Copy Antique Firearms exist for only two reasons

There is an importance for collectors to understand engraving.

The two reasons that  there is a market for copy antique firearms are:

1.
Because there is money to be made by using modern technology to copy genuine antique firearms.. ....and:

2.
Because it is a way for individuals to manipulate the system and obtain Pre 1901, "modern made guns' under the pretence of an antique firearm, without the need in obtaining a licence.

Sure a Pre 1901 revolver might not be as capable as a modern revolver but there is a market for such firearms.

The same as antique collectors will  pay big dollars for an antique firearm  in excellent condition if they believe it is a genuine antique and so this  offers a different opportunity for some  to manufacture such copies of antiques.

This section will demonstrate the difference and the difficulty in authenticating both genuine and counterfeit antique firearms.

Compare the upper  top image above and you will see that the above image is smooth.

Compare to the lower image , just above and you will see that every push, stroke and hammer result is visible and rugged when looked at closely under a microscope.

So what is the verdict ?

Both Firearms are registered as genuine antiques pre 1901.

If I were to need to state in a court, I would say the upper image may be a recent copy antique.

But I could not be certain.

Because while the engraving style is only one aspect of determining authenticity, it needs to be considered with other elements such as the wood, it's condition, the calibre, as in is it a current production or absolute and any provable provenance.

If we consider the lower image then this is without any doubt a genuine hand engraved  antique firearm.

The only consideration to asses is it's age is it's  model and manufacturer to assess if it is an  genuine antique.

If we consider the upper image then there are a lot of confusing aspects that come into play.

A. The background is not uniform which indicates it is done by hand... that is a plus

B. The sides of the excavation are too smooth for antique hand engraving and was most probably engraved with a pneumatic engraving tool which leaves a smooth line of micro marks, not rugged as seen below and  as seen here and this tools was only developed long after 1901.... that is a concern.

C. The wood is ebony and in perfect condition and engraved, or carved.  Ebony is an expensive and rare material that might not appeal to the buyer wanting a pretend antique firearm to evade gun laws, but this does not deter then attraction of a genuine or copy antique for collectors, as it embellishes the value. ... it only adds to the confusing in determining the authenticity.

D. There are engraved marks that have defiantly been hand engraved... may be to embellish the end result...  but may be part of the total engraving.

A thorough investigation can take months to determine authenticity and the following website will demonstrate to collectors the process  needed to find a result.

www.coltnavypistols.com

So what is the bottom line ?

I can not say for certain without further investigation in relation to the gun in the top image, as the gun in the upper image is not a cap and ball but made for an absolute caliber.

One might ask why a copy would be made in an absolute calibre as it would have no appeal to someone wanting to evade modern gun laws and the answer is probably that a  genuine antique collector would pay more.

The wood, it's  quality, it's action, all present as an genuine antique firearm and made, not as percussion cap and ball pistol, but as rim fire target pistol  in  a rare and absolute European calibre.

On first glance it is an excellent antique and appear to be a genuine pre 1901 French target pistols.

But on studying the engraving, it does not match the era.

For antiques that are used and abused and of little value, it is easy to determine their authenticity, yet for antiques in fine or pristine  condition, it is always more difficult.

For advice to collectors, the top  above might probably be genuine，but if in excellent or pristine condition such as it is, with engraving abnormalities, then one might need to look further to avoid over paying or worse buying an antique firearm which  contravenes the law and could have undesirable repercussions.

Either way, the engraving on a potentially valuable antique firearm is one clear signature to determine age and authenticity.

The engraving is like a fingerprint of time.