Lefaucheux 20-Round

Double-Barreled Revolver [ 1823 ]

This Lefaucheux revolver tried to make use of twenty 7.65mm cartridges firing from a double-barrel arrangement.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/21/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]

The Lefaucheux 20-Round was one of the notable attempts at designing a revolver that offered the operator a pistol with more than a standard cartridge cylinder housing five- or six-rounds of ammunition. This French handgun instead made use of a 20-shot rotating cylinder set up in two rows of ammunition with the inner cartridge chambers spaced closer together than the outer chambers. In addition to this unique two-layer cylinder design, the Lefaucheux 20-Round also featured two barrels, these arranged in an "over-and-under" format. The hammer was large to work the two barrels though only one barrel at a time could be fired with each successive action. In this design arrangement, the operator was supplied a distinct advantage for the revolver featured a hefty ammunition capacity.

Externally, the Lefaucheux sported a noticeably tall profile, necessitated by the large cylinder. The cylinder was set in an "open-frame" design, meaning that there was no bridge present across the top of the cylinder itself - it being left exposed. The hammer was a large single piece and set high about the rear of the body, just ahead and above the pistol grip. The grip itself was a curved affair with grip pattern to promote a better hold. The trigger was a slim lever extending down and curved outward to accept the proper trigger finger angle. A front sight was positioned just aft of the upper barrel muzzle.

The Lefaucheux revolver originated from Lefaucheux's firm out of Paris, France, and utilized the 7.65mm Pinfire caliber cartridge firing from a barrel 4.75 inches in length. The Lefaucheux 20-Round made use of a "pinfire" cartridge developed by Casimir Lefaucheux in 1823 from Paris. The then-innovative design called for the hammer to strike the pin from above, to which the pin would ignite the internal primer and powder, thus discharging the projectile ball. This action, in effect, closed the breech. Pinfire revolvers went on to see extensive use throughout Europe until being replaced by more centerfire-types. The Lefaucheux's cartridge became the first efficient self-contained cartridge.

This attempt at a 20-Round revolver was not a wholly unique design to the French company. Many other late-19th Century pistol firms were forever trying to increase the firepower of the revolver of the day. This particular 20-shot revolver was, however, known to have been used in the American Civil War.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Basics [+]

Manufacturer(s)

Eugene Lefaucheux - France

Operators

France; United States

Service Year

1823

National Origin

France

PISTOL / SIDEARM
Compact design for close-quarters work or general self-defense.

Barrel Length

120 mm / 4.72 in

Action

Revolving Cylinder

Caliber(s)*

7.65mm Pinfire
*May not represent an exhuastive list; Calibers may be model-specific dependent; Always consult official manufacturer sources.

Feed

20-round revolving cylinder

Sights

Front Iron

Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information.

Lefaucheux

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Images

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Head-on illustration looking down the barrels of the LeFaucheux, showcasing the two rows of cartridges within the 20-shot cylinder

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