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Cased Femme Fatale Pistol Ring

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,700.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 4,750.00 USD
Cased Femme Fatale Pistol Ring
Manufactured circa 1870. Made for use by ladies, this ring gun was designed to fit on the small finger. This is a pinfire ring revolver which measures 1 3/8" in total length. It has a 5/16", six round smooth bore cylinder, approximately .06 caliber pinfire operating on the pepperbox principle without a barrel. There is a tiny hammer cocked by the fingernail and then the trigger is pushed inward to fire. The ring portion is German silver and marked "FEMME FATALE" and engraved with a simple leaf pattern and the remaining parts are a bright niter blue. Complete in a blue leatherette case with a gold embossed wire border around the outer edge of the lid, a German silver inlay marked "FEMME / FATALE" in the center and blue and purple satin and velvet lined interior French cut to accommodate the ring, a tiny screwdriver/wire brush and six pinfire rounds. The inside of the lid is marked "WHEATON A. BENNETT", the remaining 4 lines illegible due to soiling.
BBL:
Stock:
Gauge:
Finish: blue/silver
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN


Very fine. 80% of the original bright niter blue remains. 90% of the original dull German silver remains showing thinning and wear on one side. The action needs work, the hammer spring is broken. The marking and engraving are crisp and clear. The case is fine with some moderate wear on the exterior and some minor wear and staining of the lining.