Pistolet modèle An XIII

The Pistolet modèle An XIII was a flintlock cavalry pistol, in service in French units from 1806.

Pistolet modèle An XIII
French cavalry pistol model An XIII, made by M.(anufacture) Imp.(éria)le de Saint-Etienne circa 1804-1815. M. On display at Morges castle museum.
Type	Flintlock pistol
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1806 - 1840
Used by	France and various others
Wars	Napoleonic wars
Production history
Manufacturer	Manufactures Impériales of Charleville, Maubeuge, St-Etienne, Tulle, Versailles, Mutzig and Torino
Produced	1806-1814
No. built	300 000
Specifications
Mass	1.270 kg
Length	352 mm
Barrel length	207 mm
Cartridge	16.54 mm (0.65"), 27.19 g lead ball 6.52 black-powder propellant 1g black-powder ignition
Calibre	17.1 mm (0.69")
Action	flintlock/caplock (after 1840s)
Rate of fire	2 to 3 rpm
Muzzle velocity	168 m/s
Effective firing range	5 to 10 metres
Feed system	muzzle loading
Sights	None

The Pistolet modèle An XIII was mostly inspired by the Pistolet modèle An IX, which it succeeded, but also incorporated elements of the Navy pistolet modèle 1786, notably the barrel mountings. A critical difference between the Pistolet modèle 1777/1786's front barrel band and the one used on the Pistolet modèle An XIII was that instead of being pinned into place like the former, it was instead screwed into place and the barrel band was lighter weight; mostly solving the overheating problem the barrel band design caused in the Pistolet modèle 1777/1786. This variant was ultimately made to reduce the cost and simplify the weapon compared to the Pistolet modèle An IX while retaining similar reliability and ease of care as the previous pattern. Over 300,000 pistols were made, mostly between 1806 and 1814 in Charleville, Maubeuge and St-Etienne.

The Pistolet modèle An XIII was designed to equip mounted units, each horseman using two pistols. It was also used by the Navy. Both the An IX and An XIII patterns co-existed for a time after initial introduction, however some of the An IX Pattern Pistols were upgraded to the An XIII standard. An improved version, known as the M1822, was produced after the Napoleonic Wars. They were kept in service well into the 1840s, at which date the pistols still in usage were converted to use percussion caps.

• 
  Navy pistol, on display at the Musée national de la Marine

Sources and references

• "Le pistolet de 17,1 mm de cavalerie modèle an XIII". Armes Francaises (in French).