A RARE 9MM FRENCH FIRST PATTERN MODEL 1854 PIN-FIRE RIFLED CARBINE BY TREUILLE DE BEAULIEU FOR THE 'CENT GARDE' OF NAPOLEON III, NO. 136, CIRCA 1854 with tapering sighted barrel rifled with four grooves retained by two brass bands each with a spring-clip, the forward band with iron sling swivel and a lug for a bayonet, stamped with inspector's marks at the breech, in a heart M beneath a mullet, the letter 'F' between two mullets in a lozenge and a similar mark involving the letter 'C', stamped '136' beneath and fitted with folding ladder back-sight, patent action including vertical breech-block operated by a knurled hook-shaped lever acting on the trigger, regulation figured walnut full stock (cracked through and repaired at the grip), impressed '136' on the left of the butt, brass butt-plate, iron trigger-guard, and a pair of iron sling swivels, complete with its sabre bayonet, with tapering single-edged fullered blade with Châtellerault Imperial arsenal inscription and the date 1854, brass hilt comprising oval guard and cap pommel, and banded horn grip 80 cm; 31 1/2 in barrel 100.3 cm; 39 ½ in blade (2) Provenance Mark Dineley Collection Exhibited The Pattern Room 1973-2012 The Cent-Gardes were created by Napoleon III. They were armed with a sabre for use on horseback, sabre-bayonet for fighting on foot, an epée for ceremonial dress and 'muskets' as described below. The contract for the muskets was awarded to Treuille de Beaulieu. Only three hundred of these notably small calibre breech-loading carbines were produced. Baron Antoine Hector Thésée Treuille de Beaulieu (1809-1886) was a French General and Captain Inspector of the Châtellerault manufactory. He was a similar age to the Emperor, Napoleon III, and they enjoyed a shared a passion for artillery and firearms. Following a period of study at the Bourges Artillery School he presented a paper on breech-loading, barrel rifling and the use of small calibres in 1842. In 1854 he made the pin-fire muskets for the 'Cent-Gardes' of Napoleon III. The first model trials surprised all participants, a high speed round penetrating a cuirass at what was considered normal distances in warfare. Among other problems the first model was criticised as fingers could become pinched in the triggers, the sabre lances distorted the barrels and the ammunition was relatively delicate. These faults were addressed in the second model. See Lorain 1979, pp. 10-14 .