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
Decortis Gilles
Here is a very curious rifle
for military use, manufactured in Liège, more than likely by Gilles Decortis
since its name appears literally. Dimensions not known, wide-striped barrel of
caliber not reported, bayonet stud. Loading from the rear.
The
percussion must be done through the hammer located in the species of large
bridge located in front of the “real” bridge.
At first, we thought the markings were Dutch, but according to information from Maarten Willemsen, from the Dutch Army Museum, this is one of many rifles tried by the Norwegian Army in the middle of the 19th century.
As a Belgian mark, we see the classic ELG on a star in oval, for acceptance between 1846 and 1893.
Gilles Decortis de Cheratte filed eight patents between 1851 and 1875, but none related to the gun in question. If that had been the case, we would also have seen the words "Patented", so he is the manufacturer of this interesting rifle.
The website communicated by Maarten Willemsen mentions
in particular the production of (test) rifles for Norway by the company
Auguste
Francotte, but it seems to me that the
rifle presented here is more recent and very similar to the 1855 model.
http://norskevaapen.no/?p=496
GP with the help of Maarten Willemsen.
Another source, Norwegian and very knowledgeable,
tells us that all the weapons in this series called "Kamerlader" were ordered
from Francotte
but that
Francotte has
subcontracted some parts to others, including
Decortis.
Here's what he writes:
Translation summary on the Kammerlader books:
Model 1842
The first contact with Liege was done by the director of the Norwegian Kongsberg arms factory. His name was Meyn. He contacted merchant Schreiner in November 1841 to use him as an agent in Liege. Schreiner recommended the renowned Auguste Francotte & Cie. The summer 1842 Captain Scheel went down to Liege to negotiate. Between 1843 and 1844 AF made 100 rifles.
Model 1846
The new model was the 1846. It
was ordered 1500 from
Francotte. This
model was made between 1846 and 1847.
A
lot of these are also marked with
G. Decortis (if
im right he was a barrel maker in Liege).
The model 1849
A new order for 2000 of the model 1849 was made at the
Francotte factory around 1850-1853.
The Swedish navy had a contract with P. J. Malherbe for some percussion rifles. And they also made about 500 “kammerlader” type guns for the Swedish navy.
In 1855
almost all the Norwegian “Kammerlader”rifles was upgraded from the use of round
to pointed projectiles. All got new sights and
a bras screw on the stock for eye placement.
So
models from
A. Francotte has
now the Norwegian designation:
Model 1842/55
Model 1846/55
Model 1849/55
Decortis Gilles
Here is a long weapon belonging
to the Remington Rolling Block system "put in Liège sauce".
I assume the lever on the right is for disassembling the weapon into two
pieces.
Peron
: inspection since 1853
S under
star
: controller's countermark between 1877 and 1968
FDC
crossed by an arrow to the right
: maybe François Dumoulin
(active since 1870 according to a French source) or
François
Dumoulin et Cie, but I have serious doubts
because :
1° according to the same French source, the mark of
François Dumoulin
registered in 1881 is an arrow to the right crossing the letters DDF
(and thus not FDC as here);
2° the company
François
Dumoulin et Cie was registered on the
proofhouse from 1908 to 1968, which does not correspond with the following
marking:
GD in English letters: in principle Gilles Decortis de Cheratte, who filed eight patents between 1851 and 1875, none relating to the device in question. Jarlier/Buigné places its period of activity between 1856 and 1887.
So
nothing is certain, just the opposite.
GP with HPH and MD
Decortis Gilles
Total length 313 mm
Gun length 153 mm
Cal 9 mm percussion
Barrel with 6 rooms
Markings:
In two places, on the curvature of the back of the
grips and on the barrel, the inscription “Decortis
breveté”, arranged in oval form.
Punch Y
under the crown.
No
markings on either the skelet of the grips or the wood of the plates.
How it
works:
The
barrel is fixed to the axis of the cylinder by a long, bent lever that is
screwed in several turns.
