July 30th 2016 Premier Firearms Sale (20)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/30/2016
4-7/8" barrel with a 7mm bore diameter. Top of the barrel on this revolver is stamped "Lefouncheuse (Paris)". This is the first of this type that we have seen. Cylinder has ten outer chambers and ten inner chambers with an over-under twin barrel. A total of 20 shots, ten each for upper and lower barrel. It is a double action folding trigger with factory nickel finish, walnut handles, and a lanyard ring. The barrel retains approximately 20% original factory nickel with strong barrel legend. Frame and hammer retain approximately 10% original nickel, as does trigger. Balance of metal is a smooth chocolate brown. Seems to index perfectly and when trigger is pulled, it lines up on alternate upper and lower chambers. Strong rifled bores. Grips are very good to excellent. A similar 20 shot can be found on page 260 in the book "System Lefaucheux" by Chris Curtis, but we can find no images of any double barrel 20 shot. An extremely rare and unusual 19th century high capacity revolver. These 20 shot revolvers are documented as being used during the Civil War, mostly on the side of the Southern states. The machining and design on these hefty 20 shot revolvers is amazing and seldom seen.