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
DUPONT Alexandre
Here is a
very classic two-stroke folding rifle and external hammers system
LECLERCQ
called “poachers” (since it folds completely) that could come from the Liège
house
Alexandre DUPONT.
English butt.
Markings
ELG on
star in crowned oval: acceptance, in use since 1893;
Lion on
PV: powder test, in use from 1898 to 1968;
Perron:
inspection, in use since 1853;
V and Y
under asterisks: countermarks of controllers, in use since 1877;
EL:
provisional proof, in use since 1852;
32-65 in
coated omega: nominal calibre and length of the sleeve, in use since 1924;
Greek
letter gamma: annual letter for 1950.
We also
see what seems to me to be the letters AD in a circle: it could be
Alexandre DUPONT,
rue de la Province 19 in Liège; he was registered at the proofhouse from 1923 to
1961.
GP avec l’aide de HPH
DUPONT Alexandre
Here is a very classic folding rifle called Lecler(c)q like thousands were made in Liège in the 20th century. Caliber 9 mm Flobert, pistol butts.
Normally,
the gun folds completely when the left side button is pressed. Which made it the
perfect weapon for illegal hunting (or the destruction of “harmful”) since
hiding – quite easily...
The
markings
FL 9:
calibre 9 mm Flobert;
S under
star: countermark of a controller, in use since 1877;
Peron:
inspection, in use since 1853;
ELG on
star in crowned oval: accepted by the proofhouse of Liège, in use since 1893.
The letters AD in a circle could be those of Alexandre DUPONT, rue de la Province in Liège, who also filed the trademark "Bijou".
It was active from 1923 to 1961. The company became
the Maison A. DUPONT
at the same address from 1962 to 1970.
GP
DUPONT Alexandre
It is a rifle with
breakage and opening "snake key.
" The
calibre is 9mm Flobert. The
juxtaposed barrels are smooth and of 12 caliber. The closure system has double
latch and lateral lever.
This one,
instead of being placed in front of the bridge, bypasses the plate and ends near
the place occupied by the thumb when the rifle is held, thus making handling
easier.
The
walnut butt is of the "pistol" type.
The
weapon shall bear the prescribed stamps of the proofhouse of Liège, namely:
ELG * in a crowned oval: final acceptance after 1893.
S * and X
*:
countermarks of post 1877 controllers.
EL in
English letters:
provisional test, in use from 1852 to the present day.
Peron:
inspection, in use from 1853 to the present day.
12-65 in
an omega letter:
nominal size and length of the case, in use from June 30, 1924 to today.
1K482:
barrel weight capable of firing smokeless powders (smooth weapons) to the
nearest gram.
PV surmounted by a stylized lion: smokeless powder test. In use from 1898 to 1968.
CHOKE 12.
8:
choked barrels: calibrated to 22 cm from the breech, in use from 1924 to 1968.
Omikron
letter (not certain) This could be the date of manufacture??
The
weapon also bears the following marks:
A. Dupont
Liège Belgique:
this is the brand of the manufacturer
Alexandre
Dupont rue de la Province, 19 in Liège,
registered on the proofhouse from 1923 to 1961.
D Crowned
(so well read?) It could be a barrel of
Delcour
in Nessonvaux.
GG
DUPONT Alexandre
This a double rifle for big game hunting. Break open rifled barrels , in calibre 9,3 X 74R.
The front locks of hammerless type with “Top lever” locking key and “Galand” type sliding safety.
The gun is equipped with a AMPOINT 5000 scope attached to a rectangular base plate. A rear sight folded into the base plate can be opened out when the gun is used without the scope.
Ball ended checkered forearm.
English type Walnut stock with finely checkered forearm.
The metal parts of the gun are covered with engraved hunting scenes with gold inlays. This engraving is signed J. BAERTEN, a Liege engraver working for the FN in the 1970s.
STAMPS
This gun bears the Liege proof house stamps i.e:
STAR/ ELG in a crowned oval: acceptance post 1893.
PV surrounding the Perron in a crowned oval: acceptance for smokeless powders, of use since February 26, 1968.
Perron: inspection post 1853.
STAR/D : counter mark of the controller post 1877.
PV surmounted of a stylized lion: test with smokeless powder, used from 1898 to 1968.
CROWNED R : rifled bores, used from 1894 to 1968.
e: yearly letter for 1966 (year of manufacture).
1Kg695: weight of the barrel for smokeless powders (smooth bores guns) used 1924 until today .
9,3 X 74R - 3000 BAR: calibre and pressure of the rifled bore.
Marks
This gun bears a mark AD in a circle which is assigned to DUPONT Alexandre, 19 rue de la Province, in Liege and who was active from 1923 to 1970.
56 should be the serial number of the gun.
Where it becomes more complicated.......... the mention “Manufacture liégeoise SA” hand engraved thus posterior and which, in no way, must be confused with “Manufacture liégeoise d’armes à feu” 54 rue de Vertbois, in Liege, company bought in 1929 by the ARMAF company.(1929/1972)
The name “Manufacture liégeoise SA” does not appear in “Who’s Who” in Liege arms manufacturing ?
The question thus remains open for this company.
GG
