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
FORGERON Alphonse
Forgeron
rifle bought in Slovakia!
FORGERON Alphonse
Here is a beautiful shotgun juxtaposed with locks by
Alphonse
Forgeron dating from 1930, Barrels made in
England, beautiful engravings unfortunately not signed.
The
chambers, originally in calibre 12/65, were later lengthened to 70 mm (it seems
without going back to the proofhouse).
The
punches
AC or FC
spangled: countermark of a controller, in use from 1877 to 1968;
Peron:
inspection by the Liège proofhouse;
Lion on
PV: smoke-free powder proof, in use from 1898 to 1968;
N in a
shield : not identified ;
1 Kg385 :
weight of the barrel, in use since 1924 ;
JSE in
elongated oval: not identified;
Annual
Letter "i" of 1930;
Bow and arrow in hexagon : unidentified ; this mark
has already been seen on a rifle of the house
Pirotte et Fils.
ELG on a
star in a crowned oval: accepted by the proofhouse of Liège, in use from 1893 to
1968;
12-65 in
coated omega: nominal caliber and length of the casing, in use since 1924;
Andrew WS
Nickel Toledo Steel Works Sheffield: a steelmaker from Sheffield.
Alphonse
Forgeron,
rue Adolphe Borgnet, 5 then 4 in Liège, was registered at the proofhouse between
1880 and 1932 , when his activities were taken over by
Joseph
Boulanger. He filed two patents and a
trademark (October 18, 1902) which does not appear on this rifle.
GP with the help of HPH.
FORGERON Alphonse
It is a central percussion shotgun with two juxtaposed barrels. The system is of
type “hammerless” with opening “top lever”. The locks are called “forward” and
are engraved with arabesque as well as the Forgeron brand. Although not
completely visible, the stock seems to me to be shaped “in the English way”.
The weapon bears the statutory hallmarks of the Liège proofhouse, namely:
ELG* in a crowned oval: definitive acceptance after 1893.
AB*: Controller’s countermark, in use from 1877 to 1968.
PV surmounted by a stylized lion: smokeless powder proof,
in use from 1898 to 1968.
16-65 in an omega: nominal caliber and length of the socket, in use from
1924 to the present day.
Letter
"g" in lowercase:
Annual letter of 1928.
CHOKE 17. 0 and 16. 3 (if well read?): choked barrels, calibrated with 22 cm
from the breech. In use from 1924 to 1968.
The weapon also bears the following markings:
6733 : serial number.
Made for Mr. VOUZEBAUD
:
Mr. Vouzeloud was a gunsmith in Brou (Eure-et-Loire) around 1931-1965 according
to Jarlier-Buigné. So probably a little earlier since the rifle dates back to
1928.
A. Forgeron: Liège manufacturer
Forgeron Alphonse,
rue Adolphe Borgnet, 5 in Liège. He was registered on the Liège proofhouse from
1880 to 1932. The company was taken over in 1932 by
Boulanger
Joseph, rue St Léonard, 492/494.
ACIER COMPRIMé CAP – Tête d’aigle
:
Cap Henri Joseph
was a manufacturer of barrels of rifles, in Liege street Jonruelle, 62. He was
the holder of 4 patents for inventions.
GG
Forgeron Alphonse
Forgeron Alphonse
Forgeron Alphonse
It is
about a shotgun to unrifled bores and juxtaposed of gauge 16. The lock is of
type hammerless (hidden hammer), the key of opening is of type “Top Lever” and
safety with slide right behind is of type GALAND. Locks are “ahead” and engraved
“with bouquets”. The stick out of wooden of walnut (seen partial) should be
worked with English (without handle pistol!).
The
weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of LIEGE, namely:
ELG*
in a crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.
Peron:
inspection, of use of 1853 to our days.
P*:
countermark of the controller, of use of 1877 to 1968.
16-65 in
the letter omega:
gauge nominal and length of casing, of use of 1924 to our days.
Letter
“g” into tiny:
yearly letter of 1928 (Year of manufacture of
your gun).
PV
surmounted of a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke, of use of 1898 to 1968.
1KG265:
weight of the barrel which can draw from the powders without fume (weapons
smooth) except for the gram. In use of 1924 to 1968.
The
weapon also carries punches of Hungarian tests, namely:
1
escutcheon carrying two undulated lines, surmounted letter R with the dates
03.88 and the other 76. These two punches indicate that the weapon has undergoes
a second test after transformation or repair.
Lastly,
the weapon carries the following marks:
Mark representing a blacksmith in front of his anvil:
mark of Alphonse FORGERON
(BLACKSMITH in English) (B.E. 1880/1932) street Adolphe Borgnet, 5 then 4 in
LIEGE. It is the agent of two Belgian patents, in 1902 for a safety for rifles
hammerless and in 1910 for a shotgun to single trigger. He also deposits his
trademark in 1902.
