Lefaucheux M1858

Summary

The Lefaucheux M1858 was a French military revolver developed for the navy, chambered for the 12 mm pinfire cartridge, and based on a design by Casimir Lefaucheux and his son, Eugene. The 1854 model was the first metallic-cartridge revolver adopted by a national government; the 1858 was the first variant fielded. It was first issued in 1858 by the French Navy, and though never issued by the French Army, it was used in limited numbers by the French Cavalry during their 1862 deployment to Mexico.