Rating and value of pistols, rifles and weapons by Nicolas Boutet at Versailles

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

Rating and value of Boutet arms

Boutet guns are highly sought-after by collectors. However, price differences can be considerable, depending on model and state of preservation. Nowadays, prices for these items 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 are sold on the art market ranges from €260 to €331,760, at the moment, a substantial difference but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to these weapons. The boxed set that once belonged to Tolstoy, comprising two flintlock pistols by Nicolas Boutet, sold for €120,000, whereas its estimate was between €120,000 and €150,000. 

Value order ranging from simple to prestigious

History of the Versailles factory

The Manufacture d'Armes de Versailles was created in 1793 to meet the growing need for firearms. Nicolas Noël Boutet was its artist-director, and it is mainly he who has left his mark on the history of the factory. The provisional legislative assembly appointed him, but the Consulate kept the same organization and management. Production at the Consultat took a different path. Created to produce weapons of war, Consul Bonaparte was to have weapons of honor and decoration produced in Versailles under his government. The factory employed over 400 workers and closed its doors in 1818, having failed to survive the fall of the Empire.

The success of Boutet flintlock pistols in collections    

Flintlock pistols are very popular at auction, as they are a sought-after collector's item. Production was very high, as this mechanism was used for a long time and equipped many armies, but the Boutet remains exceptional and rare.

These weapons are sought after by collectors around the world, and particularly in France. They are a poignant historical testimony, demonstrating the talent and artistic precision invested in gunmaking at the time.

The more famous and esteemed the model, the higher the value of the weapon. This was the case with Tolstoy's pistols and the pistols of Emperor Napoleon I, sold for tens of millions of euros.

Reasons to auction a Boutet gun  

If you own a Boutet gun or a gun from the Manufacture de Versailles, and you don't know how to sell it, auctions are a solution. Many collectors are looking for older models. 

These objects are not only weapons, but also historical artefacts in the scientific and artistic evolution of ammunition design and decorative weapons.

Signing of weapons produced by Nicolas Boutet at Versailles

Guns made by Nicolas Boutet in Versailles are signed by an engraving in the steel on the lock plate. The inscription reads "Boutet à Versailles".

Knowing the value of a Boutet gun

If you happen to own a Boutet gun 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 all the 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.