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
Lovinfosse-Hardy François & Fils
It is about a revolver with ten shots called “MITRAILLEUSE (MACHINE-GUN) - REDOUTABLE (FRIGHTENING) or TERRIBLE (TERRIBLE)” He is directly inspired by patent LEFAUCHEUX and patent CHAINEUX deposited in France and Belgium the same year without one knowing with certainty which had copied the other. A lawsuit took place besides appears it between the two manufacturers without one currently knowing the end of it.
The present weapon is thus an anonymous copy of Liège as the only punch still visible of Liège attests some on the weapon is:
T under star: countermark of the controller post 1877.
Mark FL under trefoil crown leaves me perplexed because it is not known as such but two manufacturers could “possibly” correspond, namely:
Lovinfosse-Hardy François & Fils which used mark FL crowned surrounded by two cross rifles (see site)
Francken and Lunenschloss of Liege also which used mark FL crowned surrounded by 2 cross sabres (see site).
Dating: the system with pin existed until the beginning of the 20th century but its hour of glory goes back to 30 years earlier.
The punch of the controller according to 1877 gives a completely credible approximate date.
Second punch (ELG on star in an oval) unfortunately invisible on the weapon, would have given us a second date is 1893 for a completely acceptable fork of manufacture also.
GG
