12 mm Lefaucheux

The 12mm Lefaucheux is a metallic center-fire cartridge. It was originally created as a rimless pinfire cartridge using black powder employed by the French navy on the Lefaucheux M1858 revolver. Later it was adapted to a center-fire cartridge by the French Army in 1873 for use on the MAS 1873 revolver.

Overview
Originally, the 12 mm, was a classic Lefaucheux cartridge, with a side pin from its introduction in 1858 until 1873, when it was adapted and became a rimmed center-fire cartridge for use in the MAS revolver 1873-1874 then used by the French Army.

Features


These are the characteristics of the '12 mm Lefaucheux' cartridge:
 * Brass case
 * Caliber: 12mm
 * Ammo: 12 X 17
 * Bullet diameter: 11.30 - 11.40 mm (.444" - .448")
 * Neck diameter: 11.80 - 11.85 mm (.464" - .466)
 * Base diameter: 11.90 - 11.92 mm (.468" - .469")
 * Rim diameter: 12.64 - 12.66 mm (.497" - .498")
 * Rim thickness: 0.9 - 1.0 mm (.035" - .039")
 * Case length: 19.90 - 20.00 mm (.783" - .787")
 * Overall length: 30.77 - 30.80 mm (1.211" - 1.212")
 * Primer: patented GAUPILLAT
 * Total weight: 18.34 grams
 * Bullet weight (lead): 12.80 grams
 * Cartridge weight: 4.74 grams
 * Black powder charge: 0.80 g

These are the most frequently encountered ("headstamp") tags:
 * 1 / E / 82 / G. E
 * 4 / F / 82 / G.E
 * 1 / G / 82 / G. E
 * 4 / G / 82 / G.E
 * 4 / M / 82 / G. E
 * 4 / K / 82 / G. E

In these markings, the initials "G. E" referring to the manufacturer "Ernest Gaupillat", and the other letter and digits referring to the batch (probably place and date).