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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: gcmx on March 24, 2010, 09:36:33 pm

Title: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: gcmx on March 24, 2010, 09:36:33 pm

hello all,

i'm very glad i found this site and the very nice members who helped me with the first item i posted.

i now have another unique item, i think, which i believe dates back to the early 1800's.

i searched the web and can't find any info...nothing.

it's a Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun, and that's all i know.

if there is anyone here that could provide any info at all, i would be very grateful.

please feel free to contact me at:  gcmx@me.com

my sincere thanks . . .

Title: Re: Saint Etienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: sapphire on March 24, 2010, 10:49:40 pm

gcmx, I know dick all about guns but have come across some 'stuff' about St. Etienne. Don't know if any of it will help, but at least you might make sense of it..........Greek to me.  ???

http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=318

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacture_d'armes_de_Saint-Étienne

http://www.gournetusa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=49

Title: Re: Saint Etienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: ironlord1963 on March 24, 2010, 10:55:27 pm

     Sure hope Texasbager don't miss this one, bet he would know  ;)

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: gcmx on March 24, 2010, 11:21:23 pm

thanks for your input sapphire, will look into it.

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: luxetveritas on March 24, 2010, 11:43:28 pm

I found a few pistols from St. Etienne, but none quite like yours (most of these are older). I'll do some more looking in the morning, sorry :(

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: fancypants on March 24, 2010, 11:52:46 pm

I'm wonderning if this item is a center-fire cart. type , or a pin-fire type , gcmx .

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: gcmx on March 25, 2010, 12:35:01 am

luxetveritas, many thanks, look forward to hearing from you . . .

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: waywardangler on March 25, 2010, 01:21:35 am

It looks like a Giffard gas pistol.  That cylinder on the bottom made me think it was a CO2 gun and it was/is.  See this site http://www.pilkguns.com/aphp/giffard.htm  I think if this is complete, original,and not a reproduction, it is a very desirable collector piece and may command a good sum.

A better pic (2nd pic) is here http://www.henrykrank.com/vap107.html  About $4100.

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: fancypants on March 25, 2010, 01:59:15 am

I was thinking CO2 also , waywardang , from the lower assembly .

Cool bingo !

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: Texasbadger on March 25, 2010, 06:07:42 am

Neat pistol, early gas/airgun as stated.

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: cogar on March 25, 2010, 06:13:56 am

Wayward, why the blunt end on the "puncture pin" or does it just "press" against the CO2 cartridge?

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: waywardangler on March 25, 2010, 07:20:59 am

What I have read dosen't really say how that works but I would guess it was a ball detent with a rubber gasket that was pressed open by the pin rather than punctured (maybe how a 1 lb. propane cylinder is opened on a small heater...when you screw it on, the pin pushes the mechanism in the propane bottle open releasing gas to flow to the heating element).  "In Giffard's day, CO2 was such a novelty that those who bought his gun had to send their cylinders back to a central filling station. There were no places to buy the gas conveniently."  These were not disposable co2 cylinders like we are familiar with on todays air guns but refillable ones using liquid carbonic gas so they must have had places to fill these up.

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: gcmx on March 25, 2010, 10:28:50 am

hello waywardangler,

looks like you hit the nail on the head...you found it!!!

what i have is the real deal.

my stepfather got it when in europe during WWII.

all i need now is to figure out its value.

thank you so much for your efforts.

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: waywardangler on March 25, 2010, 10:33:39 am

The asking price (value) on that British dealer site as of December 2009 was $4100.00.  Condition also drives price and if you are looking to sell it, I would contact a specialty auction house that deals with antique firearms.  I would think collectors would be all over this pistol of yours.  It appears to be quite scarce and historical.

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: wendy177 on March 25, 2010, 10:41:37 am

I agree wayward I would go with a larger more well known auction house (Christie's, Southeby's  or LARGE specialty auction house ) even if it must be shipped to auction  to sell. GC just send them photos they have links on the websites and await your reply.

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: KC on March 25, 2010, 12:10:35 pm

Totally agree with Wayward that you contact an auction house that deals with firearms to bring you the most bang for your buck!!

Very cool piece!!!!!

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: ironlord1963 on March 25, 2010, 01:05:21 pm

 the most bang for your buck!!


LOL, Nice pun

Title: Re: Saint Étienne Single-Shot Long-Nose Handgun
Post by: luxetveritas on March 25, 2010, 01:30:08 pm

Very neat find, hope you have luck auctioning it (or whatever else you decide to do w/ it)!