AP116 Rare Collette Gravity Pistol
9mm Collette Gravity pistol, No.: VC1700, 230mm octagonal barrel with full length gravity-fed magazine on top, rising breech, the central hammer with safety bar, the frame with fine scroll engraving and fluted walnut grip. Octagonal, rifled barrel (clean bore, visible rifling) with an open magazine on the top, marked "VC 1700" under the barrel. To fire the breech-block is raised by half-cocking the hammer and pointing the muzzle upwards, thus letting the cartridge "fall" into the chamber, pulling the hammer to full cock automatically snaps the breech-block down and back into position, sealing the breech of the barrel. Steel frame engraved with florals motifs and rocaille. Sliding safety. Wooden grip, finely checkered and carved with leaves and rocaille with iron butt-plate and trigger guard, engraved en suite. 
The gravity pistol was manufactured by Victor Collette and designed by V. Hermann (see 1854 patent); it used a caseless cartridge, so the firing charge, a more powerful than usual primer, were contained inside the Loron or Fusnot style bullet itself. These caseless cartridges bullets were powerful enough not just for target shooting but also take small game and self-defence.
See IAA 550 March/April 2023,  Winant Firearms Curiosa and HBSA Report March 2024.