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
FRANCOTTE - DEPREZ - ROCOUR
This fine 9mm open-frame pinfire revolver is a civilian version of the famous Lefaucheux Model 1858 revolver. Its origins include a constellation of renowned 19th-century gunsmiths. No fewer than four renowned gunsmiths feature on this weapon, whose specific roles are discussed below.
This is a very fine piece, with its beautiful checkered grips (possibly walnut), its trigger guard with finger rest, and its elegantly engraved metal parts (frame and cylinder).
Markings:
Numbers 248, 961, and 2746: serial numbers of the various parts of the weapon?
ELG over an oval star: Proof mark from September 8, 1846, to July 11, 1893.
M under a crown: Inspector's mark from December 30, 1853, to January 26, 1877.
The four gunsmiths whose names or specific markings appear on various pieces are as follows:
Lefaucheux Inv brevet, left side of the frame: Reference to Eugène Lefaucheux, inventor of the pinfire system in the mid-1850s. This mention indicates that the revolver was manufactured under the inventor's official license.
AF under a crown, right side of the frame: Mark of Auguste Francotte, who is likely the manufacturer-assembler of the revolver. This particularly renowned Liège gunsmith is well documented on the website and in a book on the Francotte dynasty:
https://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20francotte/a%20francotte%20fr.htm
J.N (or J.M) Deprez under the right plate: most likely Jean Mathieu Deprez, holder of numerous patents during the 1860s. He may have been the maker of the revolver's frame. This craftsman is well known on the website.
Finally, the cylinder is clearly signed Rocour. One of the team members identified a specific patent for "Lefaucheux" cylinders (barrels), filed by a certain B. Rocour. We can therefore assume that the latter is the maker of the said cylinder. For information on the Rocour gunsmiths, see the website. In conclusion, this 9mm pinfire revolver, a civilian derivative of the Lefaucheux 1858 model, was produced by Auguste Francotte during the 1860s and 1870s, or at least before 1877 according to the control mark. He benefited from the assistance of Rocour and Deprez in the manufacture of the weapon's various components.
Chris, HPH
