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2nd January 2024, 11:04 AM | #1 |
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The complete signature on the barrel reads "Fourni par Lacaille......" It follows that Lacaille was not the manufacturer, but probably just the dealer who sold the pistol. As a gunsmith, he would most likely have inscribed his name on the lock plate - as was common practice.
One more word about hair pulls: They are by no means an invention of Boutet or only appeared towards the end of the 18th century. As early as 1550, the Augsburg gunsmith Augustin Kutter was cutting hairlines into barrels. |
2nd January 2024, 11:27 AM | #2 | |
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Hello corrado and thanks for that - I was hoping that someone would have seen that inscription before. So now it reads. 'Provided by Lacaille the elder of Blois' Fernando, I did not know that about the fourbisseurs and you were right. It makes me think that the first word has been intentionally removed to imply the more famous Lacaille gunmaker. Which would be a strange sort of vandalism as it does seem like a quality pistol. |
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2nd January 2024, 12:14 PM | #3 |
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2nd January 2024, 12:37 PM | #4 |
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2nd January 2024, 12:40 PM | #5 |
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2nd January 2024, 01:25 PM | #6 |
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Lacaille l'ainé was Lacaille, Michel Charles *1799 and working at Blois in 1847; he was the son of Lacaille, Michel-Leclerc. (l'ainé is the French word for "the first born").
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2nd January 2024, 02:25 PM | #7 |
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A prize for Udo, the best .
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2nd January 2024, 03:17 PM | #8 | |
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Thank you, Udo, such good information! But that seems to indicate a connection with Lacaille as gunmakers rather than suppliers. Perhaps they were both? I am wondering if the lack of a makers name on the lock plate is an indication that it has been converted from flintlock to percussion. I don't know how to tell. Does the plate get replaced? The wood to metal fit around the lock is certainly not as good as the other side. |
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