Eugène Pertuiset and His Revolutionary Explosive Ammunition: A Tale of Innovation in the Age of Black Powder

In the gunsmoke-filled world of 1860s Paris, as firearms technology was experiencing a revolution with the widespread adoption of breechloading weapons and self-contained cartridges, a determined inventor named Eugène Pertuiset was about to make his mark on history. The French capital was then the epicenter of firearms innovation – where revolutionary designs like the Lefaucheux pinfire system and the new Chassepot military rifle were transforming the possibilities of what guns could achieve. It was in this atmosphere of rapid technological change that Pertuiset would develop one of the most innovative – and controversial – ammunition advances of the 19th century.

Pertuiset was not your typical weapons inventor. A complex and ambitious character, he moved easily between Parisian society salons and African hunting grounds. In later years, he would gain fame as an intrepid lion hunter, immortalized in Édouard Manet’s 1881 portrait “Portrait of M. Pertuiset, the Lion Hunter,” now hanging in the São Paulo Museum of Art. His exploits hunting the black lions of Constantine would fill the pages of his 1878 book “Les Aventures d’un Chasseur de Lions,” and his name would become synonymous with daring hunting expeditions.

But before his African adventures brought him widespread recognition, it was his relentless pursuit of the perfect explosive bullet that first brought him international attention. Working first with established gunsmiths like Devisme^[3], then striking out on his own revolutionary path, Pertuiset would develop ammunition that would be tested by armies across Europe and change military thinking about explosive projectiles. His innovations would spark international treaties, influence battlefield medicine, and set new standards for ammunition effectiveness that would influence designers for decades to come.

This is the story of how one man’s quest for more effective hunting ammunition led to a revolution in explosive bullet design – a tale that winds through the workshops of Paris, the shooting ranges of Russia, and the battlefields of Europe, forever changing the landscape of ammunition technology.

From Frustration to Innovation

Pertuiset’s journey into explosive bullet development began during his hunting expeditions in Africa. As an avid hunter and accomplished marksman, he had initially placed his trust in Devisme’s explosive bullets^[3], which were then considered the pinnacle of explosive ammunition technology in Paris. These bullets contained a small charge and were fitted with percussion caps meant to detonate upon impact.

His experiences in the field, however, would prove deeply frustrating. During his time in Jemmapes^[3], local entrepreneurs working on the Philippeville road provided him an opportunity to test Devisme’s bullets on a cow that was destined for slaughter. The test would become a pivotal moment in his development process. Aiming carefully, he placed a shot in the animal’s flank with one of Devisme’s explosive bullets. To his dismay – and that of the gathered observers – the cow showed barely any reaction. The bullet had failed to detonate in the soft tissue, and the animal continued peacefully grazing for more than fifteen minutes as if nothing had happened. Finally, Pertuiset was forced to end the experiment with a conventional shot to the head.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. Throughout his hunting experiences, he found that Devisme’s bullets consistently failed to perform as advertised. The problem was particularly acute when the bullets struck soft tissue – they would often pass through without detonating, essentially functioning as expensive conventional rounds. Even when they did explode, the effect was often minimal.

Another telling example came during a hunt where Pertuiset had the opportunity to use the bullets on a lion^[3]. Despite hitting the animal with a Devisme explosive bullet, the beast managed to travel more than four kilometers before finally succumbing to its wounds. This demonstrated that even when the bullets detonated, they weren’t producing the immediate, devastating effects that their design promised.

These experiences convinced Pertuiset that a fundamentally new approach was needed. The primary issues he identified with Devisme’s design were:

• Unreliable detonation, particularly in soft tissue
• Dependency on mechanical percussion caps that could fail
• Insufficient explosive force even when detonation occurred
• Complex construction that made manufacture difficult and expensive

Pertuiset began to envision a new type of explosive bullet that would address these shortcomings. He wanted something that would reliably detonate regardless of the target material, produce more powerful explosions, and – crucially – eliminate the need for complex mechanical detonators. His concept was revolutionary: rather than relying on impact-triggered percussion caps, he would develop a bullet that would detonate from the heat generated by its own impact.

This insight led him to begin experimenting with various explosive compounds that could be sensitive enough to detonate reliably but stable enough to be safely loaded and fired. It was the beginning of a development process that would eventually revolutionize explosive ammunition design and attract attention from military authorities across Europe.

The Path to Technical Breakthrough

After his disappointing experiences with Devisme’s bullets, Pertuiset began a methodical quest to develop a better explosive projectile. His first partnership was with a well-respected Swiss gunsmith named Jaquet^[3], known for his precision rifling work. Together, they began experimenting with various fulminate compounds, seeking a mixture that would be more reliable than Devisme’s percussion cap system.

