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
Galand "De Guerre"
Here is another quite rare revolver, there is mention of it on your site, but I have never before seen a picture of one of these even less held one in my hand. I believe this is the one referred in the Galand section of your site (third paragraph) as the "second type" with the ability to open the left side-plate.
What was interesting is that when I first purchased the revolver and had no idea what it was I tried to open the loading gate on the right side and had the same experience as the French Commission that rejected the revolver, it was too small and too difficult to get my fingers around for opening (which I finally did with some difficulty). Also this revolver was originally engraved, the engraving now quite diminished by the overall surface pitting.
My questions:
Is this considered a Galand 1872 Ordinance Revolver (Galand de Guerre), Second Type? or is there another designation for this particular revolver?
There is a mark on the lower part of the recoil shield on the left side that is somewhat clear, but I cannot make it out (photo L).
Would the marks of J or AD on the frame have any significance or would they just be shop marks?
Approximately what year would this have been manufactured?
Would the crown over N on the right of the barrel be a Belgian mark? In that case, did Galand have this revolver manufactured in Belgium? I could find no Liege proof.
Here is my information:
French Galand Model 1872 Ordinance Revolver (Galand de Guerre) Second Type?
Caliber: 12mm Galand thick rim
Serial Nº: 110 (the number 26 is stamped on several parts, evidently an assembly number)
Dimensions: barrel 5-11/16 inches (144mm), overall length 10-5/8 inches (270mm)
Mechanical details: this does use the Galand lock, similar to the Austrian Model 1898 Revolver, but there are three! springs in the mechanism. This revolver has the ingenious system of a turning lever on the lower front of the grip that locks into two positions; one for keeping the revolver closed, the other for removing first the grip assembly then the left side plate. On the left of the frame is a spring-loaded push lever that allows the center post to be removed. The extraction assembly looks like the Chamelot-Delvigne system to me, but perhaps it is also a Galand invention.
Marks:
on the left of the action: 110
on several parts: 26
on the left side of the recoil plate: a deep stamp with perhaps an L or G?
on the right of the barrel: crown/N (looks like the Belgian 1853-1877 inspection mark)
on the left of the frame under the grip: J
on the right of the frame under the grip: AD
Richard
The weapon
You describe perfectly your weapon which is a revolver of war GALAND, models long, in civil version, I will thus not return there.
Punches
Only the punch N crowned (of use of 1853 to 1877) appears on this weapon, it acts of the countermark of a controller of the proofhouse of LIEGE what indicates with certainty the origin of the weapon. The second lawful punch of Liège was an oval containing letters ELG on star (1846/1893). It probably disappeared under rust.
Date of manufacture:
This punch indicates a manufacture between 1872 (date of the patent) and 1877 (expiry of the punch)
The manufacturer:
According to TAYLERSON, Charles François GALAND was an arms manufacturer of Liège. We think it French for our part. It is deceased in 1900 and was replaced with the businesses by his son Rene GALAND. To how will see it you on the heading of letter attached, it had activities in PARIS, LIEGE and BIRMINGHAM! It had a workshop street Vivegnis n° 242 and 288 then rue de la Loi n° 7 in Liege.
The figure: 26 on several parts is most probably a serial number.
I don’t have any assumption for figure 110.
With regard to initial AD and J, they are with my direction marks subcontractors. They were very numerous in Liege and were unfortunately never indexed.
Appendices
a) Heading of a letter GALAND
b) Cover of a catalogue Rene GALAND in LIEGE.
c) technical drawing of the revolver of war.
d) drawing of the grip invented by Galand.
GG
