casimir Lefaucheux Percussion Pistol
Casimir Lefaucheux Percussion Pistol; from Author’s collection

This story of Casimir Lefaucheux’s first pistol begins in 1812 when Jean Samuel Pauly patented an early breech-loading pistol and rifle. Casimir Lefaucheux worked as an apprentice for Pauly and began to learn the trade of gun making. There are conflicting opinions on exactly what this first gun was at this time as some modern researchers believe that much of the historical documentation is incorrect, or at least conflates Pauly’s inventions and the inventions of Pauly’s successor, Henri Roux.

What is known for sure is that around this time, Pauly created and patented a system of igniting a charge by the use of rapidly compressed air with a fire piston. It is described in a report by a French military commission on 16 July 1812. This design was also patented in England in 1814 and 1816, where Pauly moved after selling his Parisian shop.

What is contested is if this was also the design of his French patent from 22 September 1812. The patent application does not go into details on how the mechanism works and the accompanying drawings show images of a rifle and pistol that use a percussion piston to hit an early percussion compound. Early reviews of the system and the official recorded record of the patent all speak of this percussion mechanism.

Pauly Pistol
Image of Pauly Pistol assigned to the 1812 Pauly Patent by the French National Institute of Industrial Property

Some researchers think it is unlikely that Pauly created the compressed air version for the military review in 1812 and then pivoted to the percussion version in his civilian model later in 1812 and then back to the compressed air version that he patented in London.

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Reading time: 6 min
Ammunition, Guns

Norwegian Military Pinfire Revolvers and Cartridges

May 31, 2021 by Aaron Newcomer 4 Comments
Lefaucheux Norwegian Pinfire Revolver

On 12 September 1859, a Norwegian military commission recommend contracting with Eugène Lefaucheux to acquire some of his model 1854 pinfire revolvers to begin updating their service handguns. In October 1859 they ordered 800 revolvers and 120,000 pinfire cartridges for the Norwegian Navy with a delivery date of summer 1860.

There are various sources that claim differing serial number ranges of this first order, but The Lefaucheux Family Archives has matched up original purchase orders and invoices to determine that they are around the LF14597 – LF15936 range. Some of this is detailed in the excellent book on the subject, La Production des Modeles d’Eugène Lefaucheux by Guillaume Van Mastrigt.

Norwegian Model 59

This first order of revolvers followed the below design as shown in this example from the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum where they have it labeled as an example of the Norwegian Navy Model 1859. It is thought that there are no special markings that specifically indicate which guns Lefaucheux made specifically went to fulfill this first order.

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Reading time: 5 min
Ammunition, Guns

2mm Pinfire Guns and Cartridges

December 17, 2020 by Aaron Newcomer 5 Comments
Xythos Brand 2mm Pinfire Revolver

This article will take a look at some of the smallest pinfire guns and cartridges. The 2mm pinfire cartridge showed up around 1880. This is when Société Française des Munitions began producing the variations shown in the following factory drawing.

SFM factory drawing for original 2mm pinfire cartridges

These cartridges were made for tiny pinfire revolvers that looked like miniature versions of the normal pinfire revolvers. The following image is an example of one sold by Wayne Driskill Miniature Firearms.

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Reading time: 4 min
Guns

Mariette Patent 7mm Pinfire Revolvers

November 29, 2020 by Aaron Newcomer 1 Comment
Mariette 7mm Pinfire Revolvers

Here are a couple variations of the 7mm pinfire revolver made by the Mariette family of gun-makers who lived in Cheratte, Liège, Belgium. This particular design was patented in 1862 by Servais Joseph Celestin Mariette, the son of the well known gun maker, Guillaume Mariette.

Across the Mariette family there were dozens of firearm patents registered and the designs often crossed over into patents by others in the family. There is also a lot of crossover when making the actual guns as well; for example, guns patented by Guillaume Mariette could be made and have a mark of his brother, Gilles Mariette.

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Reading time: 1 min
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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.

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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

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From Collector to Founder: How My Passion for Historical Documents Led to an AI Startup

From Collector to Founder: How My Passion for Historical Documents Led to an AI Startup

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The Birth of British Pinfire: Eley’s Entry into Breechloading Cartridges

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