Flobert

Flobert refers to Louis Nicolas Flobert, a French gunsmith and inventor active in the 19th century. He is credited with the development of early rimfire ammunition and with creating some of the first small-pocket pistols that used a compact rimfire cartridge. In the broader sense, the term Flobert is associated with both the designer and the family of small firearms that fired his cartridges.

The Flobert cartridge is a small rimfire cartridge that came in several calibers, notably around 6 mm and 9 mm. These cartridges were designed for very compact pocket pistols, often marketed as “parlor” or close-quarters pistols because of their limited power and short effective range. The pistols that fired Flobert cartridges tended to be simple, single-shot or very small multi-shot designs with relatively low recoil and modest muzzle energy.

Historically, Flobert pistols and their ammunition were produced by various European manufacturers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were popular as inexpensive, easily concealable firearms and as novelty or educational pieces. Over time, more powerful and standardized ammunition designs supplanted Flobert-type systems, and production declined.

Today, Flobert firearms are primarily of historical and collecting interest. They are discussed in the context of early rimfire development and the evolution of pocket pistols. As with many antique firearms, their handling and ownership are subject to the firearm laws of individual countries, and they are generally not used as modern service weapons.