Mid-1800s BELGIAN Antique MARIETTE BREVETTE Ring Trigger PEPPERBOX .45 x4

Here we present an antique Belgian Mariette Brevette Ring Trigger Hammer Percussion Pepperbox. This firearm was made in the 1840s-50s in Liege, Belgium, known for centuries now as one of the foremost firearms capitals of the world. It was expressly made for self-defense, giving the shooter 4 shots of .45 caliber ball without having to cock a hammer.
This pistol is double action, with a cluster of 4 barrels that revolves with each pull of the trigger. This is a percussion piece, and each of the 4 barrels can be independently unscrewed for loading. In fact, each of the barrels is numbered and corresponds to the same number on the firearm, so that the user could not lose track of which barrel goes to its particular portion of the breech. The loading of the gun from the breech, rather than from the muzzle, was beneficial to loading a larger ball—yielding a better gas seal—as opposed to trying to load from the muzzle.

This early example of a double-action pistol must have been quite a selling point. As these were considered “point and shoot” short range defensive weapons or “belly guns”, the market did not seem to object to the limitation of not having sights. Made circa the mid-1850s, these style pistols enjoyed even greater popularity than Sam Colt’s first pistol. The history that these pistols enjoyed over the years is astounding: the Seminole Wars, Gold Rush, Mexican War and American Civil War.

The overall condition is fine. Original finish and clear Damascus pattern on the barrels. Nice vine and leaf engravings. Barrel 3’s bolster is engraved with the initials “F. A.” in gothic letters. Excellent action. The bores are smooth. Very nice ebony grips.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrels are 2-5/8 inches.

Caliber: .45 Percussion