Some of the most beautiful work of this craftsman are in this book “The Francotte Dynasty”.
For more detail see: The Francotte Dynasty
Auguste FRANCOTTE - COUNET
This is an early
FRANCOTTE
revolver made with the Philippe Counet patent (1871) opening system. The grips
open to the rear by pressing the buttom at the very bottom of the frame. The
side panel then rotates downward and one can see all of the inner parts of the
action. The cylinder can be freed by hand turning the screw on the left under
under the barrel. The revolver was made so that the inner parts could be
accessed for cleaning and inspection without the need of tools. It also has a
raised ring on the rear of the cylinder, a
FRANCOTTE
patented feature known as a strengthening crown. The gun has original factory
engraving and the grips are made of ivory.
The
revolver is chambered for the .450 Adams or .450 Revolver cartridge
The
barrel measures 5-7/8 inches (150mm)
Overall
length is 10-5/8 inches (270mm)
Marks:
On top of the bridge:
Broqua &
Scholberg à Montevideo
On the
side of the cylinder: the pre-1894 Liege proof, crown over U
On the
left rear of the barrel: marks that are hard to read
On the
left of the action, under the barrel: 450
On the frame under the right grip:
FRANCOTTE
mark -
double swords, double crowns, double AF,
serial #1814
Richard
Auguste FRANCOTTE - COUNET
Top-break type revolver. The opening is actuated by pressing a key on the rear left side of the frame.
Cylinder and
frame are engraved with Birmingham roll-motifs. The grip plates are made of bone
and attached by a central screw.
Full-metal butt with a pierced pivot for a lainyard ring.
"AF" refers to woldwide renown
gunmaker
Auguste FRANCOTTE.
"COUNET
Bté" in a diamond
belongs to the prolific Liège inventor Philippe COUNET (16 patents between 1871
and 1901).
COUNET
has been working together with various other gunmakers such as
JC Bierhoff,
M. Diet,
D. Levaux-Stas;
he has also been working for Auguste FRANCOTTE,
as attested by the markings on the gun.
We think the revolver was manufactured by
FRANCOTTE,
who paid
COUNET some
royalties for the use of his patents and marked the revolver accordingly.
Auguste FRANCOTTE - COUNET
5 shots, calibre .577
Auguste FRANCOTTE - COUNET
Mark AF
crowned
present on your weapon is well a trademark of the company
Auguste
FRANCOTTE street Holy Mont Martin, 51 in
This
mark was declared the 31.12.1880 but it is perhaps about a renewal. I don’t have
any means to be certain for it if not that this company exists since 1810!
Besides
this perfectly identifiable mark, there is also the job number 2118. It does not
bring anything to us since which we don’t have the lists of manufacture.
I notice
also 2 rather small marks on the cylinder and two others on the barrel.
Unfortunately, they are not readable and even less with the enlarging. I’m
certain that they are not of Liège.
Marking “Arrow” that one finds known the barrel and
about the screw of disassembling of this one is the mark of the inventor, holder
of the patent of this weapon
COUNET Philippe.
Crowned
AF
indicates to my direction that it is about a manufacture
Auguste
FRANCOTTE,
COUNET
did not have the infrastructures necessary to the large production!
Attached patent
COUNET
on the system of rocker.
I join to the present a page of a catalogue
Auguste
FRANCOTTE of 1900 showing a weapon more or
less similar.
GG
