Rare Pauly system pistol, one shot. Slightly flared muzzle-loading barrel with spiral hair rifling, with opening key on the left side allowing the barrel to swing forward. Thunderbolt with removable chimney socket for percussion shooting. Finger rest and cap in iron, plain. Case engraved "Invention Pauly Breveté à Paris". Walnut stock (repaired). Reblued finish. Numbered " 24 " and engraved " N 2 ". Jean-Samuel PAULY: mechanic, former Swiss officer of artillery, studied and made carry out in his workshops, in Paris in 1809, his invention of rifle with loading by the breech, hammer of external armament . He presented it in 1812 to the commission of armament of the imperial army, in its military version but his invention was refused. He then took a patent on September 29, 1812 for the commercial exploitation and made carry out his system for hunting, in Paris and in London. His rifles were still successful at the advent of Robert around 1831.