Re-Loading Pin-Fire Cartridges:

Any antique, brass cartridge pin-fire guns may likely be in dodgy-dangerous condition as found - and will mostly be thought too valuable to risk by firing .. but some practical metal cartridge reloaders might seek to revive or make working specimens of this obsolete black-powder cartridge from new.

The Pinfire cartridge was an early system from the 1800's that provided self contained cartridges for breech-loading firearms. while retaining the external hammer like a percussion muzzle loading black powder arm - the percussion cap / primer is moved to inside a cylindrical cartridge loaded with powder and bullet - and fired by a small rod or firing-pin that projects from the side ready to transfer the hammer's blow to ignite the charge.

Pinfire shotguns, rifles & handguns were used for many years from the 1820's until the 1890's when the newer and safer rim-fire and center-fire cartridges became widely accepted. They were much more than a brief "flash-in-the-pan" eh.

Lefauchoux Pinfire Revolver Detail .. Many of These 'Pinfires' May Later Have Been Converted To Use a 12MM Center-Fire Round.

Modern re-loaders can rework fired pinfire cartridges by fitting fresh percussion caps inside prior to charging with black powder. WARNING: Old original brass should be regarded with serious caution due to a strong likelihood that the metal will be embrittled and dangerously weak.

Another failing when re-loading this type of pin-fire black powder cartridge is that the side hole the pin uses quickly becomes enlarged and leaks high pressure gas & flame. 😆

However, this (linked) & interesting site instructs how new cases may be found and a kit used to produce working ammunition while providing your own caps and powder. LINK:

http://www.hlebooks.com/pinfire/pin01.htm

- Here is a further tale of shooting an old revolver using one such kit and some surprises enjoyed while having fun. LINK:

http://www.nrvoutdoors.com/PINFIRES/SHOOT%20YOUR%20PINFIRES%20AGAIN.htm

Note: Unlike modern brass cartridges that may sometimes be carried loose on the person - PINFIRE cartridges must be kept securely in a holder that protects the firing pins from any accidental impact.

Marty K.

P.S For great color images & info on a fascinating variety of old cartridge designs take a look at this page .. LINK:

http://www.cartridge-corner.com/rimiden.htm

Although Lefaucheux is rightly credited with developing metallic Pin-Fire cartridges - the originator was strictly speaking a Swiss born inventor called Jean Samuel Pauly (1766-1821) (born Samuel Johannes Pauli) who "invented" the needle-fire - pin-fire system (with Frenchman Prelat) in 1808.
Inventor Pauly is well worth researching for his clever work in Transport & Aviation as well as Ordnance .. LINK:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Samuel_Pauly

.. Some people have got brains eh,

M.K.