De Dartein, Charles Felix and De Dartein, Jules Edouard

Name	Street	Town	State	From	To
De Dartein, Charles Felix and De Dartein, Jules Edouard		Strasbourg	France	1870

Patent	Date	Remarks
French patent no. 87,672	November 2, 1869	Propeller Revolver
Britain patent no. 778	March 16, 1870	Improvement in Revolving Fire-Arms
102,782	May 10, 1870	Improvement in Revolving Fire-Arms view patent

Contract	for

Product
Charles Félix de Dartei, born 1836, died 1882. Jules Edouard de Dartein, born 1839, died 1928. Both Strasbourg, France. The three patents refers to the same revolver which is unique in its functions. This revolver went down in history as the Dartein "Zig-Zag" revolver. Cocking the firearm requires the operator to pull back with their trigger finger on a sliding cocking knob located ahead of the trigger. Pulling back on the cocking knob rotates the cylinder and cocks the striker type firing pin. The cylinder is rotated via helical fins or "propellers" that are actuated by the sliding cocking mechanism which has a bar with a helical camming slot, in which it also acts as a locking mechanism. It shares slight similarities in function to the Mauser "zig-zag" and Webley Fosbery revolvers that came after. Once cocked, the operator pulls the trigger to release the striker firing pin. The revolver utilizes a unique type of gas seal cartridge that has an oversized metallic casing with thick walls that completely surrounds a smaller diameter bullet projectile, acting as a gas seal where the cylinder meets the rear face of the barrel at the breech. The rear of the chamber is 11mm which tapers to 10mm whilst the saboted projectile is 9mm, the theory being the bullet would engage with the much small diameter forcing cone of the barrel. Whilst the unique ammunition is illustrated in the U.S. patent drawing, it is believed that no examples of the ammunition have survived. The right of the frame has a safety lever that when flipped to the downward position allows the cylinder to rotate without cocking the trigger, allowing for loading of the 5-shot cylinder at the rear, with an ejector rod located at the right. Octagon barrel, fixed dovetailed blade front sight with frame cut notch rear sight. "propeller" revolver 2nd Model left side "propeller" revolver 2nd Model right side very early experimental revolver 1st Model left side very early experimental revolver 1st Model right side The Dartein Zig-Zag Style revolver has an open frame. The front of the frame is attached to the back by a screw installed underneath, which also attaches the front post of the trigger guard. The weapon has a teardrop-shaped cocking lever installed in front of the trigger. The cocking lever is screwed into the sliding bolt, which can move back and forth under the drum. The trigger is rigidly attached to the sliding bolt. The mainspring presses the sliding bolt. view of cylinder, cocking lever, hammer and trigger Dartan attempted to create a military-grade weapon. To improve the design, the open frame was replaced by a one-piece frame, the trigger guard was removed for compactness, and the firing mechanism was modified. On May 02, 1872, Dartein presented his revolver to a special commission to assess the possibility of adopting it into service with the French Army. Total length of the revolver was 270 mm, caliber 9 mm. The revolver had a closed frame, with a slot in the upper part of the frame for the drum screws. The rear part of the frame, together with the grip, rotates around the axis, which allows to disassemble the weapon. The axis is located at the bottom of the grip at the front. By removing the grip plates and rotating the frame around the axis, the shooter can clean or replace the trigger parts. A rod extractor is installed on the right side under the barrel. The handle cheeks are made of walnut wood and are screwed to the frame at the top. The shank of the grip is fitted with a ring for attaching a cord. The revolver drum is mounted on an axle, which can be removed from the frame if necessary. On the end of the axle there is a groove, thanks to which the revolver's axle can be used as a screwdriver. trial model

Product

Charles Félix de Dartei, born 1836, died 1882. Jules Edouard de Dartein, born 1839, died 1928. Both Strasbourg, France.

The three patents refers to the same revolver which is unique in its functions. This revolver went down in history as the Dartein "Zig-Zag" revolver. Cocking the firearm requires the operator to pull back with their trigger finger on a sliding cocking knob located ahead of the trigger. Pulling back on the cocking knob rotates the cylinder and cocks the striker type firing pin. The cylinder is rotated via helical fins or "propellers" that are actuated by the sliding cocking mechanism which has a bar with a helical camming slot, in which it also acts as a locking mechanism. It shares slight similarities in function to the Mauser "zig-zag" and Webley Fosbery revolvers that came after. Once cocked, the operator pulls the trigger to release the striker firing pin.

The revolver utilizes a unique type of gas seal cartridge that has an oversized metallic casing with thick walls that completely surrounds a smaller diameter bullet projectile, acting as a gas seal where the cylinder meets the rear face of the barrel at the breech. The rear of the chamber is 11mm which tapers to 10mm whilst the saboted projectile is 9mm, the theory being the bullet would engage with the much small diameter forcing cone of the barrel. Whilst the unique ammunition is illustrated in the U.S. patent drawing, it is believed that no examples of the ammunition have survived. The right of the frame has a safety lever that when flipped to the downward position allows the cylinder to rotate without cocking the trigger, allowing for loading of the 5-shot cylinder at the rear, with an ejector rod located at the right. Octagon barrel, fixed dovetailed blade front sight with frame cut notch rear sight.

"propeller" revolver 2nd Model left side
"propeller" revolver 2nd Model right side

very early experimental revolver 1st Model left side
very early experimental revolver 1st Model right side
The Dartein Zig-Zag Style revolver has an open frame. The front of the frame is attached to the back by a screw installed underneath, which also attaches the front post of the trigger guard. The weapon has a teardrop-shaped cocking lever installed in front of the trigger. The cocking lever is screwed into the sliding bolt, which can move back and forth under the drum. The trigger is rigidly attached to the sliding bolt. The mainspring presses the sliding bolt.
view of cylinder, cocking lever, hammer and trigger

Dartan attempted to create a military-grade weapon. To improve the design, the open frame was replaced by a one-piece frame, the trigger guard was removed for compactness, and the firing mechanism was modified.

On May 02, 1872, Dartein presented his revolver to a special commission to assess the possibility of adopting it into service with the French Army. Total length of the revolver was 270 mm, caliber 9 mm. The revolver had a closed frame, with a slot in the upper part of the frame for the drum screws. The rear part of the frame, together with the grip, rotates around the axis, which allows to disassemble the weapon. The axis is located at the bottom of the grip at the front. By removing the grip plates and rotating the frame around the axis, the shooter can clean or replace the trigger parts.

A rod extractor is installed on the right side under the barrel. The handle cheeks are made of walnut wood and are screwed to the frame at the top. The shank of the grip is fitted with a ring for attaching a cord. The revolver drum is mounted on an axle, which can be removed from the frame if necessary. On the end of the axle there is a groove, thanks to which the revolver's axle can be used as a screwdriver.

trial model