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{{Infobox weapon
{{Infobox weapon
|name=Lefaucheux M1858
|name=Lefaucheux M1858
| image= Revolver Lefaucheux IMG 3108.jpg
|image=Revolver Lefaucheux IMG 3108.jpg
| image_size = 300
|image_size=300
|caption=Lefaucheux-style revolver made in Liège, Belgium, circa 1860-1865. On display at [[Morges]] castle museum.
|caption=Lefaucheux-style revolver made in Liège, Belgium, circa 1860-1865. On display at [[Morges]] castle museum.
|origin=[[French Second Republic|France]]
|origin=[[French Second Republic|France]]
Line 13: Line 14:
|used_by=France<br>Spain<br>Sweden<br>Belgium<br>Italy<br>Brazil<br>Union States<br>Confederate States
|used_by=France<br>Spain<br>Sweden<br>Belgium<br>Italy<br>Brazil<br>Union States<br>Confederate States
|wars=[[French intervention in Mexico]]<br>[[American Civil War]]<br>[[Paraguayan War]]<br>[[Franco-Prussian War]]
|wars=[[French intervention in Mexico]]<br>[[American Civil War]]<br>[[Paraguayan War]]<br>[[Franco-Prussian War]]
<!-- Production history -->|designer=[[Casimir and Eugene Lefaucheux]]
<!-- Production history -->
|designer=Casimir and Eugene Lefaucheux
|design_date=1854
|design_date=1854
|manufacturer=Various
|manufacturer=Various
|production_date=1858–1865
|production_date=1858–1865
|unit_cost= $17 per one revolver and 50 rounds (1861)<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=NJoFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA154 Purchase of arms], House Documents, 1861, P. 154.</ref>
|unit_cost=$17 per one revolver and 50 rounds (1861)<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=NJoFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA154 Purchase of arms], House Documents, 1861, P. 154.</ref>
|number=
|number=
|variants=numerous
|variants=numerous
<!-- General specifications -->
<!-- General specifications -->
|weight= 980 grams
|weight=980 grams
|length= 280 mm
|length=280 mm
|barrel length= 155 mm
|barrel length=155 mm
|cartridge= [[12mm Pinfire|12 mm Lefaucheux]]
|cartridge=12 mm Lefaucheux
|caliber=12 mm
|caliber=12 mm
|action= Single action revolver
|action=Single action revolver
|rate=
|rate=
|velocity=168 m/s
|velocity=168 m/s
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==Design==
==Design==
⚫
[[File:Unioniste Lefaucheux.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] soldier with a sabre and a Lefaucheux pistol]]
[[File:Lefaucheux revolver IMG 3255.JPG|thumb|left|View of the opened hinged gate, with a [[pinfire]] cartridge partially ejected]]
[[File:Lefaucheux revolver IMG 3255.JPG|thumb|left|View of the opened hinged gate, with a [[pinfire]] cartridge partially ejected]]

⚫
[[File:Unioniste Lefaucheux.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] soldier with sabre and Lefaucheux pistol]]
The revolver was a six-shot open-framed design, which was loaded via a hinged gate on the right side of the frame, through which empty cartridges were also ejected via an [[ejector rod]] running along the barrel.
The revolver was a six-shot open framed design, which was loaded via a hinged gate on the right side of the frame, through which empty cartridges were also ejected via an ejector rod running along the barrel.


The LeFaucheux M1854 was one of the few foreign-manufactured weapons to have been imported by the U.S. government during the American Civil War. Over 11,000 were ordered by Federal authorities for cavalry use, with most of these serving in the Western Theater. This number surpasses that of many American-manufactured arms and makes the LeFaucheux M1854 a significant U.S. martial arm of the period. Although not imported by the Confederacy, some Southern officers are known to have carried LeFaucheux M1858 Revolvers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/a-nation-asunder-1861-to-1865/case-17-civil-war-imported-arms/lefaucheux-double-action-pinfire-revolver.aspx|title=NRA Museums:|website=www.nramuseum.org|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref>
The LeFaucheux M1854 was one of the few foreign-manufactured weapons to have been imported by the U.S. government during the American Civil War. Over 11,000 were ordered by Federal authorities for cavalry use, with most of these serving in the Western Theater. This number surpasses that of many American-manufactured arms and makes the LeFaucheux M1854 a significant U.S. martial arm of the period. Although not imported by the Confederacy, some Southern officers are known to have carried LeFaucheux M1858 Revolvers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/a-nation-asunder-1861-to-1865/case-17-civil-war-imported-arms/lefaucheux-double-action-pinfire-revolver.aspx|title=NRA Museums:|website=www.nramuseum.org|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref>


==Variants==
==Variants==

*The Danish military fielded the [[Lefaucheux-Francotte M1865/97]] in 11.45mm center fire.
*The Danish military fielded the Lefaucheux-Francotte M1865/97 in 11.45mm center fire.


==Archaeology==
==Archaeology==

A western style pistol along with bullets and other related items were recovered in the Japanese artificial island of [[Dejima]], a [[Dutch East Indies Company|Dutch United East Indies Company]] settlement in Japan. They were found outside the wall of the Kapitan's quarters. The Kapitan/Captain is the Director of [[Dejima]] [[Factory (trading post)|Factory]].
A western style pistol along with bullets and other related items were recovered in the Japanese artificial island of [[Dejima]], a [[Dutch East Indies Company|Dutch United East Indies Company]] settlement in Japan. They were found outside the wall of the Kapitan's (Captain's) quarters. The Kapitan is the Director of [[Dejima]] [[Factory (trading post)|Factory]].


