Rating and value of 1st Empire roller pistols

If you own a 1st Empire wheel gun, and would like to know its value, and if you don't know, the period and model of your weapon, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on today's market. Then, if you wish to sell your work, we'll guide you towards the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.  

Rating and value of 1st Empire roller pistols

1st Empire spinning-wheel pistols are highly sought-after by collectors. However, price differences can be considerable, depending on order, state of preservation, who owned it, and other criteria. Nowadays, prices for these objects can rise considerably under the auctioneer's hammer. Buyers from all over the world are interested in the sale of certain rare pieces. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €25 to €13,000, for the time being, a substantial gap but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to these weapons. In 2017, a pair of pistols belonging to the prefect Louis-Marie Auvray sold for €7,500, whereas they were estimated at between €6,000 and €8,000. 

Value order ranging from simple to prestigious

A look back at the history of the wheel gun  

The pinwheel pistol was one of the first in circulation. It is a complex weapon that was mostly collected. Very few 1st Empire spinning-wheel pistols are to be found on the auction market, which further enhances their value.
The first pistol in history was first used in England, in 1461, at the Battle of Towton.

Shortly afterwards, during the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci became interested in the spinning-wheel mechanism, theorizing and schematizing it. The spinning wheel is a steel part in the form of a wheel, toothed or notched. It is used to rub the firing plate to trigger the shot. Once the hammer is engaged, the springs are activated, creating a spark to ignite the priming powder.

The same function can be found on spinning-wheel harquebuses, widely used in the Netherlands.

Spinning-wheel pistols were used to complement flintlock pistols, which were easier to use. They were very rarely used by the military in everyday weaponry, as the pinwheel pistol operates far too slowly. However, all countries developed this type of pistol, especially Italy. In France, the Empire marked the end of their use, and spinning-wheel pistols were mainly found in 17th-century France.

Style and technique of the French wheel gun

The French spinning-wheel pistol was initially conceived as a weapon like any other, made very simply of wood and metal. Over the years, however, it acquired a prestigious reputation and was owned by high-ranking military officers, even though it was rarely used by them. Napoleon I himself owned several.

The "pistolet à rouet", the first French pistol

They were later redesigned by Napoleon I for the Grande Armée. However, they are rarely used in combat, and serve mainly as historical witnesses. Like Napoleonic sabers, they are a symbol of wealth and power, as evidenced by the various ornaments and decorations that can be found on these weapons.

Reasons to auction a spinning wheel pistol  

If you own a wheeled pistol from this historic period, and don't know how to sell it, auctions are a solution. Indeed, collectors use this medium to find models that correspond to a particular battle or that belonged to their ancestors. Prices can reach unprecedented heights.

These objects are not only weapons, but also historical evidence of the Empire, and are part of the scientific evolution of French weapons design.

Knowing the value of a spinning wheel gun  

If you own a pistol from any period and would like to know its value, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using the form on our website. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your piece, as well as any relevant information about it. If you wish to sell your property, our specialists will also be on hand to help you find alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.