Underhammer Pinfire Pistol by Joseph-Célestin Dumonthier
![underhammer pinfire pistol made by the French gunsmith, Joseph-Célestin Dumonthier](https://i0.wp.com/aaronnewcomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/gun1.jpg?resize=1160%2C770&ssl=1)
![underhammer pinfire pistol made by the French gunsmith, Joseph-Célestin Dumonthier](https://i0.wp.com/aaronnewcomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/gun1.jpg?resize=800%2C534&ssl=1)
This is a really early underhammer pinfire pistol made in 1849 by the French gunsmith, Joseph-Célestin Dumonthier who lived in Houdan, Seine-et-Oise, France. It follows his 2 July 1849 French patent.
![Dumonthier patent](https://i0.wp.com/aaronnewcomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/145.jpg?resize=800%2C520&ssl=1)
The whole barrel unscrews from the frame and allows you to load a single 12mm pinfire cartridge.
![Dumonthier barrel unscrewed](https://i0.wp.com/aaronnewcomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/gun2.jpg?resize=800%2C534&ssl=1)
This pistol was made before the pinfire cartridge sizes were more standardized and it will actually not accept a normal 12mm pinfire cartridge which is slightly too large. It uses the earliest style pinfire pistol cartridges such as these made by Jules Joseph Chaudun.
![Chaudun Pinfire Cartridges](https://i0.wp.com/aaronnewcomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/chaudun_pinfire_cartridges.jpg?resize=800%2C385&ssl=1)
Dumonthier would later become better known for making unique pinfire guns such sword pistols.
![Dumonthier gun in hand](https://i0.wp.com/aaronnewcomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Dumonthier-gun-in-hand-2.jpg?resize=800%2C534&ssl=1)
![Dumonthier gun in hand](https://i0.wp.com/aaronnewcomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Dumonthier-gun-in-hand-3.jpg?resize=800%2C534&ssl=1)
The French patent that this gun follows was deposited on 2 July 1849 and was issued on 4 September 1849. It was given number 8523 and the full specification and drawings can be seen below.
![Dumonthier patent](https://i0.wp.com/aaronnewcomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/145.jpg?resize=800%2C520&ssl=1)
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