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 LIEGEOISE D’ARMES À FEU. (MLAF)
Here is
an outdoor hammer hunting rifle from the
Manufacture Liégeoise d’Armes à feu.
Butt style pistol to cheek.
The
hallmarks of the Liège proofhouse.
Peron:
inspection, in use since 1853;
Lion on
PV: smokeless powder test, in use between 1898 and 1968;
B under
asterisk: controller countermark, in use since 1877;
12-70 in
coated omega: nominal size and length of the sleeve, in use since 1924;
ELG on
star in crowned oval: accepted, in use between 1893 and 1968;
Annals
letter W for 1944, which is still late for such a type of weapon...
ML under
a crown in a circle:
trademark of the
Manufacture Liégeoise
d’Armes à feu,
registered with the proofhouse of Liège from 1866 to 1929.
I can see
that this does not correspond to the 1944 Annual Letter, but I have no
provisional explanation.
GP avec l’aide de HPH.
MANUFACTURE LIEGEOISE D’ARMES À FEU. (MLAF)
Here is a classic hunting rifle juxtaposed with
outdoor dogs from the
Manufacture Liégeoise d’Armes à feu.
Opening key between the hammers, pistol butt, engravings on the lock.
Markings
y: annual
letter for 1946;
1kg360:
barrel weight, in use since 1924;
M under
asterisk: countermark of a controller, in use since 1877;
Lion on
PV: smokeless powder test, in use since 1898;
ELG on
star in crowned oval: acceptance, in use since 1893;
16-70 in
coated omega: nominal calibre and length of the sleeve, in use since 1924;
ML
crowned in oval:
trademark of the Manufacture Liégeoise d’Armes à feu;
CHOKE
16.9 : indicates that the gun is choked ; in use since 1924 ;
I also think I see the letters
ACM
in a circle: it could be the brand of the barrel manufacturer. Which would be a
bit surprising since
MLAF had its own
barrel factory in Nessonvaux. But maybe she also bought guns from other
manufacturers, one does not prevent the other...
The
Manufacture Liégeoise d’Armes à feu
was established in Liège rue du Vertbois 52-54 in Liège; according to the “Who
is who of the Liège armoury” it was registered on the Liège proofhouse from 1866
to 1929, but one day it will be necessary to “correct the shot” since the rifle
we are dealing with was tested in 1946...
It should
also be noted that she filed no fewer than twenty-six patents between 1866 and
1898, but none related to this rifle.
Other
MLAF weapons are
presented on the website littlegun.be, both among the identified artisans and in
the exceptional collection.
GP
MANUFACTURE LIEGEOISE D’ARMES À FEU. (MLAF)
Here is a very classic hunting rifle juxtaposed with
external hammers, an opening key between the hammers and a pistol butt from the
Manufacture Liégeoise d’Armes à feu,
already extensively mentioned on the site and in the exceptional collection.
Markings
Peron:
inspection by the proofhouse of Liège, in use since 1853;
H under
asterisk: countermark of a controller of the Liège Test Bench, in use between
1877 and 1968;
EL:
provisional proof, in use since 1853;
ELG on
star in crowned oval: accepted, in use between 1893 and 1968;
12 on C
in vertical diamond: calibre, used between 1898 and 1924;
ML under
crown in a circle:
brand of the Manufacture Liégeoise d’Armes à feu.
The
weapon was therefore manufactured between 1898 and 1924
GP with the help of HPH and Chris.
MANUFACTURE LIEGEOISE D’ARMES À FEU.
Here is a very classic hunting rifle with juxtaposed
barrels and hammers, English style butt, from the
Manufacture
liégeoise d’Armes à feu, already widely
mentioned on the site. It dates from 1924.
Markings
Lion on PV: smokeless powder test, in use between 1898 and 1968;
Peron: inspection by the proofhouse of Liège, in use since 1853;
P 1 K 162: Gun weight capable of firing smoke-free powder, in use since 30 June
1924
c: annual letter for 1924;
CHOKE 17.0: choke gun, in use from 30 June 1924 to 1968;
EL: provisional proof, in use since 1852;
Peron: inspection, in use since 1853;
UA under asterisks: countermark of a controller, in use from 1877 to 1968;
ELG on star in crowned oval: accepted, in use from 1893 to 1968;
16 on C in vertical diamond: calibre, in use from 4 October 1898 until 30 June
1924;
D= 65 mm by 18.9: chamber length in mm and diameter in mm after optional
smoke-free powder test, in use between 1892 and 30 June 1924.
Attentive minds will have noticed that the last two stamps mentioned were in use
until June 30, 1924, the previous ones from June 30, 1924.
It was probably a
Sunday...
GP
Manufacture Liégeoise d’armes à Feu
It is about a shotgun to central percussion with two unrifled bores, juxtaposed, out of steel and of gauge 12. The two hammers are external. Behind those we find a key “Top lever” allowing the rocking of the barrels. Locks of type “ahead” and are decorated with an engraving in rollers. The stick in walnut is worked “with English”. The double trigger is protected by an oval trigger guard.
The weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, that is to say:
ELG*in a crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.
Peron: inspection, of use of 1853 to our days.