These early experiments, while promising, proved dangerous. During one test at Leopold Bernard’s facility, their experimental fulminate mixture proved far too volatile. The compound detonated inside the barrel of the test rifle, causing a catastrophic failure. It was only the exceptional quality of the Leopold Bernard barrel that prevented what could have been a fatal accident. The barrel split but contained the explosion, giving Pertuiset a sobering lesson in the dangers of explosive ammunition development.

Rather than deterring him, this setback only strengthened Pertuiset’s resolve to find a safer, more reliable solution. His next partnership would prove decisive. Jacques Henseler, a former foreman of Devisme, brought decades of ammunition manufacturing expertise to the project. More importantly, he understood the delicate chemistry of explosive compounds and the precise requirements of commercial ammunition production.

Over two intensive months at Leopold Bernard’s shooting range, Pertuiset and Henseler conducted systematic experiments. They tested dozens of compound variations, carefully documenting the results and refining their formula. Their breakthrough came when they developed a unique four-component mixture:

• Two parts potassium chlorate provided the primary explosive force
• One part sulphur acted as a sensitizer and accelerant
• One-eighth part sporting gunpowder ensured consistent ignition
• One-fiftieth part animal charcoal served as a stabilizing agent

But the real innovation wasn’t just in the formula – it was in the manufacturing process they developed. Previous attempts to create similar compounds had failed because direct mixing of the ingredients often led to premature detonation or inconsistent performance. Pertuiset and Henseler solved this through a carefully choreographed two-stage mixing process.

First, they combined the potassium chlorate and animal charcoal. This initial mixture was relatively stable, as the charcoal helped coat the chlorate particles and reduce their sensitivity. Separately, they mixed the sporting powder and sulphur, creating a second stable compound. Only then were these two mixtures carefully combined, without any additional grinding or trituration, as the final mixture was extremely sensitive to friction.

Each step required precise measurements and careful handling. The ingredients had to be thoroughly mixed but not ground together, as any friction could trigger a premature explosion. The temperature and humidity during mixing had to be carefully controlled, and the final compound needed to be stored and transported with extreme care.

The result was revolutionary – a compound that would reliably detonate from the heat generated by impact, without requiring any additional primer or percussion cap. Unlike previous designs, these new bullets could effectively explode in both hard and soft targets. When striking bone, they would create devastating fragmentary wounds. In soft tissue, the heat of impact would still trigger detonation, creating massive wound channels through hydrostatic shock.

Pertuiset had succeeded in creating what he had envisioned – an explosive bullet that was simpler in design than Devisme’s, more reliable in operation, and devastatingly effective against any target. The stage was now set for international recognition and commercial success, though the very effectiveness of his design would soon raise serious humanitarian concerns.

International Recognition and Military Interest

As word of Pertuiset’s breakthrough spread through European military circles, his explosive bullets began attracting serious attention from armies across the continent^[3]. To protect and promote his innovations, Pertuiset secured patents in France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which facilitated international recognition of his work. His ability to control and delay detonation—allowing projectiles to penetrate armor before exploding—particularly intrigued naval authorities looking for solutions against the increasingly common ironclad warships.

French Military Trials

Initial testing of Pertuiset’s explosive bullets began at Vincennes in France, where the military committee conducted extensive trials using a mitrailleuse^[6], a rapid-firing multi-barrel gun. These trials involved controversial experiments, such as firing on live cavalry horses tethered in large masses—sometimes numbering in the hundreds. Pertuiset’s bullets, filled with his specialized explosive powder, caused devastating effects. Observers reported that the bullets shattered skulls, ribs, and legs of the unfortunate targets, demonstrating the immense power and destructiveness of his design. Despite the promising results, political complications eventually led to a suspension of the French program. However, these early tests caught the attention of foreign military observers, leading to invitations from other nations.

The Russian Connection

In Russia, Pertuiset’s demonstrations proved so impressive that he was granted unprecedented access to military facilities. Czar Alexander II took personal interest in the project, attending demonstrations at the military proving grounds. The success of these tests led to the Czar presenting Pertuiset with an emerald and diamond ring as a token of his appreciation.

More significantly, Pertuiset received permission to establish his own pyrotechnic workshop in St. Petersburg – a rare privilege for a foreign inventor. There he continued development work, refining his designs for Russian military applications. However, this promising relationship would be cut short by the Saint Petersburg Declaration of 1868, which banned explosive projectiles weighing less than 400 grams.