In the
closed position, the lever completes its travel by positioning itself under the
cylinder, the elbow of the lever following the curve of the trigger guard.
On the
carcass, behind the cylinder, there is a notch of sight.
The
hammer is deported to the right of this notch of view and comes to strike the
chimney obliquely.
It works
only in single action with 2 arming notches.
The
cylinder has a curious form of diabolo.
The tamper is placed under the barrel, at its end it is held to the barrel by a small spring-loaded bolt. The lever travel is horizontal, it swivels to the left.
Pierre A.
Gilles Decortis
The weapon
Marked G. Decortis on each chamber of the cylinder.
An extraordinary mechanism!!
Pulling the small round handle upwards and rearwards causes the breech to open in one of the chambers, and allows the cylinder to turn freely. Closing the mechanism causes the whole system, which includes an internal firepin, to push the ammunition home into the chamber that is in alignment with the barrel.
A small loading gate is located ahead of the cylinder.
The external hammer does not strike anything at all and has no other function than cocking an internal hammer similar to those found in automatic pistols.
Central fire, overall length 110 cm, barrel length 62 cm, bore diameter 13.3 mm
Alain
The manufacturer
Made by Gilles DECORTIS, gunmaker at Cheratte
He applied for 8 patents between 1851 and 1875, in particular for a breechloading needle rifle and its modifications, as well as a luxury rifle system and a military model.
DE BYLAND (if i red correctly) unknown to me (Belgian? I do not believe)
Could Michel tell us more on basis of the patents he has on hand ?
GG
I start in the disorder:
- I know the count Alexandre de Bylandt, of Chastre-Villeroux (commune of St-Géry) in the province of Brabant
He applied for a number of patents (13 in total) between 1857 and 1895. In my opinion, he was not just "a" gunmaker, but I lack more details about his life. I've got only a copy of one of his patents, however without any illustrations.
Michel
Many thanks to the "ROYAL ARMY MUSEUM" Bruxelles and especially the section "ARMES PORTATIVE".
(N° identification : F127/175sup Collection of "Comte de Ribaucourt")
Photos Littlegun
Decortis
This is probably a pocket gun of the REMINGTON Rolling-block type .
However I have some reservation since I have examined the gun only on photographs.
STAMPS
We have the Liege Proof House stamps, i.e:
STAR/ ELG in a crowned oval: acceptance - used 1846 to 1893.
STAR/Z : countermark of the controller - used of 1877 to 1968.
The manufacturer
It's not the first time that I see this mark CROWN/JJ ,but without being able to identify it.
The gun having been manufactured between 1877 and 1893, we have several possibilities :
- JACQUEMART J & Son mentioned by the registration of a patent in 1869.
- JAMAR J.J.B. 16,Boulevard d' Avroy, in Liege who registered 7 patents from 1888 to 1892.
- JAMAR-SCHMIDTS Jean Henri, 5 rue Jolivet, in Liege (Proof House 1874/1895)
- JASPAR J from Liege, 6 patents from 1861 to 1867.
- JULIEN Joseph, 5 patents from 1865 to 1876.
As you can see the range of possibilities is very broad and the marks of these above arms manufacturers, provided they had one , are not known for us.
The frame also bears a mark which could be that of DECORTIS, but it remains to be proven.
Finally even while being certain of this name, it will still be necessary to choose between several DECORTIS arms manufacturers who worked at the same time :
DECORTIS J Fils (PH-1877/1884)
DECORTIS Adolphe 5 rue d' Omalius, 5in Liege - 7 patents 1876 to 1904.
DECORTIS François from Sarolay-Argenteau. 4 patents 1863 to 1866.
DECORTIS Gilles from Cheratte.8 patents 1851 to 1875.
DECORTIS-FRAIKIN Gustave from Cheratte.6 patents 1881 to 1891.
DECORTIS Henri from Liege, 1 patent in 1857.
DECORTIS J from Argenteau, a patent in 1860.
There too the choice is difficult in the absence of more information.
GG
