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
Fabrique Générale d’Armes à Feu Joseph BERTRAND
A superb and imposing shotgun with two side-by-side barrels. The
percussion system is hammerless, with a top lever break key. The metal parts are
artistically engraved with scrolls (floral motifs). The finely checkered stock
and fore-end are made of a luxurious wood. It is equipped with a button marked
with the letter S, allowing the safety to be activated. The system is almost
certainly a classic Anson & Deeley. It is clearly a high-quality object. A
member of the group noted the thickness of the barrel walls, suggesting that the
weapon is capable of withstanding significant pressure...
Markings, Hallmarks:
The weapon is covered with markings. In addition to those not identified,
we can distinguish:
ELG over a star in an oval under a crown: proof house hallmark in use
from 1893.
Perron (little step) liégeois: inspection, in use from 1853 to the
present day.
X and AV under a star: inspectors' countermarks, in use from January 27,
1877.
PV under an upright lion: smokeless powder proof in use since 1898
(actually since 1903).
T under an upright lion: pyroxylated hunting powder proof called T,
marketed from 1899.
EL in English cursive: Liège hallmark for provisional black powder
proofs, in use from 1852 to the present day.
NW within an ellipse.
17.7 and 18.4: choked barrels.
Inscriptions V, F within a circle.
Several numbers: 9160, 6767, 6014, 32. Numbering of the weapon? Elements
of the weapon?
12 C in a vertical diamond: 12 gauge (from 1898 to 1924).
D=70 mm: Chamber length in mm after optional proofing with smokeless
powder. In use from 1892 to 1924.
P 1KG 228.9: Barrel weight capable of firing smokeless powder. In use
from 1898 to 1968.
CAP and Compound steel: Markings of the barrel manufacturer Joseph Cap.
JB interlaced: The two marks (JB interlaced) stamped on the weapon belong
to the Fabrique Générale d’Armes à Feu Joseph BERTRAND, rue de Bassenge, 39 in
LIEGE, then from 1924 to rue Etienne Soubre, 3 in Liège.
In conclusion, this fine 12-gauge Liège shotgun comes from the workshops of
Joseph Bertrand. Since no serial number could be found, we can assume it was
produced before 1922. Other markings (T under an upright lion, caliber within a
diamond, barrel weight) indicate production after 1898.
Chris, HPH, GP, Alain, Marcel, PHL
Fabrique Générale d’Armes à Feu Joseph BERTRAND
The weapon
It is about a revolver says “Bulldog” to central percussion and box frame.
The rifled bore is round with front sight in half-moon.
The cylinder is grooved and comprises 6 rooms, the calibre was not communicated.
The lock is with rebounding hammer.
The rod swivels on an axis and must be introduced into the rooms to extract the casings from them.
The trigger under oval trigger guard is curved and smooth.
The plates do not seem to me origin nor their central attachment unit.
The left face of the carcass comprises a safety known as “Mauser”.
Punches
The weapon carries the punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG on star in a crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.
Coupled AH and spangled: countermark of the controller post 1877.
R crowned; rifled bore, of use of 1894 to 1968.
Marks
Two marks (interlaced JB) struck the weapon belong to the General Manufactory of firearms Joseph BERTRAND street of Bassenge, 39 in LIEGE then since 1924 street Etienne Soubre, 3 in Liege.
1218: it is about a serial number.
C crowned on the barrel is an unknown mark resisting the identification for a long time. Some think that it would be about a mark of foundry but nothing is certain. Opinion with the scholars!
GG
Bertrand Joseph
Rue de Bassenge, 39 – Liège
1890-1914
BERTRAND by Hogg
Continental (other name of "Le Rapide")/ Le rapide/Le novo/Lincoln/ Velodog
1890-1914
One of the private Belgian companies which manufactured guns of the most beautiful aspect. Bertrand manufactured automatic guns, but the Liege occupation by the Germans, in 1914, forced the factory to close its doors definitively.
Continental.
Name also used by other manufacturers. It was the most important Bertrand automatic gun , a 6,35 mm with a moving breech bolt which was slightly different from its predecessor, the model "le Rapide". The barrel and the frame are cast in only one piece, while the locking of the breech bolt is a distinct operation and actuated by a spring inserted in a cylinder above the barrel. The gun carries the mark "Continental" on the slide, but the grips are those of the model "Le Rapide".
Le Novo.
Lincoln.
They were guns without any particular characteristics Caliber 6,35 mm or .320, of the"Vélo-Dog" type, very similar in their aspect to similar products provided by many other Belgian manufacturers (who often used the same one names); only the Bertrand monogram "JB" reproduced on the grips made it possible to identify them.
Le rapide.
Caliber 6,35 mm, almost identical to the "Continental" mentioned above, besides some modifications concerning the assembly of the trigger. The slide is marked "Manre Grl d' Armes et Munitions Cal Browning 6,35 Le Rapide", while the gripss carry the impression "Le Rapide" and monogram "JB".
