Japan made two orders by 1862, but the amounts are unknown. The Swedish navy made numerous orders, receiving at least 2,130 units by February 1864, and continuing to order through 1866. Romania received about 2,000 in December 1864. Turkey ordered a small amount in September 1864. Versions with an octagonal barrel were ordered in April 1864 and received in May 1864 Norway then obtained a license to produce its own. Norway received 800 units in June 1860, and 1,100 in March 1864. Italy was the largest customer it purchased over 27,000 revolvers to arm the Royal Carabinieri and other state police organizations, as well as some naval elements. The M1854 model and variants were exported to many nations. The French Navy found the metallic cartridge to be useful at sea and in wet conditions, as pre-metallic paper cartridges suffered from moisture damage that often rendered them useless. It was first fielded in the 1858 variation by the French Navy (designated as Lefaucheux de Marine mle 1858, or simply Lefaucheux M1858). Empty cartridges were also ejected through this gate via an ejector rod running along the barrel. The revolver was a six-shot open-framed design, which was loaded via a hinged gate on the right side of the frame.

Most military models were produced only as single-action weapons, whereas civilian models were made primarily as double-action weapons. It was widely exported during the 1860s and sold as both a military and civilian sidearm with either a short or long barrel. The M1854 revolver spawned numerous variants, some of which were produced under license in other countries. It was a French military revolver chambered for the 12 mm pinfire cartridge, based on a design by Casimir Lefaucheux (Eugene's father, who was also a gun designer). The M1854 model was a single-action, pinfire revolver holding six rounds. In 1854, Frenchman Eugene Lefaucheux introduced the Lefaucheux Model 1854, notable as being the first revolver to use self-contained metallic cartridges rather than loose powder, pistol ball, and percussion caps. Single action revolver (military), double action (civilian) Lefaucheux Company in Paris, France, Liege, Belgium, F. France, Belgium, Confederate States of America, Greece, Italy, Norway, Romania, Imperial Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United States, Blackbirders, Brazil, Peru, ChileĪmerican Civil War, French intervention in Mexico, Third Italian War of Independence, Italian unification, Franco-Prussian War, Spanish–American War

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