Bronze Pinfire Guns

Collector Information Page

BRONZE PINFIRE GUNS Over the last 15 years I have collected and studied Bronze Pinfire Guns. They ranged from the large 12MM revolvers to as small as 5MM revolvers. Most of the Bronze Pinfire Guns were 7MM revolvers and 7MM pepperboxes . At the bottom of this page is links to collector information pages showing detailed information on each gun.
Of the thousands of pinfire guns made, a few are found made of bronze and most are beautifully engraved. To determine if they were brass or bronze, I tested small amount of material removed from the fame of 3 pinfire revolvers dating from the late 1850's to the late 1870's. The material was subjected to electron beam spectrum and analyzed. All three guns were found to be bronze material with a small amount of iron (< .5%). The only pinfire guns found made of brass are ones made by Engholm of Sweden. At this time, no written record has been found explaining why they were made or their use. With many being of small caliber (7mm), it is unlikely that they were used for "sea service". Other possibilities: "salesman samples", apprentice practice guns or it could be that they were made because of beauty and just to be different. Regardless of the reasons they were made, they are some of the most unique of the Pinfire Guns.
THE PINFIRE SYSTEM In the early 1830's, Casimir Lefaucheux patented the first successful pinfire cartridge for shotguns. For 150 years the shotgun shell stayed basically the same, using paper cartridge (now plastic) with brass base with the only major improvement was the changing from pinfire ignition system to center fire. After Casimir's death in 1852, his son Eugene carried on the business with great success with military revolvers for the French, Spanish, Danish, Italian, Swiss, Swedish and Norwegian armed forces, and was used by the Federal troops during the American Civil War. The Pinfire was the 4th most commonly used Union revolver in the Civil War, surpassed in numbers only by Colt, Remington and Starr. Civilian Pinfires were made in 12mm, 9mm, 7mm, 5mm and 2mm. Although the use of most Pinfire guns died out by the 1890's, the 2mm pinfire is still made today in novelty charm pistols.

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7MM Pinfire Pepperbox Engholm of Sweden (SOLD)	7MM Pinfire Revolver Polish Marked	7MM Pinfire Revolver Cased - Damascus steel.
7MM Pinfire Pepperbox Liege Belgian - Rifled bores (SOLD)	7MM Pinfire Revolver Liege Belgian Proof marks (SOLD)	5MM Pinfire Revolver Fitted in Change Purse
7MM Pinfire Pepperbox Depreza - British Proof marks (SOLD)	7MM Pinfire Revolver Liege Belgian Proof marks (SOLD)	9MM Pinfire Revolver Liege Belgian Proof marks (SOLD)
7MM Pinfire Pepperbox Liege Belgian - Rifled bores (SOLD)	7MM Pinfire Revolver Liege Belgian Proof marks	9MM Pinfire Revolver Rare folding trigger Liege Belgian Proof marks
7MM Pinfire Pepperbox Liege Belgian Proof marks (SOLD)	7MM Pinfire Revolver Liege Belgian Proof marks	9MM Pinfire Revolver Liege Belgian Proof marks (SOLD)
7MM Pinfire Pepperbox British Proof marks (SOLD)	7MM Pinfire Revolver Liege Belgian Proof marks (SOLD)	9MM pinfire Revolver British Poof Marks (SOLD)
7MM Pinfire Pepperbox Liege Belgian Proof marks (SOLD)	7MM Pinfire Revolver Rare fluted cylinder Liege Belgian Proof marks (SOLD)	12MM Pinfire Revolver Marked LEPAGE PARIS Liege Belgian Proof marks (SOLD)
7MM Pinfire Pepperbox Liege Belgian Proof marks (SOLD)	7MM Pinfire Revolver Liege Belgian Proof marks	12MM Pinfire Revolver Liege Belgian Proof marks (SOLD)
7MM Pinfire Pepperbox Liege Belgian Proof marks (SOLD)	7MM Pinfire Revolver Rare long barrel Liege Belgian Proof marks	12MM Pinfire Revolver Marked LT.BURT C.S.A. Liege Belgian Proof marks