Premiered at the Paris World Fair of 1855, Liege gunsmith Victor Colette combined the form and purpose of a European target or parlor pistol with the function of the American Volcanic repeater. An open gravity feed magazine is mounted on top of the barrel from the muzzle to the breech. The action features a rising breech with a built-in loading lever. When the hammer is placed in the half cock position, the breech rises up to accept a new cartridge from the magazine, and when the hammer is placed in the full cock, position the breech snaps down so that the cartridge is brought in line with the barrel, ready for the hammer to strike the cartridge once the trigger is pulled. The pistol used hollow bullets containing their own powder charge and primer which were similar to the American Volcanic bullet of 1854. The serial number is stamped on the lower barrel flat. The frame has a floral scroll engraving. The hammer has a sliding safety. "V. COLETTE BREVETE" is marked around the receiver tang screw head. The one-piece grip is fluted with a floral carving down the center sides and an ornate buttplate.