Pinfire for Sale

Pinfire revolvers were made in enormous numbers in 19th-century Europe, yet good examples are surprisingly hard to find today. Many have lost their original finish, carry a broken hammer or a cylinder that no longer turns, and listings often say little about the maker or the calibre. Wild West Treasures buys every pinfire for sale in its catalogue in person at arms fairs in Europe and the United States, and describes the maker, calibre, markings and condition of each piece.

What is a pinfire revolver?

A pinfire revolver fires a cartridge with a small brass pin sticking out of the side of the case, which the hammer strikes to set off the charge. The system was developed by Casimir Lefaucheux in France and became widespread across Europe from the 1850s, with Liège in Belgium as one of the largest production centres. Pinfire revolvers were made in calibres such as 5mm, 7mm, 9mm and 12mm, from tiny pocket pistols to full-size military revolvers. For a pinfire collector, that variety in size, maker and decoration is exactly what makes the field so rewarding.

What a pinfire collector looks for

A pinfire collector usually judges a piece on its mechanics first. The hammer, cylinder rotation and folding trigger on pocket models should work as intended, while proof marks, such as those of the Liège proof house, help to date the revolver and identify where it was made. Military models like the Lefaucheux revolvers used by the French Navy and bought by the Union army during the American Civil War are among the most sought-after pieces. Engraved examples and cased revolvers are just as popular, and they often turn up among the vintage arms found at European fairs. American makers took a different route, as the lipfire revolvers in the Allen & Wheelock collection show, which makes an interesting comparison for anyone choosing a pinfire for sale.

Every pinfire for sale in one catalogue

New pieces are added after every fair, which means the selection a pinfire collector can choose from changes constantly. You can browse the current pieces in the complete catalogue of antique arms, where each pinfire for sale has its own page with photographs and a description. Pinfires form a European chapter within the wider range of antique Western arms and collectibles, and they often make a fine counterpart to American revolvers from the same period.

Enquire before your pinfire is gone

Good pinfires rarely stay available for long, from rare military models to decorated pocket revolvers. As a pinfire collector, you can enquire about every pinfire for sale without obligation and receive a personal reply on its maker, condition and availability. Contact us with the piece you have in mind before another collector does.