 |
Le Directeur Artiste Nicolas-Noël Boutet |
 |
Nicolas-Noel Boutet is by many, me included, considered
to have been the most illustrous gunsmith up until our times.
He came from a family of gunsmiths and bladesmiths several generations deep,
with origines in a small village Romorantin in the Loire region of France.
There is not a long list of books and writings on Boutet and his works.
I have compiled a list of what i have found on the page Litterature on Boutet.
Weapons signed Boutet can be admired in many museums, even if an important number are out of sight
in private collections, at least until they reappear in sales initiated by the owner or heirs.
I have compiled info on museums where they have Boutet-weapons exposed, but even in museums not all are shown.
Even in Versailles where Boutet developed his Manufacture d'Armes, you will only find a small quantiry of rather ordinary
Boutet-signed weapons behind glasses in a modest museum a ten minutes walk away from the splendid castle; Le Musée Lambinet.
They are found in a cupboard with glass doors in a single small room.
The list of museums where I have noted Boutet weapons exposed are listed on this page; Boutetexpo
Many arms signed by Boutet have numbers on them, but far from all.
Nobody has so far found an explanation to the reason or system in this numbering.
What seems clear is that these number are not serial numbers as seen on weapons after ca.1830.
I have for some time compiled a list with description of Boutet weapons with numbers,
and invite collectors or museums who has numbered Boutet weapons to inform me.
Also disassembling of weapons to look for hidden numbers can add to this list.
Disasembling of weapons will be useful to check for and stop corrosion.
Owners of numbered weapons will remain anonymous.
. More about numbering on Boutet weapons on pageBoutet numbering.
Please mail comments to flint @ armhis.com
Return to Start: Start