[1] The first model was manufactured both in Liège and in Birmingham, England by the British arms firm Braendlin and Sommerville, and is therefore sometimes referred to as the Galand-Sommerville.
The Galand's self-extracting system made loading the revolver much faster than contemporary gate-loaded pistols such as the Colt Peacemaker.
First distributed in October 1868, the Galand revolver sold briskly in France, at least in part due to fears over the looming Franco-Prussian War of 1870.
In 1872 Galand improved the design with a closed frame, but failed to win a French military contract and began aiming most of his production at the civilian market.
The weapon was originally marketed as a defence for bicyclists during the bicycle craze which started at the end of the 19th century.