Le Gaulois / Mitrailleuse - Squeeze Cocker Pistols:

The French town of Saint Etienne became a center for firearms manufacture back in the 16th century. Indeed this became so important that for a while - during the French Revolution 1789-1799 it was even briefly renamed ARMEVILLE !

 12,000 weapons were being produced each year when the French Revolution began. The city was renamed Armsville during that revolutionary period and production increased to arm the Revolutionary Army.

Made in St. Etienne and originally marketed (1893 -1912) as the 'Le Mitrailleuse' - then as 'Le Gaulois' (from 1897) - these "handy" five shot squeeze cockers were made in four grades of finish - and fired an 8mm 'Special' (Turbiaux) caliber round which is of a similar form to the .32" EXTRA SHORT rim-fire cartridge.

I read that this 8MM pistol (with a 2 1/8 inch barrel) was designed for a NITRO? cartridge but also accepted a more powerful Black Powder loading ?

- Often Sold With a leather pocket holster that looks like it holds a hip-flask of cognac. - A modern iteration should be possible to adapt to a magazine feed in .22" L/R or 32 ACP.

Marty K.