Manceaux-Vieillard
Extremely rare Manceau-Vieillard test pistol, produced in only 25 copies. Tested by African hunters. Patent filed in 1858 by Manceaux-Vieillard (indicated on the breech button)
Initial production of three copies whose lock is marked Manceaux in Paris (copy presented), then series of 25 intended for testing, produced by the Châtellerault factory (lock marked with the latter.
Length: 0.340 m
Barrel length: 0.200 m
Caliber: 12 mm
Weight: 1400 gr
Combustible cartridge with 1.5 gr of black powder, 32 gr bullet.
Lock model 1847.
All brass fittings
The weapon is equipped with a Chassepot-style breech. At rest, the operating lever is folded forward and pressed against the breech.
To load the weapon, lift the lever and give it a quarter turn to the right, which unlocks the large breech tenon placed on the left in a notch in the box. breech. The breech is then pulled back, which opens the chamber and allows the introduction of the combustible cartridge. It is closed in the opposite direction. The chimney is fitted with a classic war capsule and the hammer is cocked. The weapon is ready to fire.
The obturation is obtained by the recoil at the start of the shot, of a male metal cone engaging in a female part of the movable breech.
Additional precision: the barrel is rifled.
GRIBEAUVAL
