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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.

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.

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Reading time: 6 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.

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Reading time: 3 min
Documents

L’Ecole du Chasseur; an 1822 Hunter’s manual with an early drawing and extract about Pauly Guns by Henri Roux

July 28, 2020 by Aaron Newcomer No Comments
L'Ecole du chasseur; an 1822 Hunter's manual

L’Ecole du chasseur is an early book with reviews and information on birding, fishing, and hunting. They devote around 60 pages to print an extract of Henri Roux’s publication, Fusils De Chasse, Et Principalement Des Fusils a Pistons De L’invention Pauly, Avec Quelques Observations Sur La Fabrication Des Armes a Feu, Sur La Chasse, Sur La Poudre Et Ses Effets, a book all about the benefits of the new Pauly rifle and pistol, a system which Henri Roux owned the patents and company for.

Fusil De Chasse by Henri Roux

Roux also created a detailed drawing which is referenced in both of these books throughout the text.

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

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