Vincent van Gogh's 7mm Lefaucheux Revolver:

The 7 mm pin-fire revolver that killed Vincent Van Gogh was recovered in 1965 from the French field where he was shot in July 1890. The accepted tale is that he suicided .. but there is also a theory that he may have been accidentally shot when two young teenage boys were playing in that field .. no-one will now ever know.

A Lefaucheux 7 mm Pin Fire Revolver.

The Van Gogh relic condition revolver is offered for sale about now (June 19) by auction at Druout Auction House:
- It had lain in that French field for 75 years. The painter had survived for some 30 hours as the bullet deflected through his chest after hitting a rib - and contentedly smoked his pipe before leaving the world.

The Lefaucheux pin fire cartridge system was the first self contained cartridge system developed - patented in France in 1854 and around 12,000 of these revolvers were exported to either sides of the Mason-Dixon Line during the American Civil War.

The Lefaucheux design is said to have been the fourth most widely used sidearm in that dreadful conflict. Made in both France & Belgium in a range of calibers .. 7mm, 10mm, 12mm, & 15mm, - the roughly .44" 12mm was the most widely used in America.

This early cartridge type was fully usable and even re-loadable but it's power potential was restricted by not being fully gas-tight where the ignition pin emerged from the cartridge casing.

Cylinder Shell Ejector Pin Is Badly Bent.

Vincent Van Gogh 1853-90 was variously diagnosed as suffering from Acute Mania with Generalized Delirium, an episodic condition of Bipolar Disorder, Intermittent Porphyria, Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Depression, malnutrition, insomnia, alcoholism, smokers cough, and was treated at different times for Syphilis and for Gonorrhea .. a razor-severed-right-ear and .. immediately prior to his death .. for a self inflicted bullet wound to his chest.

This painter-nutter is known for producing more than 43 self-portraits .. also for being a somewhat Self Obsessive and - intermittently a 'god-botherer'.

Self Portrait With Bandaged Ear And Pipe - 

He Liked To Paint Himself  (at least 43 Times).

Vincent is understood to have only sold only ONE painting during his confused life - giving most away .. but he'd no doubt be impressed (or depressed) that today many are valued at hundreds of millions each .. and that there is a Don McLean No.1 Hit song "Starry-Starry Night"  ('Vincent') written about him.

STARRY NIGHT - Painted 1889 In The Asylum: Worth $300 MILLION?

- It's a strange old world eh .. consider how modern medication might have effected both his behavior, talent .. and longevity.
Marty K.