"The pistol is 31 cm in overall length with a caliber of 1.3 cm, a revolver of the type invented in the mid 19th century by the Frenchman Lefaucheux."<ref>[http://archaeology.jp/sites/dejima/dejima1.html "Dejima Oranda Shōkan: Western style pistol and bullets, and related items"]</ref>
"The pistol is 31 cm in overall length with a caliber of 1.3 cm, a revolver of the type invented in the mid 19th century by the Frenchman Lefaucheux."<ref>[http://archaeology.jp/sites/dejima/dejima1.html "Dejima Oranda Shōkan: Western style pistol and bullets, and related items"]</ref>


==References==
==References==

{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


⚫
==External links==
⚫
{{Commons category|Lefaucheux M1858}}


⚫
==External links==
*[http://hlebooks.com/pinterest/lefau54.jpg Lefaucheux M 1854 revolver (infographic tech. drawing)]
*[http://hlebooks.com/pinterest/lefau54.jpg Lefaucheux M 1854 revolver (infographic tech. drawing)]
*http://s144812367.onlinehome.fr (www.lefaucheux.net)
*http://s144812367.onlinehome.fr (www.lefaucheux.net)
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{{USCWWeapons}}
{{USCWWeapons}}


⚫
{{Commons category|Lefaucheux M1858}}
⚫
[[Category:Early revolvers]]

⚫
[[Category:Weapons of the Confederate States of America]]
⚫
[[Category:American Civil War weapons]]
⚫
[[Category:Casimir Lefaucheux]]
[[Category:Revolvers of France]]
[[Category:Revolvers of France]]
[[Category:Double-action revolvers]]
[[Category:Double-action revolvers]]
[[Category:Casimir Lefaucheux]]
[[Category:Early revolvers]]
⚫
[[Category:American Civil War weapons]]
⚫
[[Category:Weapons of the Confederate States of America]]

Revision as of 05:51, 19 August 2020

Lefaucheux M1858
Lefaucheux-style revolver made in Liège, Belgium, circa 1860-1865. On display at Morges castle museum.
TypePinfire revolver
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service1858–1873
Used byFrance
Spain
Sweden
Belgium
Italy
Brazil
Union States
Confederate States
WarsFrench intervention in Mexico
American Civil War
Paraguayan War
Franco-Prussian War
Production history
DesignerCasimir and Eugene Lefaucheux
Designed1854
ManufacturerVarious
Unit cost$17 per one revolver and 50 rounds (1861)[1]
Produced1858–1865
Variantsnumerous
Specifications
Mass980 grams
Length280 mm
Cartridge12 mm Lefaucheux
Calibre12 mm
ActionSingle action revolver
Muzzle velocity168 m/s
Feed system6-round cylinder
Sightsfixed front post and rear notch

The Lefaucheux M1858 was a French military revolver developed for the navy, chambered for the 12 mm pinfire cartridge, and based on a design by Casimir Lefaucheux and his son, Eugene (also a gun designer). The 1854 model was the first metallic-cartridge revolver adopted by a national government; the 1858 was the first variant fielded[2] It was first issued in 1858 by the French Navy (as either the Lefaucheux de Marine mle 1858 or simply M1858), and though never issued by the French Army, it was used in limited numbers by the French Cavalry during their 1862 deployment to Mexico.[3] The 1858 was later upgraded in the late 1860s as the Lefaucheux de Marine 1870. It was accepted by the French Navy, but only 150 copies were delivered by 1872.[4] Models of the 1858 were also purchased by Spain, Sweden, Italy, Russia, and Norway. Most were produced either at the state arsenal in St. Etienne (MAS), Liege, Belgium, or local producers under license.[5] The revolver was sold to the civilian market as well. Most military models were produced only with single-action, whereas civilian models were made primarily with double action.[6]


Design

A Union soldier with a sabre and a Lefaucheux pistol
View of the opened hinged gate, with a pinfire cartridge partially ejected

The revolver was a six-shot open framed design, which was loaded via a hinged gate on the right side of the frame, through which empty cartridges were also ejected via an ejector rod running along the barrel.

The LeFaucheux M1854 was one of the few foreign-manufactured weapons to have been imported by the U.S. government during the American Civil War. Over 11,000 were ordered by Federal authorities for cavalry use, with most of these serving in the Western Theater. This number surpasses that of many American-manufactured arms and makes the LeFaucheux M1854 a significant U.S. martial arm of the period. Although not imported by the Confederacy, some Southern officers are known to have carried LeFaucheux M1858 Revolvers.[7]

Variants

  • The Danish military fielded the Lefaucheux-Francotte M1865/97 in 11.45mm center fire.

Archaeology

A western style pistol along with bullets and other related items were recovered in the Japanese artificial island of Dejima, a Dutch United East Indies Company settlement in Japan. They were found outside the wall of the Kapitan's (Captain's) quarters. The Kapitan is the Director of Dejima Factory.

"The pistol is 31 cm in overall length with a caliber of 1.3 cm, a revolver of the type invented in the mid 19th century by the Frenchman Lefaucheux."[8]

References

  1. ^ Purchase of arms, House Documents, 1861, P. 154.
  2. ^ Pistols: an illustrated history of their impact. Jeff Kinard. ABC-CLIO, 2004. ISBN 1-85109-470-9,ISBN 978-1-85109-470-7. Pg 110
  3. ^ Kinard, 110
  4. ^ LA PRODUCTION DES MODELES D'EUGENE LEFAUCHEUX. Guillaume Van Mastrigt. Crépin-Leblond, 2016. ISBN 2703004109, ISBN 978-2703004103
  5. ^ Van Mastrigt, 2016
  6. ^ Van Mastrigt, 2016
  7. ^ "NRA Museums:". www.nramuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-12-18.
  8. ^ "Dejima Oranda Shōkan: Western style pistol and bullets, and related items"
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