Austrian Naval Tests

Perhaps the most dramatic demonstrations of Pertuiset’s technology occurred at the Austrian naval facility in Pola. There, tests were conducted against armor plates designed to simulate warship hulls:

• The target consisted of two iron plates (4.5 and 4.75 inches thick)
• Behind these was 10 inches of hardwood backing
• This was followed by a 1.5-inch iron skin
• Finally, 12 inches of oak completed the assembly

Initial tests with conventional solid shot merely dented the armor face. However, when loaded with Pertuiset’s explosive compound, the results were devastating. The first shot not only penetrated the front plate but dislodged a massive section of armor measuring 22 by 15 inches. A second shot so thoroughly destroyed the target that further testing was impossible.

These tests, witnessed by Archduke Albert and numerous high-ranking officers, demonstrated the potential of Pertuiset’s technology against naval targets. The Austrian military was particularly impressed by his method of controlling detonation timing – allowing projectiles to penetrate deep into a ship’s structure before exploding.

Italian Trials

At the Royal Veneria, Italian military authorities conducted their own series of tests focusing on both armor penetration and anti-personnel effects. The test program systematically evaluated the ammunition’s effectiveness against various targets, from armored plates to simulated fortifications.

Turkish and Egyptian Interest

Both the Turkish and Egyptian militaries showed significant interest in Pertuiset’s designs. In Constantinople, he conducted demonstrations for military authorities, though political complications ultimately prevented adoption. In Egypt, he worked with Chérif Pasha, conducting extensive trials that showed promising results before political considerations again intervened.

While international military agreements would eventually limit the battlefield use of small-caliber explosive projectiles, Pertuiset’s work demonstrated the potential of controlled explosive detonation in projectiles – a concept that would influence artillery shell design for decades to come. His contributions to the field helped establish new parameters for ammunition effectiveness and highlighted the growing need for international agreements governing weapons technology.

The military interest in his designs also led to significant improvements in manufacturing processes and safety protocols for explosive ammunition – developments that would benefit both military and civilian ammunition production well into the 20th century.

A Dramatic Demonstration in London

The true capabilities of Pertuiset’s design were perhaps best demonstrated during tests in London^[7] in 1870. On August 3rd, a small group of officers and observers gathered at the yard of Messrs. Winkley and Shaw, horse slaughterers, at 33 Green Street in Blackfriars Road. The tests were arranged for Surgeon-Major Wyatt, likely to evaluate the military potential of these specialized rounds.

^{.450 cartridge loaded with Pertuiset bullet from the Chris Punnet collection[20]}

The demonstrations utilized an Adams revolver, loaded with both conventional and Pertuiset’s explosive .450 caliber cartridges. The selection of the Adams was significant – the French had already noted its impressive power and range, having observed effective practice shots at distances up to 300 meters.

The first test subject was a particularly vicious horse that had been condemned for its dangerous behavior. As the beast stood quietly watching the seemingly insignificant weapon, Mr. Adams took aim directly between its eyes. The report was surprisingly modest – just a single, tiny sound. The effect, however, was anything but small. The horse instantly dropped to its knees before collapsing completely, a thin wreath of grey smoke curling from its forehead.

While this might have seemed typical of any fatal head shot, the subsequent examination revealed the true power of Pertuiset’s design. When the skin and muscle were removed from the skull, observers were shocked to find the bone completely split. Large pieces of the skull came away easily in their hands. Most dramatically, when they examined the brain cavity, they found what The Times described as “a hole like the crater of a mine, 7 inches long by 6 broad.” The brain itself was “utterly destroyed—a mass of gray and white matter devoid of consistency.”

To provide a stark comparison, a second horse was shot with a conventional bullet from the same revolver. While the shot proved fatal, the damage was limited to a small, clean entry hole, with no explosive effect. The Times noted that while both animals died, the second seemed “not so dead” as the first, exhibiting less violent convulsions but longer muscle tremors.

Further tests demonstrated the explosive bullet’s effects on other parts of the body. When fired into the shoulder of a horse carcass, the bullet penetrated through the third rib and exploded in the chest cavity, leaving a blackened crater of devastation. The observers were particularly struck by the fact that such devastating power could come from “a weapon that a man can carry in his pocket.”

These London demonstrations proved pivotal in establishing the reputation of Pertuiset’s explosive bullets. They clearly showed that his design had solved the key challenge that had plagued earlier explosive rounds – achieving reliable detonation in both soft tissue and bone while maintaining safe handling characteristics. The tests also highlighted the potential military implications of such ammunition, leading The Times to speculate that “all the old knowledge of gunshot wounds will be obsolete, and army surgeons will have to explore a new and terrible field.”

