This odd pistol was designed by a French gun maker by the name of Charles Bayle. The left side near the top is marked "Bte S.G.D.G.-P.S.O." This is an abbreviation that stands for the phrase "brevete sans garantie du gouvernement". This French phrase translates to "patented without state guarantee." The serial number "173" is marked on the butt. It has six superposed chambers that rotate to the left for emptying and reloading. It has a double action only trigger and a firing pin for each chamber that are fixed to a rotating rod. A pull of the trigger fires one round. When the trigger is pulled again the next chamber is fired. The ejector rod is absent. Some have reported there to be less than ten of these pistols in American collections making it one of, if not the most, rare of the palm squeezer and wallet pistols from the late 19th century.

Very good. The pistol has an aged patina with some traces of the nickel plating in the protected areas. A bright bar is fixed on the back of the chambers and a bright piece appears to have been later soldered on across the top due to a crack in the frame. This is a very rare French pistol. Another one is unlikely to come available soon!