Flobert Saloon Pistol
Louis-Nicolas Flobert · Pistol · Discontinued · 1845
Also known as: Parlor Pistol, Saloon Pistol, Gallery Pistol, Flobert Parlour Pistol
Overview
The Flobert Saloon Pistol is a single-shot rimfire target pistol chambered for the low-powered 6mm Flobert cartridge. Descended from Louis-Nicolas Flobert's 1845 bulleted breech cap, these break-action parlor pistols fired a percussion-cap-propelled ball with no gunpowder, producing very low velocity and noise. Also called saloon, parlor, or gallery pistols, they were popular from the mid-19th century into the early 20th century for indoor and short-range target shooting.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 450 g (15.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 340 mm (13.39") |
| Barrel Length | 235 mm (9.25") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 210 m/s (689 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 23 J (17 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 10 m (11 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Frame Material | Iron |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 6mm Flobert · primary — also known as .22 BB Cap, .22 CB Cap, 6mm Flobert Court, Bulleted Breech Cap
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Manual Single Loading
- Features: Single Shot, External Hammer, Fixed Sights, Tip Up Barrel
Service history
Operators
- Civilian sport shooters
Production
Production years: 1845-1920
Produced in large but unrecorded numbers by numerous European gunmakers as inexpensive indoor target arms.
Origin
Country of origin: France
Designer: Louis-Nicolas Flobert
Discontinued: 1920
Notes
Widely copied in France, Belgium, and Germany by many small makers, so specifications vary considerably between examples. Barrel lengths ranging from roughly 180 mm to 280 mm are common. Modern .22 Long Rifle ammunition must never be fired in these antiques, which were built for the powderless Flobert round.
Background
Louis-Nicolas Flobert created what is arguably the first self-contained metallic cartridge in 1845 by seating a lead ball atop a percussion cap. The pistols and rifles built around it turned indoor and gallery shooting into a fashionable parlor pastime across 19th-century Europe.