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
J. LECLERC
It is about a pistol of shooting kind FLOBERT (6 mm?). The barrel is with eight sides and rocks using the lever placed in front of the trigger guard. The tail of trigger is right under trigger guard with puts back finger.
The stick is carved way rebirth (time Napoleon III) palmettos and metal cap with baluster. The metal parts are finely engraved of foliage.
The only visible punch is ELG in a spangled oval which is the punch of meaning 1846/1893.
Mark J.LECLERC PATENTS is affixed there. It is probably about a manufacture of the arms manufacturer Joseph LECLERCQ of SAINT-REMY (Liege) which is known for a patent filling in 1886.
GG
Patent Leclercq
Under all reserves
Rifle LECLERCQ
It acts of a small collapsible rifle with key snake for hunting for small game, with central percussion, one shot, rifled bore of gauge 20 and openwork stick to reduce it.
This rifle was commonly called "rifle of poacher" because it could easily be dissimulated under clothing.
It was manufactured between 1898 and 1924.
Punches
The weapon carries the punches of the proof house of Liege following:
Spangled ELG in a crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.
Peron: inspection post 1853.
EL in cursive letters: provisional test post 1852
20 C in a rhombus on point: gauge - use of 1898 to 1924.
S and D spangled: countermarks of the controllers post 1877.
16.0: I am unaware of the exact significance.
Manufacturer
This weapon is not signed, it is thus not possible to identify the manufacturer of it. This very current weapon is found in the majority of the catalogues of the beautiful time.
It would act, always according to these catalogues (see illustration) of a system LECLERCQ or LECLERE, however the examination of the patents does not have made it possible to identify the inventor with certainty of it. It could perhaps be a question of LECLERCQ Joseph of SAINT-REMY (Liege) which in 1886 deposited a patent for a similar weapon but without the snake key!
Our research is there currently and any information would be the welcome.
GG & MD
Photos Littlegun
