Original U.S. Civil War French M1854 Lefaucheux Cavalry Model 12mm Pinfire Revolver - Serial Number 34304

Original Item: Only One Available. The Model 1854 Lefaucheux pinfire revolver was a large frame single action variant of this popular French pinfire system.  The serial number 34304 is within the range of numbers of the revolvers imported to the USA during the Civil War (25,000-37,000). The 1854 model was the first metallic-cartridge revolver adopted by a national government. Most were produced either at the state arsenal in St. Etienne (MAS), Liège, Belgium, or local producers under license. 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. This model revolver, as well as the earlier M1854, were imported in large numbers by both the North and South during the American Civil war. In many ways the large bore martial pinfire revolver, based upon the patents of Casimir and Eugene Lefaucheux was one of the most modern and advanced military handguns to see use on t