Some of the most beautiful work of this craftsman, and many others, are in this book “Liège Gunmakers through their Work. 1800 - 1950”.
For more detail see: LIEGE GUNMAKERS
Michel BERLEUR
18th century double barreled Flintlock sporting gun by
Michel Berleur.
Caliber
14 mm, length 121 cm.
Engraved locks signed
Michel Berleur.
Root
Walnut chequered and carved stock with Lion's head.
Unknown
monogram on silver escutcheon.
With my grateful thanks to Bolkantiques for these very nice pictures
Michel BERLEUR
Here is a lovely little silver-mounted pistol by Michel Berleur.
It is signed on the barrel and lock "Michel
Berleur" and on the other side of the
barrel “FBT
d’armes à Liège”.
Thanks to Michael for these nice pictures
BERLEUR
The barrel is first octagonal, then it has two rings, and then it becomes round and opens into an oval.
The lock
is signed "Berleur" and surrounded by an inlay of silver wire.
The rod
is made of wood with a tip that appears to be made of brass.
Total
length 32 cm.
BERLEUR
BERLEUR
Reflections on a rifle of Michel BERLEUR
A little history
The rifle of Versailles was manufactured in 1793 by the workshops which were going to become the Manufacture d’armes de Versailles.
This weapon intended for the army is considered of a quality higher than the others lawful weapons of the same time.
It is the director Nicolas BOUTET who is already at the start of this realization because it knew to recruit high level workmen, in particular in Liege, Guillaume BERLEUR is the most known example.
The weapon is produced in two versions of which the only difference is the length, that is to say 125 cm for the infantry and 78,6 cm for the cavalry.
Only the rifle of cavalry will become lawful in France.
Its barrel is with eight sides and it weighs 2 kg 500.
The barrel of 13,5 mm gauge is slightly in the shape of tromblon with the mouth and is striped with the step of 67 cm, of seven stripes out of turrets approximately a 6 mm depth.
The lock is with hammer swan neck, the small basin out of brass and the battery with light retroacts.
The iron rod is relatively thick for an obligatory loading with the mallet with a piece of skin, which for a rider could appear to be an impossible mission.
In short, although very precise, this rifle was little appreciated French riders.
Rifle BERLEUR
It’s a copy of Liège freely inspired by the rifle of Versailles.
The barrel is short and the short stock is with cheek, it ends in a plate out of brass. The overall length is 76 cm.
The barrel octagonal is slightly tromblon and is of a gauge of 17 mm to the mouth. Its thickness with the mouth is of 6 mm.
It carries 7 stripes on the right, they have 2 mm of depth and 2,5 mm from broad at concave bottom.
It measures 38 cm except tail of breech. It is fixed at the barrel by a screw with the tail of breech, cross dowels and a screw through the nasturtium, under the rod.
The trimmings are also fixed by cross dowels.
The rise is with two layers and the back sight out of brass.
The iron rod, head of nail, under the barrel is with beam to avoid the loss with the combat.
The lock with flint models AN IX is round, with flat hammer and heart. It is engraved in English letters M. BERLEUR fct d’armes à Liège, marks which according to certain authors would have been deposited in 1810?
The small basin and it against-platinum or carries screw are also out of brass.
The brass trigger guard is with volute of the same type as that of the Austrian rifle model 1789.
Markings
Few markings on this weapon, to note however on the barrel three cartridges in hollow with letters in relief are PD - D and I, also the figure 11 and simply struck one V.
Their significance is unknown, can be for us act of markings of the gunner and markings of workshop?
Let us note the absence of punches of the proof house of Liege indicating that it is about a weapon manufactured before 1811.
The proof test house was established in 1811 in Liege suburb Saint Léonard under the cane of eprouvor LALOUX.
Commercial Michel BERLEUR of weapons to the bridge of Isle was at the time candidate assistant syndic. Besides he became it in 1815.
The manufacturer
Michel BERLEUR was active in the hotel of the noble state in Liege in Vinâve d' Ile of 1780 to 1815. He worked in liaison with his brother Guillaume, who himself was active 1780 to 1840. The period of manufacture of this weapon perhaps estimated between 1800 and 1810 whereas that of the rifle of Versailles was abandoned in 1799 already!
Let us specify that at the time only manufacture of the weapons of war was accepted by the French empire. The present rifle thus corresponded well to the French requirements but in the absence of specific punches, nothing enables us to affirm that it was adopted by the soldiers.
Bibliography
"L’industrie armurière liégeoise et le banc d’épreuves des armes à feu de Liège" – Jos. FRAIKIN – H. VAILLANT-CARMANNE - 1940.
"La Gazette des armes" n° 207 – 289 -
GG
Photos Littlegun
Another pistol of Berleur.
This one is with double gun, double trigger and double lock. The grip is finely squared and of the trimmings in relief are affixed under the wood of the barrels. The trigger guard and the lower part of the pommel of grip are also engraved.
Alain
Michel Berleur
Fine Liege made flintlock pistol Ca. 1780/1800, octagonal barrel nicely decorated, caliber 14mm.
It carries the signature of Michel Berleur, a Liege manufacturer specialized in high quality guns, more specifically pistols. The walnut stock goes to the end of the barrel, it is finely checkered in the grip part and polished on the rest. The ramrod goes through two cylindrical parts. Overall length 40,5 cm.
Alain
Many thanks to "ARSENAL.DE" for the pictures.
