PETITE CARABINE DE LUXE DIT " DE BOTTE " DE BOUTET A VERSAILLES. Blued patinated barrel with hair stripes, signed "Boutet Directeur Artiste" on the upper side. Chased lock with foliage signed "Manufre à Versailles" and flat-bodied swan-neck hammer. Spark arrestor. Trigger tail with adjustment screw at rear. All screws engraved. Cut-iron fittings with bronze patina. Walnut stock with carved cheekpiece and long barrel. Wooden ramrod with patinated brass tip. Silver thumb piece engraved with the interlaced "JL" numeral. Barrel length: 40 cm. Overall length: 77 cm. B.E. Directoire - Consulat period. Related works: This type of rifle was given as a reward to general officers or great state figures. -A boot carbine offered to Director Reubell, whose initials are engraved on the thumbpiece. -Another rifle is among the souvenirs of Director Lazare Carnot (Centenaire de Lazare, 1923). History: In the absence of concordance between the initials JL and the five directors, the initials of the famous generals of the time, notably General (and future Marshal) Jean Lannes, can be compared.