Louis-Nicolas Flobert (1819–1894) was a French inventor and gunsmith whose contributions to firearms technology left a lasting impact on the field. Born on February 9, 1818, in Villers-Cotterêts, France, Flobert moved to Paris at the age of 14 in 1830 to apprentice as a master gunsmith. Through dedication and hard work, he saved enough to open his own gun store in 1844 at the age of 28, later establishing a shop at 12 Bd St. Michel in 1855, where he offered highly decorated weapons. His early career was marked by a drive to innovate, particularly in response to the growing demand for convenient and safe firearms for recreational use during the mid-19th century.


Flobert’s most significant contribution to gunsmithing came in 1845 when he invented the first metallic rimfire cartridge, a groundbreaking advancement in firearms ammunition technology. Prior to this, ammunition consisted of separate bullets and gunpowder, often loaded into muzzle-loading firearms via a cloth bag or paper cylinder. Flobert’s 6mm Flobert cartridge combined a percussion cap, gunpowder, and a bullet into a single weatherproof brass cartridge, with the earliest versions relying solely on the percussion cap for propulsion, omitting additional powder. This innovation simplified the loading process and paved the way for modern repeating arms by uniting the bullet, primer, and propellant into one reliable assembly, making shooting more accessible and safer for recreational purposes.

Beyond his revolutionary cartridge, Flobert also designed firearms specifically for his new ammunition, known as "parlor guns" or "saloon guns," intended for indoor target shooting in homes with dedicated shooting parlors. These single-shot rifles and pistols, often featuring heavy barrels, became fashionable in the mid-19th century for their low noise and minimal recoil, catering to a growing interest in shooting as a leisure activity. Flobert’s designs included various actions, such as the Flobert action, where the hammer doubled as the breechblock, and later iterations influenced by other mechanisms like the Warnant system. His parlor guns were widely produced, especially in Belgium, and many were exported to the United States between 1885 and 1910, often chambered for .22 BB Cap, .22 CB Cap, or .22 Short, though some were smoothbore for 9mm Flobert shotshells used in pest control.


Flobert’s influence extended beyond his lifetime, as his rimfire cartridge laid the foundation for modern ammunition like the .22 Long Rifle. He also gained recognition among notable figures, such as Emperor Napoleon III, who took interest in his work and commissioned tests for military applications, though these did not replace the French Army’s muzzleloaders at the time. Flobert’s legacy endures in the firearms world, with his name synonymous with parlor guns and the rimfire ammunition that transformed shooting sports. He passed away on January 7, 1894, in Gagny, France, leaving behind a legacy of innovation that continues to be appreciated by collectors and historians of firearms.