Pedersoli | Le Page Model Target - Duel Case | Cal. .44 | New from collection

2 replicas of the famous Le Page pistol, model Target, caliber 44, manufactured and fired in 1981 in high quality (old production) by Pedersoli in a mahogany case with accessories.

Apart from a tiny bit of patina and a few mini scratches and a small spot, 1-2mm in diameter on the barrel, both pistols look almost new to me, as do the inside of the barrels.

I am convinced that these were purely collector's weapons that were never fired except for the 1981 proof test. The barrels are bright on the inside, deep rifled and flawless, as if they had just left the factory in Italy.

Such pistols are extremely rare and every collector is looking for them. This early production from back then still has a very high quality that can no longer be found today and is not comparable to the Le Page pistols currently being manufactured; Pedersoli shooters and collectors agree on this when you go to the relevant forums.

The set has something else that makes it stand out. The unique, beautiful grain of the walnut wood, the likes of which I have never seen in 40 years. I have never seen such a great grain in an auction catalog, on a Pedersoli website, or at a shooting range, not even in the luxury versions from Pedersoli, which cost several hundred to 1000 euros more. When I asked Pedersoli Italy, I was referred to Pedersoli Germany, who after a while gave me information from the main factory about how much specially selected wood costs. €110 per weapon, in this case €220. But I am convinced that you still won't get this quality.

All pictures shown are original and created by myself to accurately depict the actual condition. The pictures are also part of the description.

The buyer at the time must have had Vitamin B or was perhaps an important person, since they went to such trouble to choose the wood. This dueling pistol set in a mahogany wooden case was lined with the high-quality, red, velvet-like material 43 years ago, which is still in good condition.

If you order a set like this today, the box is lined with cheap, yellow fabric lying loosely inside. The mahogany box contains the loading rod and cleaning rod with bronze brush, plastic brush and wool mop, screwdriver and piston wrench, both with black, fine wood handles and unused. A small, round metal canister into which you can fill gun oil with a screw cap and a pin in the cap for distributing the gun oil. A small powder flask, elegantly and faithfully sewn into leather, no longer exists today. That also fell victim to the red pen.

Although there are cheap replicas of Le Page pistols, the numerous championship titles, gold and silver medals show the high quality of Pedersoli's workmanship, especially in the barrels. Not to mention the fast lock and the set trigger, which is essential for precision. This gives every shooter who buys this pistol the opportunity to become a master marksman if they have talent, determination and enough training.

You are purchasing two duelling pistols based on an original by Henry Le Page from the period around 1840 to 1850. This is probably the best-known replica of the original by Jean Le Page, one of the most influential gunsmiths in France at the end of the 18th century. Pedersoli has succeeded in creating an authentic reproduction with a finely adjustable set trigger and height-adjustable sight. The barrel, lock and fittings are left bare.

And the best part is a select walnut stock with fantastic grain in an oil finish with checkering plus a mahogany storage case for the two duelling pistols with lock, key and brass fittings. The only small flaw in the case is a minimal bulge in the veneer horizontally, roughly in the middle of the lid. Hardly noticeable in the photos. You can only see it if you shine a lamp at an angle on the lid, that there is a slight bump there, maybe 1mm high. And you can feel it if you run your finger over it.

Nothing earth-shattering, as wood moves and after 43 years, things like this can happen. But for the sake of fairness, I wanted to mention it. When I bought the set several years ago, the lock on the mahogany wooden box was unfortunately broken. I bought a new, similar lock and asked a toolmaker to build a new, functional lock using the old fittings (plate) and part of the lock housing from the old lock together with the new lock. It would work like the old one, but would look the same. He did a good job. He made new, slightly reinforced, and fitted the three old locking parts from a brass rectangular profile, as the locking position had changed slightly as a result of the conversion. Now it works perfectly again and looks good. It wasn't exactly cheap, but it was worth it. After all, a box like this has to be lockable; the law requires it.

