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 Liégeoise d’Armes à Feu (MLAF) - System Engh
MANUFACTURE LIEGEOISE D'ARMES A FEU Model 1888 rifle.
This Model was
unsuccessfully submitted for the Belgium Government trials in 1888. The
rejection of the rifle led to the adoption of the Mauser Model 1889 rifle.
These rifles
have an unusual straight pull bolt design. The bolt handle is mounted on top of
the bolt and rotates to the rear to release and pull back the bolt, and then
after loading, it is being pushed back forward and then rotated forward to lock
the bolt. The bolt can be easily removed by pulling slightly upward after it is
pulled back.
It has an
integral box magazine and a rotating safety mounted on the right side of the
stock wrist.
The left side of the receiver is marked "MANUFACTURE
LIEGEOISE D'ARMES A FEU" and "SYSTEM ENGH
BREVETE MODELE 1888" on the left side.
Inverted "v"
front sight and folding ladder rear sight absent of any graduation markings. The
top of the bolt is marked with a "*/X" and a perron proof marks.
The cleaning
rod is housed in a channel on the left side of the forearm.
There is a
bayonet lug on the underside of the front barrel band and a sling swivel on the
rear barrel band.
Blue finish
with a bright bolt assembly, and casehardened rear sight and trigger. Mounted
with a multi-point checkered one piece straight grip stock with a matching hand
guard. The buttstock is fitted with a sling swivel and a smooth iron buttplate.
