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
Manufacture d'Armes de l'Etat
This is a
Comblain
rifle mod. 1888 from the forest guard. This model is apparently relatively rare
since it was only manufactured from 1888 to 1896. This so-called rarity remains
to be verified but I do not have any documents of the period to certify the
information of one side or the other, let’s be careful !!!
In addition, the weapon bears Belgian military stamps
which are most likely affixed to the
Manufacture
d’armes de l’Etat (State Arms Manufacture)
on Rue St Léonard in Liège, namely:
- Letter
A in a diamond: controller mark.
- Stamp
representing a double circle showing:
(a)
the initials of the Inspector General,
(b)
the initial “L” for Leopold,
(c)
1888. This stamp was always struck on the right side of the stock.
- LE
(so well read?) crowned in a circle surmounted
by a smaller part of a circle: it is the stamp of the
Manufacture
d’armes de l’Etat.
-
Letters Jl and M: these are factory inspection marks.
These marks would, in my opinion, indicate that the
weapon was manufactured by the
Manufacture d’armes de l’Etat!
According to the texts this weapon should be of caliber 11 x 43R and measures
1m032 overall!
The
numbering would have stopped in 1896 with the number 2394, whereas this one
bears the number 763.
GG
Manufacture d'Armes de l'Etat
Rifle Comblain 1888 of forester.
Calibre 11x 43R. Overall length of the weapon: 1,032 Mr. Manufacture of 1888 to 1896? Last known classification 2394 for the year 1896.
Christian
GB in an oval is the mark of Belgian state-owned property, 1889 is the date of manufacture. On the wood L(éopold) + 1888 and JD in a double circle is the stamp with initial of the inspector of the weapons and the principal controller. This seal was put on the right side of the sticks.
The D in
a circle is in principle the marking of the regiment of guides from 1874 but in
this case it cannot be applied to this Ranger’s rifle... it is probably a letter
from the controller.
But in
any case nothing to do with the Guides.
VC below - (Note of HPH - Certainly Victor Collette)
The other small marks in rhombuses are marks of the controllers of the metal parts and
are not indexed.
533 should be the job number of the weapon.
GG
Many thanks to Christian for the photos and the technicals details
