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
Joseph and Jacques MORAY
The weapon
Shotgun to central percussion top break.
It comprises two steel barrels juxtaposed, smooth and of 16 gauge.
Locks are of type “ahead”, they are marbled and carry a light engraving.
The hammers are external and the key of opening TOP is placed between those!
The mounting is out of wood of walnut worked with “English”.
Punches
This weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG on star in a crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.
Peron: inspection, punch of use of 1853 to our days.
Letter spangled PHI and Z: countermarks of the inspectors’ post 1877.
Letter “t” (tiny): yearly letter of 1941 (manufacture).
PV surmounted of a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke, of use of 1898 to 1968.
16-65 in an omega: gauge nominal and length of casing, of use of 1924 to our days.
1 kg 342: weight of the barrel which can draw from the powders without smoke (weapons smooth) to the gram near.
EL in English letters: provisional test, of use of 1852 to our days.
CHOKE 16.9: chokes barrels: gauged to 22 cm of the breech. In use of 1924 to 1968.
Marks
JM on the barrels: it is most probably about the mark of a manufacturer of barrels of rifles of the valley of Vesdre (close to LIEGE). In fact, it could be a question of Joseph and Jacques MORAY in Nessonvaux.
56391: of not to doubt, it is about the serial number of the weapon because he is reproduced in several places.
16532: it is probably about the job number of the barrels.
Figures 12 and 16: unknown significance, perhaps it acts of marks of workshop ?
The manufacturer: as often in arms manufacture of Liège, the manufacturer of this weapon did not leave any visible mark, so that its identification is impossible.
GG
