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
Chaineux Joseph
Here is one of the early Chaineux revolvers which has the hanging extractor mechanism.
This turned out to be a problem because the extractor would move around and catch in the holster making it impossible to extract the gun.
So a change was made in the mechanism, and all later Chaineux revolvers have the guided extractor mechanism (Bibliography: pages 77-78, 'The Lefaucheux Revolver and Its Use in Argentina', vol 2, by Adolfo Martinez, A y H Ediciones, Buenos Aires, 2000)*.
Very few Chaineux pinfire revolvers can be found today, and the early model is extremely difficult to find.
This particular revolver is a bit worn and has some surface pitting, the
original grips are worn down and have small chips knocked out at the top. But
all the parts are present. Original intricate engraving is still seen over most
of the action and cylinder and parts of the barrel assembly. The action works
well both DA and SA. The bore shows clear, heavy rifling with some minor pitting
towards the front. On the left of the barrel assembly it reads: J. CHAINEUX,
BREVETE. On the right side of the barrel is a crown over G. On the side of the
cylinder is the pre-1893 Liege proof mark. On the frame under the left grip is
marked PC, perhaps the shop that actually made the revolver
*Note: I
translated the name of Martinez's book to English for the description, in
Spanish it reads: "El Revolver Lefaucheux, Su Uso en la Argentina, Volumen 2,
Los Competidores de Lefaucheux".
Richard Young
There were three gunsmiths with that name at Liège:
1. Joseph-Lambert Chaineux, active from 1864 to 1884. Has been granted 2 patents on revolvers.
2. Joseph Chaineux of Wandre. Was granted 5 patents between 1856 and 1864 for improvements on revolvers.
3. P. Chaineux of Cheratte: was granted a patent in 1859 for a closing system for revolvers.
This revolver was definately manufactured by one of the two first mentioned above. The PC on the grip frame is probably the mark of the shop that produced the frame.
Marcel
Chaineux J.
Total length with blade folded: 270
blade
unfolded: 405
barrel
length: 145
width
blade at the end of the barrel: 20
barrel
has 12 shots in one row, in 9mm pinfire
Cylinder
diameter: 56
The blade unfolds manually and the whole is of an exceptional rigidity. To close it, press the button on the left side of the blade with force. This one presses on a very powerful spring located on the other side, clearly visible on the pictures.
MARKINGS
On one of
the 12 hollows of the cylinder = Chaineux XXur Bté
On the
thunder of the barrel, and in 2 places on the blade, fixed part and folding
part, the N° in large characters =1218
On the
carcass of handle hidden by the plate, left side close to the pommel, I believe
to read: AC L-71
V under
crown on the turn of the cylinder and on the hexagonal thunder of the barrel
ELG on
star in oval on hexagonal part of the thunder
A punch
on the round part of the barrel, I believe to guess a M but there are 2 small
lines on both sides.
Pierre
J.Chaineux
Belgian pinfire revolver caliber 9 mm, length 30 cm, by J.Chaineux Brevete
Many thanks to “BOLKANTIQUES” for the pictures.
Chaineux
Six shot Pinfire Peperbox
Loading through a side gate and unloading using the rod placed in the handle.
Folding trigger and fluted barrel .
The mark J.C is not specifically known to me; the Who’s Who informs us:
CHAINEUX Joseph Lambert, registered as gun manufacturer with the proof house Liege from 1864 to 1884 and living¨26 Place des Carmes, in Liege. In 1863/64, he registered two patents for a system of pistol-revolver.
CHAINEUX Joseph de Wandre, regsiters from 1858 to 1864, five patents for improvements for the breech loading pistol-revolver and a system of pistol-revolver and its improvements.
Not having seen the patents, it is of course impossible for me to be 100%. affirmative
Other JC are mentioned in the Who’s Who, but no detail comes to support our investigations.
GG
Photos Littlegun
A French firm manufactures the necessary to reload this type of ammunition.
Look at here: H & C Collection
Chaineux
The characteristic of the 1st patent (and following in 1858, 1859, 1863 and 1864 with Jontgen) of Chaineux, Jean-Jules, arquebusier from Wandre, for a pinfire revolver the cylinder of which (10 to 12 chambers, but specimens with 30 rooms also exist ) was an hollowed out (by an annular space) cylinder center with only a tube left for the cylinder pin.
It seems to be the case here.
Marking "SM" not yet identified.
We can speak of a "system Chaineux"
Chaineux is also the inventor of the double barrelled revolver with a cylinder with double row of staggered chambers on two concentric crowns of different diameter.
Photographs friendly authorized by BARSALOW AUCTIONS FAIR HAVEN VT USA
