Funnel and Bullet Gauge for Revolver 1861

This funnel and bullet gauge for a revolver was made by Rijkswerf Amsterdam. Its existence speaks to the intertwined histories of technology, power, and colonial expansion. We can imagine the precise calibration required to produce such small instruments. Embedded within this piece is the legacy of the Dutch colonial empire, and the role of technological advancement in facilitating this. The letters stamped on the gauge hint at a hierarchy of labor and responsibility, all in service of the instruments of military might. These objects are not merely tools, but emblems of authority and control. Their form and function represent a deliberate effort to standardize and quantify violence. They encourage a sense of order and precision, while quietly underscoring the human cost of conflict and subjugation.