A collection of French pocket pistols

[corrado26]

Here is what ler Qui est Qui dit

[urbanspaceman]

Thank-you. I don't speak French so here is what Google makes of the less obvious or previously established bits.
Inventor of a new way of placing the plate of a rifle which makes it capable of being removed and put back in place in an instant. Approved by the academy 1772 and 1774.
He demonstrates that short rifles carry an equal load, further than long ones and is obliged to collect the lead from those which are separated by an operation simple which is particular to it.
Anyone make any sense of it?

[urbanspaceman]

Danke Corrado.
Ich spreche auch nicht viel Deutsch.
Schade, denn ich mag sowohl Deutsche als auch Franzosen sehr.

[corrado26]

My five cents:

Inventor of a new method of attaching the lock to a rifle so that it can be removed and reinserted in an instant.
He shows that short rifles carry farther with the same load than long rifles, and undertakes to collect the lead of those that deviate by a simple operation peculiar to himself.

[urbanspaceman]

I know we are deviating from the initial theme of this thread but does anyone conversant with ballistics comprehend his declaration and agree or disagree with it?
I assume this concerns long guns rather than pistols, which seems appropriate given his connection to hunting - but I may be wrong.
The original owner described the pistol as Venerie Louvetier which is apparently wolf-hunting on horseback, run by the Grand Veneur ie Master of the Hunt and Royal Game Warden.

[Peter Hudson]

From Wike...The Wolfcatcher Royal (French: louvetier royal), a position also known historically as the Grand Wolfcatcher (French: grand louvetier) which is now known as lieutenant de louveterie, was established as a prestigious office in the House of the King during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration of France, tracing its inception to the luparii of Charlemagne. The office had been a fixture of the French Crown as early as the reign of Louis XI, when the first recorded holder of the title Pierre Hannequeau reached prominence in 1467, although it had apparently existed in some form since 1308. Wolfcatchers Royal served under the Grand Huntsman and alongside the Grand Falconer and Captain of the Boar-hunt as members of the king's hunting service. They were responsible for organizing all aspects of the wolf-hunt and presided over the royal pack of wolfhounds and their handlers. A number of lieutenants, huntsmen, houndsmen, and valets assisted the Wolfcatcher Royal. By the 18th century Wolfcatchers, who rotated through office in alternate sessions, received stipends worth roughly between 1200 and 1400 livres.

On 9 August 1787 the office was dissolved due to financing issues but was reinstated in 1797. The office was further modified in 1971 and now serves an administrative function regulating vermin and maintaining healthy wildlife populations. Lieutenants often serve as moderators in disputes between the general public, hunters, and the government, keep the police informed of changes or nuances in hunting laws, and promote the use of ethics in hunting. A major focus of the position is the regulation of deer numbers. Wolfcatchers Royal are still required (in theory) to maintain a pack of at least four hounds capable of hunting boar or fox. There are twelve female lieutenants de louveterie in France. So now we know!!
Peter Hudson.

[Peter Hudson]

Regarding the Photographic examples shown on this thread are by far the finest I have seen on Forum to date...or on the rest of the web ....Can this technique be boiled down and reproduced...so that others can try to achieve such excellent results...Peter Hudson.