What makes the Le Page Target stand out: Barrel with 7 grooves and fast twist. A beautifully shaped walnut stock with checkering, an extremely fast lock and finely adjustable set trigger. A detachable barrel and extremely good workmanship and a very good shot pattern! Nothing is left to be desired. Pedersoli recommends the matching Pedersoli steel mold. Item number: 200666 / USA 307-435 if you want to cast, but you can also buy the matching bullets and shot patches.

You can find the set on the Pedersoli Germany page, unfortunately without picture and currently not available as follows:

Pedersoli pistol case set 2 LE PAGE®TARGET(S.325) + ZPe .44 Item number: 207380, Order number (Davide Pedersoli): 020C965440 / C.965, Price 2,766.00 € * (including VAT, plus shipping costs).

Added to this is the surcharge of €110 each for selected wood, so €220 for 2 weapons. That makes a total of €2986 plus shipping costs, so a new price of around €3000!

But unfortunately you can't get the set because it hasn't been available for a while.

Now you have the unique opportunity to purchase a set of two high-quality, almost new Le Page Target muzzle-loading pistols in a mahogany wooden case with all the accessories, as it was manufactured 43 years ago by Pedersoli in excellent quality and is no longer manufactured today, especially with the stock wood with this fantastic grain, which I am absolutely sure cannot be found anywhere else.

You can treat yourself to a great Christmas present or your wife or girlfriend can give your loved one a wonderful gift that will make the heart of every man, muzzle loader or collector beat faster!

Here is some historical information about the Le Page pistol if you are interested:

Since the beginning of the history of handguns, it was common practice to store the weapon in a suitable case, the quality of which matched the weapon itself. Such a case protected the weapon on the rough trade routes, just as it ensured safe storage at home, in camp or in the field.

These cases provided a secure, snug fit for the weapon and offered space for various other items such as bullets, powder flask, primer box, oil can, screwdriver, piston wrench and other things the owner may need. The elegance of the cases and their level of refinement were usually ordered directly from the gunsmith and often made from valuable wood, depending on the social status of the owner or the fame of the gunsmith. The charm and elegance of presenting weapons in cases is still undisputed: one more reason to collect them, to display them and to show viewers the history of the old art of gunsmithing.

In 18th and 19th century France, the Le Page family was one of the most outstanding master gunsmiths. The Le Page dynasty was founded by Pierre Le Page, born in 1700. In 1716, he was apprenticed to master gunsmith Pigny in Paris. In 1743, he married his master's widowed niece and took over his workshop four years later. Due to his skills, he was appointed official gunsmith to the Dukes of Orléans in 1750.

In 1759 he moved his workshop to 13 Rue de Richelieu. His nephew, Jean Le Page, born in 1746 and the most talented gunsmith in the family, joined the workshop and took over in 1779. Jean Le Page was soon appointed 'Arquebusier du Roi', royal court gunsmith, by King Louis XVI. During the French Revolution he marked his weapons with 'Arquebusier du 1er Consul' and then 'Arquebusier de L'Empereur'. After the fall of Napoleon he again bore the title 'Arquebusier du Roi' until 1822. In that year his son (Jean André Prosper) Henry took over the now famous workshop as the fourth of his six children.

He was gunsmith to the kings Louis XVIII, Charles X and the Dukes of Orléans. This is a reproduction of a dueling pistol made by Henry Le Page between 1840 and 1850, in caliber 44, with a rifled and removable barrel that is reflex-free.

The scope of delivery includes the following items:

• duel case made of mahogany wood
• Pedersoli Le Page model target weapon number 41670
• Pedersoli Le Page model target weapon number 41678
• small gun oil container
• piston wrench
• sprouting thorn
• cleaning and ramrod
• powder flask made of leather

Please note the technical and optical evaluation on the last photo.

This article offered by G&M is subject to differential taxation according to Section 25a UStG. The VAT is therefore not shown separately on the invoice.