Original Civil War, six-shot Pinfire (SOLD)

This is another great piece being offered, it is a Civil War Belgian Pinfire Revolver. This revolver dates to the 1860s, when the new pinfire cartridge came on the firearms market. This diminutive, six shot revolver, in approximately 7mm caliber, utilizing a folding trigger.

The pinfire system required the hammer to hit a post sticking out of the side of the cartridge, which moved into the cartridge’s center. That resulted in igniting the charge; therefore, the hammer’s face was flat, allowing it to fall on the upper portion of the open top cylinder. Stamped in the cylinder are the Belgian Liege proof marks: “ E. / L.G” in an oval.

In my book “Battle of Gettysburg – The Relics, Artifacts & Souvenirs”, I show a pinfire which was recovered at Gettysburg (see pictures). During the Civil War pinfires were purchased by both sides, with the Union purchasing 12,000 revolvers. In the pistol display at the Gettysburg Museum, they show a pinfire (see pictures). The pistol remains in overall good condition and functional. Overall length is 7 ½” and the; barrel length is 3 ½”. This would make a great display piece with any Civil War collection.