During the 18th and early 19th centuries, the French Gendarmerie were responsible for policing roads, suppressing highwaymen, and maintaining civil order. Because these duties required a weapon more maneuverable than the bulky pistols carried by line cavalry or dragoons, the Gendarme pistol was developed as a purpose-built sidearm. These flintlock pistols were standard issue from the French Revolution’s "The Terror" through the end of Napoleon’s First Empire, a period spanning approximately thirty years.
As military weapons, production of the Gendarmerie pistols was limited to government run arsenals and reflects a significant shift in French military organization. Beginning in the late 18th century, the French state solidified the production of regulated military arms through the Government-run arsenals at Charleville, Saint-Étienne, Maubeuge, and Chatellerault. The pistol’s design reflects its role as a peacekeeper's weapon. They are generally observed with barrels that measure roughly 5" and an overall length that generally averages only 10". The Gendarmerie pistols were compact enough to be carried in a large pocket. Early examples were flintlock, but as European armaments shifted away from flintlock technology in the mid 19th Century, the French government adopted percussion systems to improve reliability and performance in field conditions.
The first of the percussion Gendarmerie pistols was the "Pistolet 1842". It features a smoothbore, slightly tapered .62 caliber steel barrel, typically measuring approximately 5 inches in length, it was designed for short-range engagement. A large, "back-action" percussion lock, which shares a lot of visual similarities with the lock used on the Model 1842 French Infantry musket, provided ignition. These weapons were often marked with the year of manufacture and the originating arsenal.
This particular piece is a fine representative of a "Pistolet 1842 Gendarmerie" pistol. It's all original and in excellent condition.
The stock is in great shape with no damage to speak of. All the furniture fits well, indicating that the wood was never sanded or refinished.. The lock features Chatellerault Arsenal markings and is in fantastic shape with no rust or pitting to speak. Mechanically, the action is perfect with a solid half anf full cock.
The barrel is full length and features an "1846" stamp, indicating its year of manufacture. The bore is good with no major rust or pitting - this little gun remains very shootable!
The furniture is all original including the ram rod, which is full length.