Commercial Success and Historical Impact

Despite the military restrictions imposed by the Saint Petersburg Declaration of 1868, Pertuiset found significant commercial success through civilian channels. His primary distribution partner was Charles-François Galand, one of the most prestigious arms dealers in Paris and a renowned innovator in his own right.

Galand’s shop, located in the heart of Paris, offered Pertuiset’s specialized explosive bullets. According to the Album-Galand catalog, these were sold in boxes of 25 cartridges at premium prices:

• Large bore 4 and 8 gauge cartridges commanded 32 francs per box
• Standard 10 gauge versions were priced at 22 francs
• Smaller calibers were also available at 22 francs

These prices placed them firmly in the luxury ammunition market – a box of Pertuiset’s explosive cartridges cost roughly equivalent to a week’s wages for a skilled Parisian worker. Yet their effectiveness for both hunting and target shooting ensured a steady demand among sporting enthusiasts and private collectors.

A Notorious Legacy

While Pertuiset intended his explosive bullets primarily for hunting and military applications, perhaps their most infamous use came on August 17, 1886, in a shocking assassination attempt that would make headlines across South America and Europe.

The target was Máximo Santos, the controversial president of Uruguay, who had risen to power through military influence and maintained his position through what many considered dictatorial means. His would-be assassin was Gregorio Saturnino Ortiz, who had carefully planned the attack and specifically chosen a Pertuiset explosive cartridge for its devastating potential.

On that fateful August day, Ortiz confronted Santos at point-blank range and fired a single shot. The bullet struck Santos in the right cheek and performed exactly as its designer had intended – though with less than lethal results. The explosive charge detonated inside Santos’s mouth, creating a devastating wound pattern. Fragments of the bullet blasted through his left cheek, while the explosion destroyed several teeth and severely damaged his oral cavity.

What makes this incident particularly noteworthy is that it demonstrated both the remarkable effectiveness of Pertuiset’s design and its potential limitations. Despite suffering what would seem to be a catastrophically devastating wound, Santos survived the attack. The explosion, while creating horrific damage, failed to reach vital areas that would have made the injury immediately fatal. Santos was left with significant scarring and disfigurement, but lived to tell the tale.

Ortiz’s fate proved more definitive. Pursued by police after the failed assassination attempt, he chose to turn his weapon on himself rather than face capture. The incident would go down in Uruguayan history as one of the most dramatic assassination attempts of the era, and serve as a grim testament to the destructive potential of Pertuiset’s explosive ammunition technology.

The Santos assassination attempt remains one of the best-documented cases of a Pertuiset bullet being used in an actual shooting, providing historical evidence of their effectiveness that went beyond controlled demonstrations and military trials. The incident would later be cited in discussions about the regulation of explosive ammunition in civilian hands.

Historical Significance and Modern Relevance

Today, original Pertuiset cartridges and bullets are highly prized by collectors, representing a unique moment in firearms history when the boundaries between sporting and military ammunition were still being defined. The cartridges themselves are masterpieces of 19th-century manufacturing, reflecting both the sophistication of Pertuiset’s explosive engineering and the quality of contemporary ammunition production.

In addition to Pertuiset, numerous inventors across Europe and the United States were experimenting with explosive bullets during the 19th century. Early pioneers like Captain Norton in England and Captain Delvigne in France are credited with developing hollow bullets charged with fulminates in the 1820s and 1830s. Other notable figures^[4], such as Minié, Devisme, Podewitz, Von Dreyse, Jacob, Forsyth, Zimmerhaus, Gardiner, Meigs, and Mead, made significant contributions to the field. Their collective efforts reflect a widespread international interest in enhancing the effectiveness of small arms ammunition. This environment of innovation not only spurred advancements but also set the stage for Pertuiset’s groundbreaking work, situating his achievements within a broader historical context of technological progress in explosive ammunition.

While Pertuiset’s explosive bullets were eventually rendered obsolete by advancing technology and international agreements, their development represented a significant milestone in ammunition history. They demonstrated the potential for specialized ammunition to dramatically increase the effectiveness of relatively small-caliber firearms, a concept that would influence military and sporting ammunition development well into the 20th century.

For modern collectors and historians, Pertuiset’s explosive pinfire cartridges represent more than just an interesting technological innovation – they embody a crucial moment in the evolution of ammunition technology, when individual inventors could still revolutionize the field through systematic experimentation and innovative thinking.

The story of Pertuiset’s explosive bullets, from their development through international trials and eventual commercial production, provides a fascinating window into a period when the boundaries between civilian and military technology were still fluid, and when one man’s pursuit of the perfect projectile could influence the course of ammunition development for generations to come.

