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
Charles Haaken
We assume this is a Charles Haaken revolver because of the mark with a circled
CH. It still has most of its original nickel finish and is engraved over much of
the revolver. The original grips are made of ebony. It functions like
clock work both SA and DA. It has a folding trigger and a side extractor on the
right side of the barrel assembly.
Barrel 2-1/8 inches (54mm), overall length is 5 Inches (127mm)
MARKS
On the side of the cylinder: a star over Z (1877 Inspector’s mark) and the
pre-1894 Liege proof. On the right side of the barrel assembly: star over Z.
On the left of the action: CH in a circle (mark of Charles Haaken?).
On the frame under the right grip: star? over DG (unknown mark).
On all parts: 21 (assembly number)
With both the 1877 Inspector’s mark and the pre-1894 Liege proof, the revolver
was manufactured sometime between these two years.
Richard
Charles Haaken
This is a central percussion shotgun of Liège origin. The two smooth barrels are
juxtaposed. Hammers are outdoors with break key “top lever. ” I wasn’t able to
determine the type of forearm on these photos. The lock are of the “forward”
type. Walnut wood is shaped in the English way.
The weapon bears the statutory hallmarks of the Liège proofhouse, namely:
ELG * in a crowned oval: definitive acceptance after 1893.
X*: Controller countermark, in use from 1877 to the present day.
Peron: inspection, in use from 1853 to the present day.
LG in English letters: provisional proof, in use from 1852 to the present day.
12C in a diamond: calibre, in use from 1898 to 1924.
CHOKE 1. 72 / ? ? ?: Full reading impossible. It indicates that the barrels are
chocked and calibrated in mm at 22 cm from the breech and at the mouth. Valid
from 25. 02. 1910 to 30. 06. 1924.
The gun also has some pretty hard markings to read and thus identify.
690: numbering of the gun.
LD? : Uncertain readings.
HDD? ? ?: Uncertain reading? ? ?
CH in a circle: this brand is unknown in my documentation, so I searched by
logic.
Usually, the Liège armourers put the first name before the surname, the only
possibility in this case “would be”
Charles Haaken (1859/1898) who was thus active during the approximate period
of the weapon.
I also checked the hypothesis of the surname before the first name and this
gives, always during the same period:
Comblain Hubert
(1854/1891)
Courard Herman
reported between 1865 and 1874.
Courard Hubert
recorded between 1864 and 1868.
Finally I also mentioned the possibility of an association (two names) but it
doesn’t give anything.
There is still the last possibility that the brand of an armourer has been taken
over by the successor or successors (it exists: see Forgeron or Bernard) but
here again I have not discovered anything.
Sorry I couldn’t be more precise, but once again the study of the Liège armory
of the 19th century is far from being an exact science.
GG
Charles HAAKEN Fils
It is about a revolver with central percussion and box frame of type “VELO-DOG”. The grooved cylinder longer than the normal comprises 6 rooms of 6mm. The loading is practiced by a side door dropping thanks to the action of an internal spring. The rod placed under the barrel swivels on its axis to be introduced in turn into the rooms. The round barrel is striped. The trigger without trigger guard is folded up in a housing dug under the console.
The weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely
B spangled: countermark of the controller post 1877.
R crowned: rifled bore, of use of 1894 to 1968.
PV surmounted of a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke, of use of 1898 to 1968.
The weapon also carries the following marks:
L crowned and 17: it is probably about the mark of the founder of barrel not identified to date.
LD in an oval on the face postpones grips: marks unknown perhaps belonging to the assembler with wood?
CH HAAKEN Fils à LIEGE: mark of the manufacturer Charles HAAKEN Son street Jonfosse in LIEGE. It began in 1859 following his father Charles HAAKEN-PLOMDEUR, under the denomination CH. HAAKEN & Cie. In 1894 until 1898, it became CH. HAAKEN Fils before yielding its company to DEBRUS Louis.
2593: serial number.
GG
Charles Haaken Fils
The weapon
It is about a revolver of pocket of the type CONSTABULARY freely inspired by the R.I.C., with central percussion and box frame.
The smooth cylinder is with 6 blows (non visible on the photographs).
The rifled bore is with 8 sides with a small front sight in half-moon.
The loading is practiced by the side door being raised using an internal spring.
Unloading is practiced using a metal rod with head of sliding nail in a guide integrated into the console and which is maintained by a small leaf spring.
The metal stick is covered with two squared plates out of wooden maintained by a screw and two rivet washers.
Punches
The weapon carries the punches of the proofhouse of LIEGE, namely:
A spangled: countermark of the controller post 1877.
R crowned: rifled bore, of use of 1894 to 1968.
ELG spangled ion an oval crowned: this punch is not visible on the photographs; it should be on the back face of the cylinder. It is about the mark of acceptance post 1893.
The manufacturer
CH in a circle: this mark is unknown for me but I put forth the assumption that it could be a question of the mark of Charles HAAKEN son, manufacturer of weapons in Liege, registered voter with the profhouse of 1859 to 1898. That however remains to be confirmed.
GG
