An outstanding target carbine by De Petigny, exhibited at the Industrial Exposition in 1839 dating: second quarter of the 19th Century provenance: France Heavy, damask barrel, round at the lower part and octagonal at the visible one, signed "Pincon" and stamped (Stockel 8063), entirely decorated with etched engravings, and effigies of three, gold and silver inlaid warriors placed on capitals and surmounted by gold garlands, at the upper face of the barrel the gilt mark "DE PETIGNY - ESPOSITION 1839. MENTION HONORABLE", followed by three effigy of human figures with related, gilt captions "LACHESIS", "ATROPOS" and "CLOTHO", near the nozzle the writing "POST MORTEM NIHIL EST" among racemes, at the nozzle a copper mask among gilt geometrical and floral motifs; at the oblique faces are thirty characters, each one with the effigy of Death and gilt caption; at the left side "le chanoine, le bourgeois, l'astrologue, le prevost, l'Abé, l'écuyer, l'évesque, le chevalier, l'archevesque, le conestable, le patriage, le roi, le cardinal, l'empereur, le pape", at the right one "l'ermite, le clerc, l'enfant, le cordelier, le laboureur, le curé, le médesin, le menestrier, l'usurier, l'advocat, le moyne, l'amoureux, le sergent, le chartreux, le marchant". At the nozzle the inscription "MEMENTO MORI"; precision target system consisting of peep-sight, adjustable rear-sight and foresight; wide tang engraved with silver and gold skull among racemes; forward spring lock, entirely engraved with racemes on remains of gilding; briarwood full stock checkered at the neck, engraved iron mounts, at the counter-plate towers and soldiers, at the centre the gilt monogram "DP"; at the lower part of the barrel, placed at the centre, is a large plaque with typical effigy of Napoleon I with epaulettes, orders, sword and gold buttons, underneath an eagle with Order of the Legion of Honour and a soldier; anatomic trigger guard with motto in Latin "QUOS TULI ATRA DIES / REDDIT AMICA JOCOS", at the end an Order of the Legion of Honour of gold and enamels; at the lower portion of the butt a musketeer with matchlock rifle; butt-plate engraved with racemes and provided with a hook for the armpit; barrel bracket plaques depicting angels, at the mouthpiece of the ramrod the inscription "FALLOISE Gr Ir /1838"; iron-tipped wooden ramrod engraved en suite with the mouthpiece.At "L'Exposition des Produits de l'Industrie Francaise" held in Paris, Champs-Elysées, from the 1st of May to the 31st of July 1839, were exhibited 3381 pieces over 16500 m2. For this target carbine, possibly one of the most important ever made, Monsieur Pétigny de Soissons (Aisne) was awarded with the Mention Honorable "pour une carabine de tir richement ciselée et damasquinéè". Louis Pincon was "arquebusier", "fourbisseur" and "canonnier", master gunsmith in Paris from 1780 in Rue des Deux-Anges. Joseph Falloise (1812-1886) decorated this beautiful weapon, he was "graveur d'armes" in Liège and, from 1840, in Paris. In 1852 he presented a damask shield at the Society of Arts in London and took part in the Universal Exposition. dimensions : 143 cm.