Help to idenify umbrella /dagger gun - pepperbox

[argusdes]

I recently inherited an umbrella gun with a stag handle, 4 side fluted dagger. The markings on the side say "Marque de Fabrique" "P.T" & "Brevete S.G.D.G."
It has a collapsable trigger & hammer which slides into a brass tube at the end of the umbrella shaft. It is a six shot revolver (I am assuming a rimfire). There is also a decorated brass ferrule at the base of the stag handle with a push button release (release it from the brass tube). The only other marking is at the end of the revolver - a stamped "6".

The only thing I know about this is that my grandfather may have brought this back after WWII.

If anyone can give me information of the background, manufacturer, or origin I would appreciate it.

 

[6_gunner]

I don't know what that is, but I want one.

 

[Jim K]

It is French. "Brevete SGDG" (Sans garantie du gouvernment) means Patented, without any guarantee by the government, and was put on French arms. The "PT" is a French proof mark and should have a crown or star above it. Apparently there is no maker's mark, which is not uncommon as many guns of that era were products of small conglomerates rather than individual shops.

It may be rimfire. Many similar guns were pin-fire, but I don't see the notches that would indicate pin-fire on that gun. If earlier, it could even be percussion, muzzle loading, but the picture is not good enough to tell for sure.

That type of combination weapon was fairly common in Europe at one time, though they were never imported into the US in any quantity and are considered novelties here. I honestly have no idea of value.

Jim

 

[Arkie]

"Marque de Fabrique" means --Mark of Factory-- also in french.

 

[SDC]

Lewis Winant's "Firearms Curiosa" also has a little bit on what appears to be a dead ringer for your umbrella, but not too much concrete info. He shows a picture, and the following: "Two views (he also shows a picture of these canes assembled) of an unmarked but probably French cane are also shown in illustrations 149 and 150. The pepperbox is six-shot and double-action with a folding trigger. The cartridge used is a very small calibre rim-fire. There is a slender and very weak blade that projects froms the centre of the cylinder. The gun may be withdrawn from the cane when a release button in the grip is pressed. This pepperbox, like the flint pistol in illustration 146, must be withdrawn from the cane to be put in action, the shaft of the cane being a solid piece of wood. Around this shaft is entwined a realistic brass serpent." There is also a book I've seen dedicated to oddball items like this called "Cane Curiosa", but I haven't seen one available for sale for quite a long time; you may be able to find one in a larger library.