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Also, it can be added that, while the converted “1822 T” Officers pistols were only improved basic trooper handguns, the Model of 1833 was much closer to an aristocratic continental duelling pistol. Nevertheless, if we refer to 1855 French military literature (“Maximes, conseils et instructions sur l’art de la guerre.” Paris, Leneveu, Libraire – Editeur. 1855), our top brass did not rely too much on handguns: “…A pistol shot, if not fired at very close range, will miss 99 times out of one hundred; however, never rest the muzzle against the object aimed at, for fear of bursting the barrel….”

Right side view of the French 1873 service revolver. Note the loading rocking door, the solid round cylinder, the slotted field stripping latch, the rod ejector housing and, under the grip, the round lanyard ring.

BEYOND THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR

After the Sedan disaster of September 2, 1870, which saw the capitulation of the Emperor Napoleon III, the National Defence Government, which became in charge of the war effort, was in urgent need of war materiel. Therefore it purchased, among others, many surplus guns of the American Civil War, resulting in the import of excellent, but obsolescent, single action muzzle-loading revolvers. When the peace was restored, most European Armies realized therefore that, for properly arming horsemen, it was time to adopt modern double action metallic cartridge revolvers.