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Author Topic: French pistols  (Read 2033 times)

Offline lexington1

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French pistols
« on: April 08, 2020, 10:35:40 PM »
It's probably a longshot, but has anyone ever heard of a French maker by the name of Thevenet in Lyon? I just bought a pair of pistols by that maker. I've searched my books and can find nothing.





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Offline Collector

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Re: French pistols
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2020, 02:25:36 AM »
Looking at the patina in the fore stocks, I'd speculate that they saw service as holstered horse pistols.   Just a lovely pair...
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Offline eastwind

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Re: French pistols
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2020, 11:57:49 PM »
Sorry for the late reply -- You may have already found this info ...
There are 4 Thevenet gunsmiths listed in various French sources. Two in Saint-Etienne - one in 1780s and another 1840s - maybe Father/son. One in Paris with no dates or details. The other two Thevenets are later, like 1960s.

It appears your pistols are likely made by the St. Etienne maker listed around 1780.  The listing shows him in the Loire valley, but no mention of Lyon. It does say he made pistols for the "marine" (Navy). Interesting that the side plates and lock plate appear English style. Where is the signature located?

Not much, but might help.

Patrick Hornberger
eastwind@wildblue.net
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Patrick Hornberger

Offline Cossack

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Re: French pistols
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2020, 06:03:08 PM »
Gorgeous. I assume the stocks are walnut? The figure is incredible.
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: French pistols
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2020, 08:01:06 PM »
Quote from: eastwind on May 17, 2020, 11:57:49 PM
Sorry for the late reply -- You may have already found this info ...
There are 4 Thevenet gunsmiths listed in various French sources. Two in Saint-Etienne - one in 1780s and another 1840s - maybe Father/son. One in Paris with no dates or details. The other two Thevenets are later, like 1960s.

It appears your pistols are likely made by the St. Etienne maker listed around 1780.  The listing shows him in the Loire valley, but no mention of Lyon. It does say he made pistols for the "marine" (Navy). Interesting that the side plates and lock plate appear English style. Where is the signature located?

Not much, but might help.

Patrick Hornberger
eastwind@wildblue.net
The cocks are replacements of much later  english style. Other than the wood replacement of the bottom guns's forestock they look to be all french.
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Offline lexington1

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Re: French pistols
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2020, 04:00:51 AM »
Thanks for the information mike. You are right about the cocks. The double throated cock is the right throw and seemed to have worked ok. The other didn't fit well at all in it allowed the mainspring to slip off the tumbler and hit the bottom of the lock inlet, and caused some breakage.
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