Pinfire Sword Guns:
(Mid to late 19th century)

Pinfire Sword revolvers were made by many famous arms makers, including Lefaucheux, Dumonthier, Lepage, and Devisme. At the Paris Universal Exhibition held in 1867, at least thirty different types of swords revolvers were on display. Combining the advaced pinfire cartridge revolver with the traditional sword was a temptation that few arms makers could resist. Although never officially adopted as a military service weapon, the sword-revolver found much favor among officer corps of many European nations.

Large basket hilt sword with a 9mm pinfire revolver made in Liege Belgian before 1877. The steel scabbard has a depression on the right side which allows the barrel to lie outside and the gun could be fired with out removing the sword from the scabbard. The loading gate for the pinfire cartridge is located inside the basket hilt guard and can be easliy loaded.

Photo provided by Chris Curtis - THE PINFIRE SYSTEM

This sword and intergral 9mm revolver was made by T. A. Rauh and Co, Solingen. The revolver is loaded inside the German silver handguard and the barrel is parallel to the right side of the sword blade and is easily aimed. United States patent 52,504 was granted February 6, 1866 for the Rauh pistol-sword (click on patent for full large view).

Photo provided by Chris Curtis - THE PINFIRE SYSTEM

This short sword (30 inches long) with a 7mm pinfire revolver built in, was made by E. Lefaucheux and the blade bears the name of a Peruvian importer-agent "Alfredo Herouard-Lima".

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