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
Malherbe (Pierre Joseph) known as “de Goffontaine” (entity of Pepinster (Verviers)) and Malherbe Philippe Joseph (or Malherbe son or Malherbe & Co) are the same (big) firm. In 1807, Pierre Joseph Malherbe de Goffontaine had 3 manufactures and after the fall of the French regime, it repurchases with the son of Gosuin manufactures quay St-Léonard in Liege and of Chaudfontaine (in addition to his).
According to the datings of the weapons (flint - percussion) it could be possible to differentiate the P.J., but the name “de Goffontaine” is generally allotted to Pierre Joseph.
HPH
MALHERBE de GOFFONTAINE
Interesting pistol of voyage originally in flint then transformed with percussion about 1840.
Your photographs do not show all the details well but for what I could read, the gun ovalized with the mouth is out of iron and is fixed at mounting by a slide-in system.
This mounting, provided with a part of inch, stops with semi-gun and the cut stick Way Empire ends in a metal cap.
I wonder about the metal rod which does not have the conventional form and not having the part in hand it is difficult to deliver an opinion.
The lock with flint thus was transformed with percussion and carries mark MALHERBE of GOFFONTAINE to LIEGE.
No punch of tests announced or visible on photographs?
MALHERBE of GOFFONTAINE Philippe, Joseph, quay of Sauvenière in Liege little known east, it is included in Who’s Who arms manufacture of Liège like having deposited in 1844, a Belgian patent for a system being used to lead the projectiles.
He does not have an inscription known with the registers of the manufacturers of the proof house of Liege.
It should be said that in first half of the 19th century, a many arms manufacturers of Liège were reticent with the obligatory test.
GG
