A RARE 20 BORE D.B. FRENCH PAULY PATENT BREECH-LOADING SHOTGUN BY PICHEREAU A PARIS, NO. 19, DATED 1824
with twist sighted barrels, decorated with gilt foliage at the breech and muzzle (losses), stamped with the date, the number '19' and '618' beneath the breeches and with the barrelsmith's mark of Albert Rennet (Neue Støckel 8127) above, action cover inscribed 'Inv.on Pauly Perfectionne' in gilt letters within a gilt oval on the left and 'Pichereau Paris' in gilt on the right, cocking levers chiselled and engraved as crested helms with barred visors, figured walnut half-stock, and steel mounts of shaped outline (areas of pitting), including trigger-guard and butt-plate, complete with two brass cartridges (the action springs removed but present)
70 cm; 27 ½ in barrels
(3)

Samuel Johannes Pauly patented his tipping-chamber breech-loading system for self-contained cartridges in Paris in 1812. Deane's manual of firearms, published in 1858 contains the following entry: ' M. Roux, the successor of M. Pauly, made a slight improvement to this system by substituting the capsule for the fulminate of mercury in powder in the rosettes affixed to the cartridge; but in this also the same defect of a constantly primed cartridge exited. M. Pichereau, who succeeded to M. Roux, changed the whole system. He wisely suppressed the rosettes entirely, and all interior inflammation of the charge, by substituting the exterior nipple of Deboubert, (1820), upon which his improved caps fixed at will. ' See Reid 1958 and Deane 1858 p. 168.