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
Coune Pierre
This is an unusual small pocket pistol with a nickel-plated finish, in 6.35mm caliber, featuring clear grips, probably made of bone or horn, and a safety. The 6.35 caliber (or .25 ACP), the result of research by the American John Moses Browning, was developed from 1903-1906. The semi-automatic operation of most pistols using this ammunition, as well as their compactness, quickly won over the European pocket gun market and forced small pinfire or centerfire pocket revolvers like the Bull Dogs into disuse.
A multitude of models exploiting the concept were launched during the first quarter of the 20th century, either by major gunsmiths (Webley, FN, Unique, Clément, Manufrance, Mann, etc.) or by craftsmen from several European nations (Belgium, England, France, Spain), each of whom developed their own interpretations, improvements, and variations. Markings:
Perron: hallmark on the breech, which is the hallmark of the inspector of the B.E. (Valid from June 16, 1853 to the present day).
C under star: hallmark of the inspector, valid from 1877.
PV under lion: proof with smokeless powder (live powder) since 1898 – but in fact since 1903.
ELG over star in a crowned oval: hallmark of the proof house after 1893.
Crowned R: verification mark for rifled handguns: from January 30, 1894 to February 26, 1968.
A hallmark can be seen inside the breech block, which could be the number 7, which would then be a serial number.
In the absence of markings directly identifying the pistol's manufacturer, it has been suggested that it be compared to the Vici model attributed to Henrard and Discry. (See the Henrard and Discry website).
Indeed, the two weapons share similarities in form. The team has numerous patents filed by Jean Henrard for this type of pistol. However, their analysis does not reveal any trace of this specific model. Several differences between the two weapons are evident, in particular the absence of an external slide on the example examined here, as well as its original hinged trigger guard, the function of which, according to the owner, is to lock and unlock the magazine.
However, a member of the team has brought to light a patent filed in Liège by gunsmith Pierre Coune on January 25, 1919 (No. 278900), which describes "an automatic pistol system using gas deflagration with a special safety." Examination of the description of this patent, as well as the included diagrams, unequivocally demonstrates that the pistol examined here is a model manufactured according to this patent. The author's main claims relate to:
1. the bolt and firing pin forming a single piece,
2. the tilting trigger guard, securing both the barrel and the magazine,
3. the safety preventing any firing when the magazine is removed.
These specifications correspond well to the pistol considered here, which can therefore be attributed to Pierre COUNE, gunsmith at 114 rue de Neuville, Cheratte (1906-1919). He filed several patents in Belgium:
- No. 191992 – April 24, 1906 Revolver with a reversing cylinder
- No. 213904 – September 1, 1909 Automatic pistol lock system
- No. 217556 – June 28, 1909 Automatic pistol (patent no. 213904 of February 1, 1909)
- No. 278900 – January 25, 1919 Automatic pistol system using gas deflagration with special safety.
This 6.35 caliber
pistol was therefore manufactured in Liège, after 1919 (patent date) according
to the invention of gunsmith Pierre Coune, and probably during the 1920s. It is
certainly a truly rare piece.
Anecdote:
The 6.35 caliber gained notoriety in French history with the assassination of Gaston Calmette, editor-in-chief of Le Figaro, by Madame Caillaux, wife of the Minister of Industry, whom the newspaper had defamed. A journalist exclaimed at the time: there is no more political debate, there is the 6.35!
On the afternoon of March 16, 1914, Henriette Caillaux, determined to defend her husband's reputation and her own but nervously exhausted after a three-month press campaign, purchased a small Browning Model 1906 for 55 francs from the bourgeois gunsmith Gastinne Rennette. After testing it at the gunsmith's stand, she went to the newspaper and emptied her six-round magazine into Calmette, who would not survive his injuries. In a move that may come as a surprise today, she was acquitted on July 28, 1914.
See: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henriette_Caillaux
Chris, Max, HPH, GP, PHL, MD, Alain
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