The firm of Gastinne-Renette originated around 1812 and was cemented by the marriage of Louis-Julien Gastinne and Joséphine Adèle Renette, son and daughter of the founders. By the second half of the 19th century, they were the premiere source for dueling pistols in Paris. They even rented sets like this and trained duelists how to use them effectively. They manufactured high end firearms for Napoleon III, the King of Spain, Annie Oakley, and many other notable figures. While dueling had mostly faded into obscurity in England and the U.S. by the time these were made, pistol and sword duels in France and other areas of Continental Europe continued into the early 20th century. These pistols were proofed in Liege and retailed by Gastinne-Renette of Paris in the late 1800s. They have "1" and "2" respectively in gold on the casehardened breech plugs and standing breeches, "FNI PAR GASTINNE-RENETTE A PARIS." marked on the top of the blued barrels, Liege proofs, "24." assembly marks, dovetailed blade front sights, and fixed notch rear sights on the standing breeches. They have casehardened scroll engraved floating island locks and furniture including spurred trigger guards with nice scroll accents. Well-figured checkered half-stocks with checkered butts and "JNI" stamped inside the forends. They come in their original two-tier oak case with "GASTINNE-RENETTE/PARIS" in gold lettering inside the lid, closely fitted interior with bright green baize lining and an assortment of loading and cleaning tools as well as a copy of "Imitation de Jesus-Christ" from 1823.

See "A."