Le Gaulois
Manufacture Française d'Armes et Cycles de Saint-Étienne (Manufrance) · Pistol · Discontinued · 1893
Also known as: Gaulois, Manufrance Gaulois, Le Gaulois Palm Pistol
Overview
Le Gaulois is a French palm-squeezer repeating pistol manufactured by Manufrance of Saint-Étienne from 1893. Rather than a trigger, it is fired by squeezing the rear actuating lever into the flat steel body held concealed in the closed fist, which cocks and releases the striker while advancing the next of five 8mm Gaulois cartridges from an in-line internal magazine. Compact and easily hidden, it was a popular pocket self-defence weapon of the 1890s before falling out of favour as conventional semi-automatic pocket pistols matured.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 285 g (10.1 oz) |
| Overall Length | 131 mm (5.16") |
| Barrel Length | 55 mm (2.17") |
| Height | 64 mm (2.52") |
| Width | 18 mm (0.71") |
| Action Type | Double Action Only |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action Only |
| Trigger Type | Double Action Only |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 150 m/s (492 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 34 J (25 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 5 m (5 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 8mm Gaulois · primary — also known as 8mm Gaulois, Cartouche 8mm Gaulois
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Internal Magazine
- Features: Palm Squeezer Action, Concealable, Pearl Front Sight, In Line Magazine
Service history
Operators
- French civilian market · adopted 1893
Production
Production years: 1893-1912
Produced by Manufrance (Manufacture Française d'Armes et Cycles de Saint-Étienne) as a civilian pocket pistol.
Origin
Country of origin: France
Discontinued: 1912
Notes
A 'squeezer' or palm pistol: the whole gun is gripped in the fist and discharged by squeezing, with no conventional trigger or grip frame. The 8mm Gaulois cartridge is a short, low-powered round comparable to the .32 Extra-Short used in other palm pistols.
Background
Manufrance was famous for selling everything from bicycles to shotguns through its mail-order catalogue, and the Gaulois palm pistol was marketed as a discreet self-defence tool that could be carried hidden in the palm of the hand.