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 Charles François
Here we have a very attractive small pocket revolver. This example features a luxurious finish, with fine engraving, a dovetail-mounted front sight, and ivory grips. The weapon is very compact thanks to its folding trigger. The grip has a pronounced swell that stabilizes the hold, and the cylinder opens with a side-lever mechanism.
The manufacturer's markings are characteristic of the French gunmaker Charles-François Galand (1832-1900), who had workshops in Liège. A particularly inventive craftsman, Galand marketed several types of handguns, especially revolvers. His weapons were well-designed, reliable, and expertly made, and the following document shows how proud his company was of them!
Caption: excerpt from a "Galand Guide," a kind of almanac-catalog that the gunmaker published regularly in the second half of the 19th century.
The website contains a wealth of information about this craftsman.
The revolver shown here is his "Mignon" model, launched in the 1870s to enter the very active pocket pistol market of that era. Intended primarily for female customers, it was most often chambered in .22 caliber. The following document shows its description in a "Galand Guide."
Other examples of this Galand "Mignon" model are featured on the website.
Markings:
Galand Paris, left side of the frame.
305, probably the serial number, on the right grip plate.
Number 7, on the front of the cylinder and the frame (when the barrel is open), possibly a production marking? ELG within an oval-shaped star, on the rear of the cylinder; proof mark used from September 8, 1846 to July 11, 1893.
Letter I (or T?) surmounted by a crown, on the rear of the cylinder; inspector's mark used from December 30, 1853 to January 26, 1877.
In conclusion, this is a "Mignon"
revolver, a deluxe model in small caliber (probably .22 short), manufactured in
Liège by Charles-François Galand between 1870 and 1877.
Chris, HPH
GALAND Charles François
Here is what was once called a "lady's weapon", a
revolver "Le Mignon" by
Charles GALAND
from Liége who emigrated to Paris. Launched in the 1870s, it came in several
gauges and in at least two forms, I mean with a very (like this one) or slightly
pronounced busc. We regularly see them on the web, and often even with a leather
case, but the specialized literature is not very extensive about them (except
for an article in an issue of L’Amateur d’Armes No. 71 of 1987).
Another
copy is already below, but not under the name "Le Mignon".
This
specimen is a six-stroke, calibre not specified. Foldable trigger. Notice the
rise on roundtail... very useful on such a revolver...
The
punches
U under
crown on the barrel: countermark of a controller, in use from 1853 to 1877; we
also see U on the barrel: mystery;
ELG on
star in oval: it is “wrongly” placed so that you can’t see if it has a crown or
not, but in principle, it doesn’t have one since the controller’s stamp dates
from before January 26, 1877. It is known that the crowned ELG began to be used
on July 11, 1893, while the crownless ELG in question was used from September 8,
1846.
You can
also see the number 5 on the barrel and on the handle.
And of course on the left side
GALAND PARIS.
GP with the help of Max.
Revolver Galand
It is a pocket revolver with central percussion of mark Galand C. F.
The frame is open and the cylinder with 6 shots (calibre 7mm ?). The short barrel is round with half-moon front sight. The other end, at thunder, is 8-sided. The trigger is curved without trigger guard. The stock consists of two bone plates joined by a central screw. The mechanism of this weapon is breakable, i. e. it can be opened and tilted by means of a lever placed on the right flank.
The
weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG* in a
vertical oval:
final acceptance in use of 1846 to 1893.
T*: countermark of the controller in use from 1877 to 1968.
The
weapon also bears the following markings:
Number 1:
weapon number or other numbering?
Galand
Paris:
mark of the manufacturer of this weapon is
Charles
François Galand in Paris.
He also
owned a workshop in Liege in rue Vivegnis.
GG
Revolver Galand
Cal. 320
Galand revolver with original fitted purse. Left side of the barrel housing displays following markings, "Galand Fabt". House of Liege proof on the cylinder. Barrel length: 3 inch. Beautiful ebony grips with diamond checkering. The cylinder displays a caliber designation, "320".
Pictures friendly authorized by "COLLECTIBLEFIREARMS".
