Nicholas-Noël Boutet & Jean LePage

[corrado26]

This boxlock pistol proves that Lepage not only made the most valuable pieces, but also pistols for the common man - unfortunately in not particularly good condition.

[fernando]

No problem with that, Udo. But ... is that an authentic mark of Jean Lepage ?

[corrado26]

May be yes, may be no, I don't know it, its condition is too bad to decide it, but the style of the wood is very similar to the works of Le Page.

[survtech]

Fernando, thank you for posting the photographs; the history is interesting....


With regard to the pocket pistol; it is known that LePage also retailed Liege-made pistols from his Paris shop.

[survtech]

It is known that Le Page used to produce all guns for Napoleon's personal use, as being preferred by him to those of Boutet, due to a flaw in their nechanism.

Interesting comment Fernando. Why would Napoleon grant Boutet an 18 year concession as Director Artiste of the Versailles Manufactory to manufacture Armes Deluxe and military arms if Boutet's firearms were flawed?

Between 1800-1813 the Versailles Manufactory delivered 10,000 muskets and musketons to the grenadiers and chasseurs of Imperial Guard. (Dean Taylor Arms Collecting Vol.20 No.4 1982).

Napoleon also commissioned Boutet to produce arms for his family, Marshals of the Empire and other people important to him.

Jean LePage produced superb and beautiful firearms but, other than your comment, I have not found any evidence to suggest that his firearms were technically superior to those of Boutet. Can this statement be supported with evidence?

Respectfully
Mike Barnett
Perth
Western Australia

[fernando]

Originally Posted by survtech

[I]... Why would Napoleon grant Boutet an 18 year concession as Director Artiste of the Versailles Manufactory to manufacture Armes Deluxe and military arms if Boutet's firearms were flawed?
I have not found any evidence to suggest that his firearms were technically superior to those of Boutet. Can this statement be supported with evidence?...

No Mike, i have no phisical evidence, nor i hope that such point of view, that i heard through the grapevine, will tie me to the whipping pole ... i hope.
Yet the full reading was:

... Those from Boutet were the ones that Napoleon offered because he called them "fusil de vitrine" (showcase). Good to see but not to use. The angle of the flint's impact was very steep, which broke the dog's neck very easily. This did not happen to LePage's weapons ...

[fernando]

Originally Posted by survtech

...With regard to the pocket pistol; it is known that LePage also retailed Liege-made pistols from his Paris shop...

So those products were not manufactured in LePage workshops !

[survtech]

I heard through the grapevine, will tie me to the whipping pole

Perhaps you should be tied to the whipping pole Fernando, if only for a few lashes, heard it through the grapevine is gossip, not research, I know you know that, and I am just having a little fun with you.

With much respect and a wink

Mike

[fernando]

Originally Posted by survtech

... heard it through the grapevine is gossip, not research ...

Mike, to tell you the truth, i didn't hear it through the grapevine. It is just that i had no permission to publish the author's name; one supposed to know rather well what he is talking about. So this is the way that i realized would be the trick !

[survtech]

Originally Posted by corrado26

This boxlock pistol proves that Lepage not only made the most valuable pieces, but also pistols for the common man - unfortunately in not particularly good condition.

The first photograph is from a Liege pistol.
The second photograph is from a Boutet pistol.
The third photograph is from a LePage pistol.
The fourth photograph is from a Jean Aubron pistol.

Fish-scale carving is quite common in pocket pistols.

Kind regards

Mike