Project Description
!!!!!SOLD!!!!! This is an antique five shot 4 mm pinfire, “LE PETIT GARDIAN”, ring gun, by an unknown maker, probably made in France or Belgium in the 1860’s to 1880’s. The ring looks to be silver, but shows no hallmarks. The back side of the ring engraved “LE PETIT GARDIAN” along with some vine & leaf engraving. The balance of the parts are fire blued steel. The interior of the ring measures .753, which is smaller than usually seen. The cylinder measures .448 tall X .589 in diameter. Complete with the case, which has more than likely been refitted on the interior, or maybe even a more modern replacement. There four, what look to be live 4 mm pinfire cartridges, although they may be more modern dummy cartridges. If they’re live, they’re worth about $250.00 each. I’m not going to try firing one to find out! The hinged top case is a gray tweed on the outside. The interior bottom not fit for the ring, and covered in a very dark blue velour. There is a wood block on the right bottom of the case with five holes for cartridges, four of which are occupied. The interior top is padded and covered in the same dark blue velour. This piece has some mechanical & condition issues. The hammer will not cock. These are relatively simple mechanisms, so it shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to find the problem & repair it. The cylinder has numerous scratches, which looks like some tried to use a screwdriver or something similar to try to cock the hammer. The usually included screwdriver is missing. The case is excellent, but may have been relined. The cartridges look great, & I have seen so few real original cartridges that I can’t tell if they’re real & original, more modern live rounds, or modern dummy rounds. I’d really like to keep one for my miniature cartridge reference collection just because they look so cool! No, I didn’t keep the one from the hole that is missing! Priced accordingly! Stock # TP-07. !!!!!SOLD!!!!!
