DESCRIPTION: Scarce French M.1874 Chamelot Delvigne revolver intended for the civilian market. Caliber: 11 mm French Ordnance Revolver M.1873 (Army). The revolver was retailed by Le Page, as indicated by markings on the barrel, "Faure Le Page a Paris" (please, see pictures). The revolver comes with a very scarce Imperial German World War One style officer shoulder holster. This may indicate that the revolver was privately purchased from Le Page by a German officer, who carried it during the World War One. The holster was custom made for this particular revolver (fits perfectly!). The wear on the revolver and holster indicate that the two were together for a very long time (a Great War bring back?). Externally, M.1874 commercial revolver is almost identical with French officer M.1874 revolver (except for the markings). Careful examination of the internal parts may reveal that they are not interchangeable with the military revolver parts. In fact, some of the M.1874 commercial revolvers have slightly different mechanism than M.1874 officer revolvers. The revolver was designed to fire a low pressure 11 mm black powder cartridge and should not be used with any other cartridge. Fluted cylinder. Fancy checkering on the hammer and loading gate. Matching serial numbers. Very high quality of machining and metal finish. Handsome, black hardwood grips with diamond checkering (ebony?). Chamelot Delvigne was one of the most reliable revolvers of 1870-s. Joseph Chamelot of St. Giles was a Belgian inventor. Henri-Gustave Delvigne of Paris was a French inventor. Together, between 1862 and 1873, they patented twelve designs related to the double action revolver and its lock. CONDITION: Fine, with 86% of original, slightly thinning blue finish on metal. Blue is turning to brownish color in some places (mostly on the hilt and trigger guard). Occasional spots of light patina and/or peppering. Fading case coloring on the hammer, trigger and loading gate. The bore is in excellent condition, with strong and shiny rifling. Cylinder chambers are in fine condition. The action works fine. All the markings and numbers are clearly visible on metal. Wooden grips are in excellent condition with some minor handling marks. Complete with lanyard ring. Holster is in fine condition. The leather is still soft and flexible. Original stitching. Antique. Very attractive World War One rig! Serial# 175XX. (Ref. "Military Handguns of France" by Eugene Medlin and Jean Huon., pp. 35, also in "Les Revolvers Militaires Francais" by Henri Vuillemin, p.123).
