Nouvelle page 0

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

Henri-Eugène Bernard

Here a pinfire rifle of good condition, signed Broqua with Auchs (sic), whose barrels in Damas are signed E. Bernard gunner, with punches of Liège.

Markings

ELG on star in oval: acceptance between 1846 and 1893

EL: provisional test since 1852

H under star: countermark of the controller of 1877 to 1968

Peron: inspection since 1853

17.0: gauge in mm (either a gauge 16)

LD under crown: not identified

EB under crown in oval: undoubtedly the mark of Henri-Eugene Bernard, deposited in 1862.

Henri-Eugene Bernard was active since 1840 and it thus deposited a mark on January 18th, 1862 (according to Jarlier-Buigné). See also the site littlegun.be under this name.

Always according to Jarlier-Buigné, the Broqua arms manufacturer in Auchs (sic, insofar as one writes the name of this city of Gers without “S”, even if the natives attached to their language pronounce it…) was active in 1900. However, this pin rifle is former to this date since going back at the latest to 1893.

Henri Eugene Bernard

Your gun still retains some good parts and a complete re-stocking would possibly improve it.

Without any doubts made in Liege, considering the various stamps and markings.

The gun

This is a center fire side-by-side shotgun with external hammers. The back action locks are nicely engraved with vines.

The gun opens by an under lever key on the trigger guard.

Markings

DAMAS BERNARD: The barrels are manufactured in BERNARD Damascus steel. This is a type of Damascus steel such as, for example, the Turkish, crollé, Leclère, English, with ribbons Damascus...etc

Therefore this has nothing to do with the name of the manufacturer !

The Damas BERNARD was a Damascus steel of the first quality .

Crown/EB in an oval: manufacturer's stamp.

The mark (Little Man), almost unreadable, is unknown for me.

Canonnier: this stamp, also of unknown origin is superimposed over the Liege Proof House acceptance mark. This could be a posterior stamping by a person having nothing to do with the manufacturer (retailer?)

The manufacturer

I numbered 15 gun manufacturers with the name BERNARD, in Liege, at the 19th century.

I have an EMILE and an ERNEST, but no EUGENE?? This is quite perplexing because his very existence is proven by the marking on your weapon. Thus the question remains open and any further information would be welcome.

The study the 19th century Liege gun industry is not an exact science since its traces are reaching us in dispersed order and have not been the subject of any serious publication at the 20th century.

According to Jarlier.

Bernard Henri Eugene

Manufacturer of Gun barrels in Liege in 1840.

Trademark Registration on January 18, 1862.

26, rue Lourmier (or Lourmié)