References & Further Research

Books & Articles

1. Walke, W. (1897). Lectures on explosives: A course of lectures prepared especially as a manual and guide in the laboratory of the U.S. Artillery School. J. Wiley & Sons.
2. Hornstein, K. (2024). Myth and menagerie: Seeing lions in the nineteenth century. Yale University Press.
3. Pertuiset, E. (1878). Les aventures d’un chasseur de lions. M. Dreyfous.
4. Mead, S. H., Jr. (1874, January 17). Explosive bullets for small arms. The American Sportsman, 241.
5. Leveau, A. (2005). Pertuiset’s explosive bullet. French ammunition patents of the 19th century. IAA Journal, (444), 86.
6. Scope, H. (1982). Explosives in the United Kingdom during the middle part of the nineteenth century: With special reference to civilian explosives (Master’s thesis, Durham University).
7. The Times. (1870, August 4). The newest methods of destroying life, p. 5.

Patents

8. Pertuiset, E., & Henseler, J. (1865). Balle Explosible pour la Destruction des Bêtes Fauves (French Patent No. 69,556). Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle.
   • Type: Brevet d’invention de 15 ans
   • Date of filing: December 2, 1865
9. Pertuiset, E., Mundel, A., & Armide de Fléron, J.-É. (1867). Genre de Projectiles Explosibles sans Amorce (French Patent No. 77,903). Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle.
   • Type: Brevet d’invention de 15 ans
   • Date of filing: September 23, 1867
10. Pertuiset, E. (1870). Balle Explosible pour la Destruction des Bêtes Fauves (Addition Certificate to French Patent No. 69,556). Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle.
    • Type: Certificat d’addition
    • Date of filing: July 4, 1870
11. Johnson, J. H. (1867). Improvements in Projectiles (UK Patent No. 2,837). Intellectual Property Office. (Communicated by E. Pertuiset, A. Mundel, & J.-É. Armide de Fléron)
    • Date sealed: March 17, 1868
    • Date of patent: October 9, 1867
12. Johnson, J. H. (1870). Improvements in Explosive Projectiles and Fuses (UK Patent No. 2,066). Intellectual Property Office. (Communicated by E. Pertuiset)
    • Provisional protection date: July 21, 1870
13. Pertuiset, E., Mundel, A., & Armide de Fléron, J.-É. (1868). Igniting Explosive Projectiles (U.S. Patent No. 78,322). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
    • Date patented: May 26, 1868
14. Pertuiset, E., & Henseler, J. (1865). Balle explosible pour la destruction des bêtes fauves (Explosive bullet for the destruction of wild beasts) (Belgian Patent No. 018865). Office de la Propriété Intellectuelle, Bruxelles.
    • Date filed: December 8, 1865
15. Pertuiset, E., Mundel, A., & Armide de Fléron, J.-É. (1867). Genre de projectiles explosibles sans amorce (Type of explosive projectiles without primer) (Belgian Patent No. 022292). Office de la Propriété Intellectuelle, Ixelles.
    • Date filed: October 2, 1867
16. Pertuiset, E. (1870). Modifications à la balle explosible pour la destruction des bêtes fauves (Modifications to the explosive bullet for the destruction of wild beasts) (Belgian Patent No. 027868). Office de la Propriété Intellectuelle, Bruxelles.
    • Date filed: July 6, 1870

Images

17. Disdéri, E. (Photographer). (n.d.). Carte-de-visite portrait of Eugène Pertuiset. Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Paris.
18. Manet, É. (1881). Mr. Eugène Pertuiset, the Lion Hunter [Oil on canvas]. Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), São Paulo, Brazil. Inventory number: MASP.00079. Photography by João Musa.

Physical Objects

19. Amand Leveau collection. (n.d.). Box of Pertuiset bullets [Physical object].
20. Chris Punnet collection. (n.d.). .450 cartridge with Pertuiset bullet [Physical object].
21. Aaron Newcomer collection. (n.d.). 15mm and 12mm pinfire cartridges loaded with Pertuiset bullets [Physical objects]. Originally from a museum in Segovia, Spain.
22. Aaron Newcomer collection. (n.d.). 12mm pinfire cartridges with Pertuiset bullets, manufactured by Société Française Des Munitions [Physical objects].
23. J. van der Vliet, 2016, ‘Louis François Devisme, Explosive Projectile for Whale Killing, Paris, 1840 – 1870′, in J. van der Vliet and A. Lemmers (eds.), Navy Models in the Rijksmuseum
24. Aaron Newcomer collection. (n.d.). 15mm pinfire revolver with 15mm and 12mm Pertuiset explosive pinfire cartridges [Physical object].