Below you can view more photos of Michel’s remarkable miniature firearms. Michel also provided most of the captions himself in order to further illustrate the construction process. Click on images to enlarge.
1/3 Scale Hunting Blunderbuss
Blunderbuss Original and Miniature
Shown here is the original full-size blunderbuss on top, and Michel’s miniature below. Notice the 24K gold inlaid scrolls in geometrical designs on nice blued ground.
Blunderbuss Original and Miniature
“Manufacture à Versailles,” is finely engraved on the right side of the octagonal barrel. The gun also has a gold-lined firing vent and pan.
Blunderbuss Original and Miniature
Notice the figured walnut full stock with finely checkered grip. It has a sculpted ebony trigger-guard support.
Blunderbuss Case
An external view of the mahogany case containing the hunting blunderbuss and its accessories. The cover features the Prince Eugène monogram with its crest, on an ebony inlaid cartouche.
Miniature Boutet Dueling Pistol Set
Dueling Pistols and Walnut Case
An external view of the nicely figured walnut case, showing its brass mountings. Above the case is Michel’s pair of miniature Boutet pistols, built at a scale of 2.5:1, which fit inside the chest alongside the loading and cleaning accessories.
Boutet Pistols
The same pair of miniature Boutet pistols are shown on a presentation support with several accessories: bullet mould, powder flask, and hammer.
Boutet Pistol
This detailed view of the pistol shows that “Manufacture à Versailles” is engraved on the right side of the barrel. Gold inlaid scrolls are also visible on the barrel breech.
Boutet Pistol in Hand
This view of the miniature pistol in hand really demonstrates its scale. The 24K gold inlaid scrolls can be seen at the breech, and at the end of the barrel.
Powder Flask
A miniature powder flask made of brass and buffalo horn. The dueling pistol set also includes a spring-loaded gun powder distributor. This item represents a typical design from the Manufacture de Versailles.
Bullet Mould and Hammer
Some details of the miniature bullet mould and hammer. Both of these were also typical Boutet designs from the Manufacture de Versailles.
Boutet Pistol Lock Plate Mechanisms
Fully functional miniature lock plate mechanisms for the Boutet pistols. The trigger guards are set aside. A magnifier and compass give scale reference.
Miniature Dueling Pistol Set
A final photo of the miniature Boutet pistols, and all other elements of the set, in their custom display case.
2/5 Scale Navy Luger
PO4 Navy Luger
Michel’s miniature 2/5 scale Navy Luger on top of it’s walnut case. A full scale pair of tracing compasses and a magnifier are shown for scale reference.
Navy Luger
A close-up reveals more of the markings on this mini Luger. Note the typical Imperial Navy stamps and proofs on the receiver side and barrel.
Navy Luger
A top view shows the two position (100-200 meters) rear sight on the toggle.
Navy Luger in Hand
The miniature Navy Luger sits in Michel’s palm.
Navy Luger Magazine
The 2/5 scale Navy Luger magazine loaded with one 2.7 mm Kollibri cartridge.
Disassembled Navy Luger
All of the 2/5 scale parts included in the Navy Luger are shown on a tray.
Machining the Luger
Mill cutting (parting) the completed firing pin from a raw carbon steel bar.
Machining the Luger
A machining operation on the Luger frame, which is mounted on a special jig. (Two jigs were required.)
Rifling the Luger Barrel
Rifling the barrel with a special hand rifling jig installed on the milling machine.
Machining the Luger
Michel doing another precision milling operation on the main frame of his miniature Luger.
1/3 Scale Mauser 98K Carbine
Mauser 98K Carbine and Bayonet
Michel’s 1/3 scale rifle and bayonet on the lid of a custom walnut chest. The beautiful Mauser logo is inlaid, and engraved in German gothic letters is: “KARABINER 98K.”
Mauser 98K Carbine and Accessories
A miniature presentation of the encased 1/3 scale Mauser 98K rifle, with all of its accessories: bayonet, cleaning rod, brush, screw driver, oiler, and a clip of (non-firing) ammunition.
Mauser 98K Carbine
A miniature cartridge is ready to be loaded into the firing chamber of the bolt-action rifle. The rifle functions like the full-size original down to the tiniest details. The barrel is rifled. The gun feeds, ejects, and might fire. It’s beautifully engraved with all serial numbers, and German stamps.
Mauser 98K Carbine Detail
A top view of the rear sight, a tangent type, adjustable with a V-shaped notch. The sight is graduated from 100 m to 2000 m in 100 m increments.
Mauser 98K Carbine Detail
A look at some of the miniature markings. All parts have the same serial number finely engraved, with either four digits or the last two digits on small parts. The third reich stamp, an eagle grasping a swastika, is visible with a magnifier on the left side of the barrel, as well as the receiver. At this scale, the eagle is only 1 mm tall!
Mauser 98K Carbine Detail
The magazine floor plate is engraved in English style, “Mauser 98K — éch 1/3 — Exécuté par Michel Lefaivre — 2009-2010.”
Miniature Bayonet
Michel holds his scale bayonet for the Mauser in his hand. The spring-loaded locking device to be cranked on the rifle’s lug is visible on the bayonet handle.
Mauser 98K Carbine Detail
This close-up shows the bayonet fitted and secured to the rifle’s lug, below the barrel’s end.
Mauser Receiver and Bolt Assembly
The two most difficult parts to make, requiring the utmost care, are the receiver and the bolt assembly. The receiver is hard to make because of its internal helicoidal ramps, and the longitudinal grooves that allow it to tightly lock the bolt in just a quarter turn. Many external machining operations are required. The bolt assembly includes the sleeve, hammer, safety, firing pin, spring, and extractor.
Mauser Clip
This 1/3 scale stripper clip contains 5 rounds (Cal 2.7 mm) that can be loaded into the rifle’s internal magazine.
Mauser Bolt-Action System
The full-size Mauser 98K bolt-action system is seen above Michel’s fully functional 1/3 scale miniature.
Mauser Machining
A lathe turning operation on the bolt, which is made from a raw 40 mm C.S. bar. Michel used nickel, chrome, and molybdenum alloy carbon steel on all mechanical parts.
Mauser Machining
Final dimension control of the bolt with a dial micrometer.
Mauser Machining
The helicoidal milling operation at the end section of the bolt.
Mauser Machining
Machining the one piece trigger guard and magazine using a miller’s spindle horizontally.
Mauser Machining
Adjustment of the trigger guard/magazine inside the fine grain of the walnut stock.
Mauser Machining
Adjustment of the receiver inside the stock.
Mauser Bayonet
The 1/3 scale Mauser bayonet with its scabbard.
Michel Lefaivre and Joe Martin
In July, 2011 Michel (left) traveled to California to spend a few days at the Craftsmanship Museum, seeing the place for himself and talking with visitors. Here he shakes hands with founder Joe Martin in the museum lounge.
Michel’s Shop
Michel Lefaivre at Work
Michel Lefaivre at work on his Swiss-made convertible mill/lathe, enabling him to machine small precision parts.
Michel’s Convertible Mill and Lathe
This photo shows Michel’s convertible mill/lathe being used for vertical milling. It’s shown here setup to machine the blank walnut stock for the Prince Eugène miniature blunderbuss.
Milling Operation
A milling operation is set up on a rotary table, with the same Swiss machine from before. Note the angle of the spindle for this special operation.
Machining a Barrel
Machining the barrel of the Prince Eugène miniature blunderbuss on the lathe.
Michel’s Jeweler’s Lathe
A small jeweler’s lathe is used to machine very small parts like screws, pins, axles, and also for horizontal micro drilling. Parts are held in either a mandrel or collets.