This early 19th century design came from French inventor Edme Regnier L'Aine who designed additional interesting flintlocks such as the "defensive lighter" in Lot 3425. Additional examples with some variation can be seen in Lot 3427 and Lot 3428, and also see the similar "chicken thief gun" shown in Lewis Winant's "Firearms Curiosa" on pages 112 and 114 and figure 114. The pistol is all metal and is basically a modified boxlock flintlock pocket pistol with a toothed clamp on the back of the grip, a trigger with a roller actuate by a release running along the bottom of the barrel to the trigger which has a brass wheel at the tip, and a ring fitted to the right side of the barrel. "Regnier invet" is inscribed on the right side. Provenance: The Henk L. Visser Collection

Fine with mottled gray patina, mild scattered pitting, and mild wear. The ring mount was expertly replaced. Mechanically fine.