I am doing a display on the Robert guns at the TGCA show outside Dallas, Texas next week. They said this will be their biggest show ever with over 350 tables and 26 display tables.

If you're in the area you should come check it out!

Here is a sneak preview:

[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]

Joseph Alexandre Robert was a pioneering yet often overlooked French arms designer who developed breech-loading firearms and self-contained cartridges in the early 1800s. His 1831 patented musket with a unique tilting breechblock allowed faster reloading than standard muzzle-loaders. Robert introduced paper cartridges with integrated percussion caps, replacing loose powder and balls. Though Robert won acclaim from scientific societies, Casimir Lefaucheux later overshadowed him by popularizing his own breech-loading designs. Robert’s innovative musket was tested by the U.S. Army and adopted in small qualities by the Belgian and Russian militaries, demonstrating its promising capabilities. This display will feature Robert’s rare 1831 military musket alongside two of his early shotguns, including an 1834 model and an 1845 version improved by his successor Chaudun. Having the opportunity to inspect Robert’s ahead-of-their-time breech actions provides a fascinating look into this era of rivalry between pioneering figures whose innovations pushed rifle technology forward. While Lefaucheux emerged victorious at the time, seeing Robert’s seminal paper cartridge designs grants insight into forgotten advancements that set the stage for modern ammunition.