Kuchenreuter Percussion Target Pistol
Kuchenreuter · Pistol · Discontinued · 1854
Also known as: Kuchenreuter Target Pistol, Kuchenreuter Percussion Pistol
Overview
The Kuchenreuter Percussion Target Pistol is a single-shot muzzle-loading percussion pistol built by the renowned Kuchenreuter family of gunmakers in Regensburg, Bavaria. Produced around 1854-1855, it fires a patched .44 caliber round ball ignited by a percussion cap. It features a browned octagonal tapered rifled barrel, a single set trigger, and a vertically adjustable rear sight, marking it as a precision arm intended for formal target shooting rather than combat. The oil-finished walnut halfstock and color case hardened, scroll-engraved furniture reflect the family's reputation for some of the finest craftsmanship in 19th-century Germanic gunmaking.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1130 g (39.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 445 mm (17.52") |
| Barrel Length | 285 mm (11.22") |
| Action Type | Muzzleloader |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Set Trigger |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 270 m/s (886 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 340 J (251 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 457 mm (17.99") |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Browned Barrel With Color Case Hardened Furniture |
Calibers
- .44 Caliber Percussion · primary — also known as .44 cal, .44 ball, .44 round ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Muzzle Loaded
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Single Set Trigger, Adjustable Rear Sight, Octagonal Tapered Barrel, Silver Barrel Inlay, Oil Finished Walnut Halfstock, Scroll Engraved Lock
Production
Production years: c. 1854-1869
Hand-built in small numbers by the Kuchenreuter workshop; surviving examples are prized collector pieces and frequently appear cased in pairs
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Designer: Bartholomaus Joseph Kuchenreuter
Discontinued: 1869
Notes
Widely regarded as a masterpiece of Kuchenreuter production; the design was faithfully reproduced in modern times by Davide Pedersoli. Barrels of surviving originals are typically signed 'BARTH. IOS KUCHENREUTER' with a silver-inlaid Kuchenreuter mark.
Background
The Kuchenreuter family of Regensburg were among the pre-eminent Germanic gunsmiths of the 18th and 19th centuries, counting the King of Bohemia, Napoleon, the Tsar of Russia, the Princely House of Thurn und Taxis, and the King of Bavaria among their patrons. Bartholomaus Joseph Kuchenreuter (1782-1864), himself a highly successful black-powder marksman, brought that competitive shooting experience to the design of these target pistols, which is reflected in the ergonomics of the grip and the pistol's celebrated accuracy.