Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun

[gcmx]

hello all,

i'm very glad i found this site and the very nice members who helped me with the first item i posted.

i now have another unique item, i think, which i believe dates back to the early 1800's.

i searched the web and can't find any info...nothing.

it's a Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun, and that's all i know.

if there is anyone here that could provide any info at all, i would be very grateful.

please feel free to contact me at:  gcmx@me.com

my sincere thanks . . .

[sapphire]

gcmx, I know dick all about guns but have come across some 'stuff' about St. Etienne. Don't know if any of it will help, but at least you might make sense of it..........Greek to me. 

http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=318

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacture_d'armes_de_Saint-Étienne

http://www.gournetusa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=49

[ironlord1963]

     Sure hope Texasbager don't miss this one, bet he would know 

[gcmx]

thanks for your input sapphire, will look into it.

[luxetveritas]

I found a few pistols from St. Etienne, but none quite like yours (most of these are older). I'll do some more looking in the morning, sorry

[fancypants]

I'm wonderning if this item is a center-fire cart. type , or a pin-fire type , gcmx .

[gcmx]

luxetveritas, many thanks, look forward to hearing from you . . .

[waywardangler]

It looks like a Giffard gas pistol.  That cylinder on the bottom made me think it was a CO2 gun and it was/is.  See this site http://www.pilkguns.com/aphp/giffard.htm  I think if this is complete, original,and not a reproduction, it is a very desirable collector piece and may command a good sum.

A better pic (2nd pic) is here http://www.henrykrank.com/vap107.html  About $4100.

[fancypants]

I was thinking CO2 also , waywardang , from the lower assembly .

Cool bingo !

[Texasbadger]

Neat pistol, early gas/airgun as stated.

[cogar]

Wayward, why the blunt end on the "puncture pin" or does it just "press" against the CO2 cartridge?

[waywardangler]

What I have read dosen't really say how that works but I would guess it was a ball detent with a rubber gasket that was pressed open by the pin rather than punctured (maybe how a 1 lb. propane cylinder is opened on a small heater...when you screw it on, the pin pushes the mechanism in the propane bottle open releasing gas to flow to the heating element).  "In Giffard's day, CO2 was such a novelty that those who bought his gun had to send their cylinders back to a central filling station. There were no places to buy the gas conveniently."  These were not disposable co2 cylinders like we are familiar with on todays air guns but refillable ones using liquid carbonic gas so they must have had places to fill these up.

[gcmx]

hello waywardangler,

looks like you hit the nail on the head...you found it!!!

what i have is the real deal.

my stepfather got it when in europe during WWII.

all i need now is to figure out its value.

thank you so much for your efforts.

[waywardangler]

The asking price (value) on that British dealer site as of December 2009 was $4100.00.  Condition also drives price and if you are looking to sell it, I would contact a specialty auction house that deals with antique firearms.  I would think collectors would be all over this pistol of yours.  It appears to be quite scarce and historical.

[wendy177]

I agree wayward I would go with a larger more well known auction house (Christie's, Southeby's  or LARGE specialty auction house ) even if it must be shipped to auction  to sell. GC just send them photos they have links on the websites and await your reply.