ROYAL
COMPRESSED STEEL: grade of steel having been used for manufacture of the
barrels. I am unaware of if this mark belongs to FORGERON (no trace?) or with
the manufacturer of barrels of rifles?
In
appendix:
- a
heading FORGERON.
- mark
GORGERON.
GG
Forgeron Alphonse
Alphonse FORGERON
Shotgun hammerless with folding.
The gauge is 12/70.
The named weapon “LE SECUR” has two “levers” or trigger without trigger guard as well as a safety behind the key “Top lever”.
Without the patent, I am unaware of how functions this system exactly, the question remains to deepen!
Punches
They are the lawful punches of the bench of tests of Liege, namely:
ELG on star in a crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.
Peron: inspection, of use of 1853 to our days.
AC coupled and spangled: countermark of the controller post 1877.
PV surmounted of a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke, of use of 1898 to 1968.
12-70 in an omega: gauge nominal and length of casing, of use of 1924 to our days.
1Kg313: weight of the barrel which can draw from the powders without smoke (weapons smooth) except for the gram. In use of 1924 to our days.
Choke 18.3: choke barrels: gauged to 22 cm of the breech. In use of 1924 to 1968.
Letter “i” tiny: yearly letter of 1930.
Marks
ACIER COMPRIME CAP (head of eagle): they are the manufacturer of barrels of rifles, CAP Henri Joseph, street Jonruelle, 62 in LIEGE. It deposited 4 patents of 1904 to 1920.
A. FORGERON LIEGE: it is about the manufacturer of the weapon Alphonse FORGERON street A. Borgnet 4 in LIEGE. It was registered with the proofhouse of Liege of 1880 to 1932. It deposited two patents in Belgium, one in 1902 for a safety for rifles hammerless and the other in 1910 for a shotgun to single trigger.
3316: serial number.
LE SECUR: it is probably about the name given to this special weapon, it does not appear in the two catalogues FORGERON which I have. The weapon was probably manufactured at the request of inventor J.M.B remaining to be identified.
Patent JMB 688.740: I did not find any trace of this patent in Belgium. In France perhaps??
Fact for PALLARD St LOUIS MARSEILLES: without comment.
GG
Forgeron Alphonse
Forgeron Alphonse
Founded in the 1867 (according to publicity) house Alphonse Forgereon had his seat in LIEGE Rue Saint Léonard, 492 - 494 after having passed successively Rue Adolphe Borgnet 1,5-7 and Rue Vigneron 7.
It was registered with the bench of test of Liege of 1880 to 1932.
Its principal activity was the manufacture of the weapons of hunting of luxury (rifles and rifles). Alphonse Forgeron would have been one of the first arms manufacturers to cut out metal on the side of the rockers to embed the wood of stick there.
This process was named "the Forgeron notching" (Mr. FORISSIER in "the arms manufacturers of St Etienne" in catalogues)
The house used the mark “Le Forgeron” deposited the 18.10.1902. This mark was also used by the successors J Boulanger in 1932 and Jacques PIROTTE & Fils, 45 Rue SAINT LAURENT in 1963.
GG
Alphonse Forgeron
It is about a shotgun to unrifled bores and juxtaposed gauges 12 with central percussion of them.
Locks hammerless, with key top lever, are nicely engraved “with bouquet” without no signature of engraver being however visible.
The safety of the type GREENER is placed left side.
The stock in walnut is cut “English” style.
The weapon carries various markings and punches detailed below:
Punches
They are punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG on star in an oval under crown: acceptance post 1893.
EL in English letters: provisional test, of use of 1852 to our days.
M under star: countermark of the controller post 1877.
PV under a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke, of use of 1898 to 1968.
12-70 in an omega lying: gauge nominal and length of casing, of use of 1924 to our days.
1Kg 325: weight of the barrel which can draw from the powders without smoke (weapons smooth) except for the gram
CHOKE 18.4 - 18.2: chokes barrels: calibre to 22 cm of the breech. In use of 1924 to 1968.
Letter o: yearly letter of 1936.
Markings
NICKEL CAPE COMPOUND: grade of steel used by Jean FALLA.
JF under crown: mark of the manufacturer of barrels of rifles Jean FALLA, 35 street New Bonne in LIEGE (see site).
Triangular logo with the corners rounded with letters NCC: mark Jean Falla.
Mark coupled JF: mark Jean Falla.
The manufacturer of this weapon according to the mark “FORGERON” struck the weapon, is the manufacturer of weapons FORGERON Alphonse street Adolphe Borgnet, 1-5 in Liege.
He deposited this mark the 18.10.1902
He was registered with the proofhouse of Liège of 1880 to 1932. He is also the agent of two Belgian patents in 1902 and 1910.
GG
