Rare Presentation "Velodog" Cycling Pistol, with case, Germany, late 19th - early 20th century.

Rare Presentation "Velodog" Cycling Pistol, with case, Germany, late 19th - early 20th century. Nickel-plated steel body and barrel, The barrel is stamped "0,05 gr NGP M/71" and underneath this with "1 gr Bl" marks. This means a 0.05 grams load of fine black powder as used in the German model 1871 military rifle and a projectile of 1 grams Blei (lead). Also on the barrel are proofmarks. Handle made of two wooden plates. Wooden case covered with leather, with a brass plate with the inscription J.PAULET on the cap. The interior is covered with green velvet and contains a gun and accessories for maintenance. At the end of the 19th century, a problem for cyclists was dogs, which were commonly attacked both in the countryside and in cities. A demand arose for small pistols which would fit easily in a cyclist’s pocket. In 1894, Charles-Francois Galand designed a small pistol which used a 5.5mm cartridge. He was a Frenchman with a workshop in Liege, Belgium (a center for arms manufacture). His son Rene registered the ‘Velo Dog’ trademark in Liege 1904. The name ‘velodog’ became a generic term for all pistols of this type, that were marketed for cyclists. Case size 31x12 cm, gun length 26.5 cm.