| Lefaucheux M1858 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Pinfire revolver |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1858–present |
| Used by | France Belgium Brazil Confederate States Italy Spain Sweden Denmark United States Japan China[1][page needed] |
| Wars | French intervention in Mexico Italian Wars of Unification[2] American Civil War Paraguayan War Franco-Prussian War Boshin War Second Schleswig War First Sino-Japanese War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Casimir and Eugene Lefaucheux |
| Designed | 1854 |
| Manufacturer | Various |
| Unit cost | $17 per one revolver and 50 rounds (1861)[3] |
| Produced | 1858–1865 |
| Variants | numerous |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 980 g (35 oz) |
| Length | 280 mm (11 in) |
| Barrel length | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
| Cartridge | 12 mm Lefaucheux |
| Calibre | 12 mm (0.47 in) |
| Action | Single-action (military), double-action (civilian) |
| Muzzle velocity | 168 m/s (550 ft/s) |
| Feed system | 6-round cylinder |
| Sights | fixed 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.[4] 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.[4]
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.[5][page needed] Models of the 1858 were also purchased by Spain, Sweden, Italy, Russia, and Norway. Most were produced either at the state arsenal Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne (MAS), Liège, Belgium, or local producers under license.[6][page needed] 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.[7][page needed]
- ^ Jowett, Phillip, Imperial Chinese Armies 1840–1911 (2016)
- ^ Esposito, Gabriele, "Armies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848–70 (2)": Osprey Publishing (2018)
- ^ Purchase of arms, House Documents, 1861, p. 154.
- ^ a b Kinard, Jeff. Pistols: An illustrated history of their impact. ABC-CLIO, 2004. ISBN 1-85109-470-9,ISBN 978-1-85109-470-7. p. 110
- ^ Van Mastrigt, Guillaume La Production Des Modeles D'Eugene Lefaucheux . Crépin-Leblond, 2016. ISBN 2703004109, ISBN 978-2703004103
- ^ Van Mastrigt, 2016
- ^ Van Mastrigt, 2016