Lefaucheux-Francotte M.71
Auguste Francotte & Cie · Pistol · Discontinued · 1871
Also known as: Revolver m/1871, Lefaucheux-Francotte M1871
Overview
The Lefaucheux-Francotte M.71 is a 19th-century Belgian six-shot double-action revolver chambered in the 11mm centerfire cartridge. Built by Auguste Francotte & Cie of Liege, it uses the Lefaucheux-Francotte solid-frame design with a fixed cylinder loaded through a gate and no mechanical extractor. Sweden adopted it as the Revolver m/1871 for its cavalry, field artillery and signalling troops, and Serbia acquired several thousand from 1875.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1170 g (41.3 oz) |
| Overall Length | 305 mm (12.01") |
| Barrel Length | 150 mm (5.91") |
| Action Type | Double Action Revolver |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 160 m/s (525 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 106 J (78 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 11mm Lefaucheux Centerfire · primary — also known as 11mm Lefaucheux, 11mm centerfire, 11mm m/1871
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Revolver Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Solid Frame, Fixed Cylinder, Double Action, Loading Gate, Lanyard Ring
Service history
Operators
- Swedish Armed Forces · adopted 1871 · as Revolver m/1871
- Principality of Serbia · adopted 1875
Conflicts
- Serbian-Ottoman War (1876-1878)
Production
Estimated total produced: 7,000 · Production years: 1871-1880s
Approximately 7,000 built for Sweden; additional quantities supplied to Serbia
Origin
Country of origin: Belgium
Designer: August Hagstrom
Notes
Marked Sweden's transition from earlier pinfire designs to more reliable centerfire ammunition. A Danish contemporary of the same pattern was chambered for an 11mm pinfire cartridge instead.
Background
When Sweden went shopping for a modern sidearm in 1871 it turned not to a state arsenal but to the private Liege workshop of Auguste Francotte, whose Lefaucheux-Francotte pattern also armed Serbian troops in the Balkan wars against the Ottomans.