Some of the most beautiful work of this craftsman are in this book “The Francotte Dynasty”.
For more detail see: The Francotte Dynasty
MARTINY-FRANCOTTE
Calibre .22L
MARTINY-FRANCOTTE
This
part is a rare weapon, it's pity that it is not in very good conditon but
perhaps that a restoration in the respect of its age made by a professional
could return a better aspect to him!?
This
weapon is not the system Martini-Henri, but the system Martini-Francotte, it is
Francotte which modified the system Martini, very complicated to dismount, while
making it very simple to dismount and to clean!
The
mention “Machine made by A. Francotte &Cie” means that it is one of the first
weapons which was manufactured with the machine, and not manually. That made it
possible Francotte to manufacture weapons whose parts were interchangeable,
which did not exist at the time.
This
weapon was manufactured at the end of the 19th century.
The
marking "Fait pour MR. ED. Wenig St. Petersburg" means “Made for Mister ED.
Wenig St Petersburg”. It is thus an order this people (Perhaps a gunsmith).
Here is
herewith the whole of the plans and explanation of this weapon.
MARTINY-FRANCOTTE
.22-caliber rifle.
Martiny
Francotte system.
A marvel
MARTINY-FRANCOTTE
Here is a rifle of shooting of the family of the rifles Martini FRANCOTTE, with heavy barrel, rest-finger on the trigger guard, beautiful rest-head, hook probably serving also as counterweight.
The calibre is unfortunately not specified. As there
are graduations from 1 to 16 on the barrel, it could be that it is about a rifle
for the shooting at long distance.
The
markings
ELG on
star in crowned oval: acceptance between 1893 and 1968
R
crowned: indicates that the barrel is rifled; between 1894 and 1968
W under
star: countermark of controller between 1877 and 1968
Perron:
inspection since 1853
Lion on
PV: test with the powder without smoke between 1898 and 1968
MP :
unidentified
AF crowned patent : more than probably the mark of the
house Auguste FRANCOTTE.
GP with the efficient and appreciated help of MD.
Auguste Francotte
The riffle MARTINY-FRANCOTTE
Martiny-Francotte rifle is system of the English weapon Martiny-Henry, improved by Auguste Francotte, manufacturer of weapons in Liege.
This rifle Martiny system is itself an improvement of the weapon of Peabody, it was adopted, initially by the English government for its army, then by Turkey and Romania; it is known under the name of Martiny-Henry rifle.
Martiny is the inventor of the meeting of the mobile mechanism of cylinder head, of extraction and percussion, these mechanisms functioning together by means of the same lever. All the various bodies of which this mechanism is composed are assembled separately on and between the walls of the box of cylinder head, joining together the gun and the stick.
Henry is the inventor of the stripe, and it is for that that its name was joined to that of Martiny, to name the weapon joining together the two inventions.
The only serious disadvantage of this excellent rifle is the difficulty, not to say impossibility, for the gunner, to dismount the mechanism, either to clean it and lubricate it, or for any other fortuitous.
The improvement due to the invention of Auguste Francotte counters this serious defect completely. It consists of what the whole mechanism of the mobile carcass, the turntable and the extractor is adjusted on a mounting being embedded in the box and maintained in place by only one pin. By withdrawing this pin or pins, one removes box the whole mechanism of only one part, which makes it possible to clean the gun without deteriorating the mechanism.
GG
(extracted on the note on rifle Martiny-Francotte - Liege 1884)
Auguste Francotte – Laurent Lochet Habran
It is here about a rifle MARTINY-HENRY unquestionably manufactured by FRANCOTTE Auguste in Liege as indicates it mark crowned AF and “Eagle with the open wings with letters AG”.
This last mark was deposited by the 27.12.1904 unless it is not about a prolongation of validity.
Other interesting marking is LLH on the barrel which is the mark of a manufacturer of barrels of rifles Laurent LOCHET-HABRAN of Liege Jupille, trade mark or prolonged the 04.02.1904.
Finally the weapon carries the punches of the proofhouse of Liege following:
Spangled ELG in a crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.
EL in cursive letters: provisional test of 1852 to our days.
Peron: inspection post 1853.
Spangled AE: countermark of the controller post 1877.
11,3 - 11,4: calibre in mm, of use of 1889 to our days.
4043: should be a job number struck by FRANCOTTE.
In short, this weapon does not correspond completely to mechanism MARTINY re-examined and corrected by FRANCOTTE. Several parts are different such as for example mounting from trigger guard, the mobile breech and the trigger.
It is rather difficult to compare two weapons appreciably but not completely identical without holding them in hand.
To the present forming are joined two sketches of the parts of the mechanism of the MARTINY-FRANCOTTE perhaps will be able you to make the comparison yourself.
GG
Martiny Francotte contract Persian
On sale at "Hallantique"
Photos Littlegun