M*: countermark of the controller, of use of 1877 to 1968.
12 C in a rhombus: gauge, of use of 1898 to 1924, which gives us a date of approximate manufacture.
PV surmounted of a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke, of use of 1898 to 1968.
P1K514, 3: Weight of the barrel which can draw from the powders without smoke (smooth weapons). In use of 1892 to 1924.
EL in English letters: provisional test, of use of 1852 to our days.
Choke 17,5/18.4 - 17,5/18.3: Chokes barrels, gauged in mm, to 22 cm of the breech and the mouth. In use of 1910 to 1924 what still refines the age of the weapon.
D= 70 M/M /20.6; Length of the room in mm and diameter in mm after optional test with the powder without smoke. In use of 1892 to 1924.
The weapon also carries the following marks:
Manufacture liégeoise d’armes à feu, société
anonyme Liège Belgique:
This firm was located street of Vertbois, 54 in Liege.
ML
crowned Special steel:
type of steel used for the barrels.
ML
crowned in a vertical oval:
one of the marks of this firm.
GG
Manufacture Liégeoise d’armes à Feu
It's about a shotgun hammerless to central percussion of type Anson & Deeley.
Locks are of type “ahead” and carry a light engraving. The key of opening is of
standard “Top Lever ”. The hammers are external. The unrifled bores of gauge 24
are juxtaposed. They are joined together by a striated band. The stick out of
wood of walnut is worked “pistol”.
The weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG* in a crowned oval:
final acceptance post 1893.
Perron:
inspection, of use of 1853 to our days.
L spangled:
countermark of the controller, of use of 1877 to 1968.
EL in English letters:
provisional test, of use of 1852 to our days.
PV surmounted of a stylized lion:
test with the smoke-free powder, of use of 1898 to 1968.
24.65 in an omega:
gauge nominal and length of the casing. In use of 1924 to our days.
Choke 14.8 and 14.7:
choke barrels, gauged in mm to 22 cm of the breech and the mouth.
Letter "e" underlined:
yearly letter of 1966 (?).
The weapon also carries the following marks:
ML:
Manufacture liégeoise d’armes à feu,
company located in Liege street of Vertbois, 54.
ML crowned in a vertical oval:
idem above.
148520:
number of the weapon.
ACM in a circle:
mark of the manufacturer of barrels of rifles which I could not identify!
GG
The letter of the year 1966 give us a big problem because firm
ML existed only until 1929!!
Alain
Manufacture Liégeoise d’armes à Feu
It is about a shotgun to central percussion, juxtaposed unrifled bores, rocks with key top between the external hammers, barrels in English Damas, squared stick gun.
Punches
They are the punches of the proof house of Liege, that is to say
Spangled ELG in a crowned oval: acceptance of 1846 to 1893.
Peron: inspection post 1853.
D spangled: countermark of the controller port 1877.
EL in cursive letters: provisional test post 1852.
NON POUR BALLE: chokes unrifled bores, of use of 1878 to 1897.
Other marks
I found a HENDRIK M, of Dalhem (Liege) which in 1886 deposited a patent for a system of lever arming the 2 hammers simultaneously. I cannot however affirm to 100% that it is about same.
The various letters are probably marks of workshops.
Manufacturer
It is of course about "Manufacture Liégeoise d’armes à Feu" street of Vertbois, 54 in Liege largely evoked on the site.
GG
2 rifles of Manufacture of Liège
Oldest (below on the photographs)
It acts of a shotgun to two shots with central percussion. The rocker is with key between the external hammers and the stick is English.
The weapon carries the punches of the proof house of Liège which one can interpret as follows:
Spangled ELG in a crowned oval: final acceptance - of use of 1893 to 1968;
Peron: inspection - of use of 1853 until today.
X and H spangled: countermarks of the controllers - of use of 1877 to 1968.
28 C in a drawn up rhombus: gauge - of use of 1898 to 1924.
PV surmounted of a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke - of use of 1898 to 1968.
D 1K134: weight of the barrel which can draw from the powders without smoke (weapons smooth) - of use of 1892 to 1924.
Choke 13.2: chokés guns: cal in mm to 22 cm of the breech and the mouth - use of 1898 to 1910.
D = 65/15,8: length of the chamber in mm and diameter in mm after optional test with the powder without smoke - use of 1892 to 1924.
The manufacturer
Mark ML crowned in a drawn up oval is the mark of MANUFACTURE LIEGEOISE D’ARMES A FEU street of Vertbois, 54 in LIEGE, deposited the 03.03.1890.
Mark ACM in a circle (read so well) is unknown for me; it should act of the manufacturer of barrels.
2e rifle (with the top of the photographs)
It acts here of a double-barreled rifle with central percussion, lock embedded and rebounding, key top lever between the external hammers. The stick is of English type.
It also carries the punches of the proof house of Liege, namely:
Peron: inspection - of use of 1853 until today.
H and X spangled: countermarks of the controllers - use of 1977 to 1968.
The manufacturer
It also acts of MANUFACTURE LIEGEOISE D’ARMES A FEU of Liege as mark ML attests some crowned in an oval (see above).
GG.
Many thanks to Douglas for the photos
