Boutet Flintlock Duelling Pistol
Manufacture d'Armes de Versailles (Nicolas-Noel Boutet) · Pistol · Discontinued · 1795
Also known as: Boutet Versailles Duelling Pistol, Manufacture de Versailles Flintlock Pistol, Boutet Officer's Pistol
Overview
The Boutet Flintlock Duelling Pistol is a luxury single-shot flintlock pistol produced at the Manufacture de Versailles under the direction of master gunsmith Nicolas-Noel Boutet around the turn of the 19th century. Built as a muzzle-loading arme de luxe, it pairs a smoothbore octagonal barrel and a set-trigger flintlock lock with lavish gold and silver inlay, chased mounts, and finely figured walnut stocks. Made in small numbers as presentation and duelling pieces for officers, diplomats, and heads of state, examples are considered among the most magnificent firearms produced in Europe during the Napoleonic era.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1150 g (40.6 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 1180 g (41.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 405 mm (15.94") |
| Barrel Length | 250 mm (9.84") |
| Height | 145 mm (5.71") |
| Width | 40 mm (1.57") |
| Action Type | Muzzleloader |
| Firing Mechanism | Flintlock |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 180 m/s (591 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 284 J (209 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 20 m (22 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | None |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued And Engraved |
Calibers
- .58 Caliber Ball · primary — also known as 0.58 in lead round ball, 14.7mm round ball, .58 caliber patched ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Muzzle Loaded
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Octagonal Barrel, Set Trigger, Gold And Silver Inlay, Chased Lock And Furniture, Swamped Muzzle, Cased Pair
Service history
Operators
- French Army officers
- European nobility and heads of state
Conflicts
- Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815)
Production
Production years: 1792-1818
Made in small bespoke numbers as armes de luxe; the Versailles manufactory produced over 600,000 arms overall under Boutet, but presentation and duelling pistols were a tiny hand-finished fraction
Origin
Country of origin: France
Designer: Nicolas-Noel Boutet
Discontinued: 1818
Notes
Typically supplied as a cased pair with matching accessories. Duelling pistols of this class were kept smoothbore by convention so that neither duellist held an accuracy advantage. Barrel dimensions and calibre varied between individual commissions.
Background
Nicolas-Noel Boutet, son of a royal gunsmith and gunmaker-in-ordinary to Louis XVI, was named directeur-artiste of the newly formed Versailles Arms Manufactory in 1792. Charged with creating richly decorated arms for presentation to military heroes and foreign sovereigns, his cased pistols became prized diplomatic gifts of the Napoleonic age.