Posted 9 years ago
deville
(1 item)
The only thing i know about this is what is written on it.
one side has 1914 - 1918 LE POILU on the trigger it has modele
other side on trigger DEPOSE and a number 468 on end of barrel
LE POILU WEAPON | ||
PastimePro's likes5 of 6 |
Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate
Posted 9 years ago
deville
(1 item)
The only thing i know about this is what is written on it.
one side has 1914 - 1918 LE POILU on the trigger it has modele
other side on trigger DEPOSE and a number 468 on end of barrel
Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.
Create an account or login in order to post a comment.
brass knuckle duster gun:
http://phatzine.com/design/vintage-brass-knuckle-duster-gun-1358.html
I'm still trying to figure out how this would work dependably! Maybe, glue the cartridge in ? Pull the trigger forward 1st ? In my mind, I've already redesigned this into a 3 shot .22 long, automatic !! LOL!! Hey, it's what I'm good at ! If you ever shot somebody with a .22 short & somebody told them, they might get pissed !!
Interesting piece! I wonder why someone filled the fluted section with metal (compare with the one at the URL. Both have only three digit serials. Makes me wonder how many were made.
Blunder, my brother-in-law got shot in the forehead with a .22 short. The bullet just flattened against his skull and caused no permanent damage beyond a scar. That's supplied us with years of "Thick Skull" and "Shot in the head but didn't hit anything vital" jokes!
This is a fantastic item. I too wonder how many were made. Very cool.
Is this trench art?
There is a heavy brass spring under the emblem so when the hammer is cocked the trigger is armed ready to fire. The barrel had been made inoperable at some stage in its life buy the look of it and now it works fine at close range with a 22 short.
Is LE POILU french for the police ?
It means : Hairy. Whatever that's supposed to mean here.
Poilu is an informal term for a French World War I infantryman; so the dates and emblems go along with that interpretation:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poilu
the link in the first comment also mentions the WWI connection.
Another informative link:
http://feldgrau.info/waffen/11302-le-centenaire-i-le-poilu
if that last link doesn't come up with the correct language for you check the language box at top of page...
more Le Centenaire high res photos:
http://www.littlegun.info/arme%20francaise/artisans%20c%20d/a%20centenaire%20gb.htm
Great research TC. Thanks.