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
Jacques François MARTIN
Here a
revolver style “bull dog” of Belgian manufacturing whose gauge was not
communicated to us. It could be in 6 mm Vélodog to judge some by the length of
the cylinder, but the diameter of the rooms and the barrel seems higher to us
than 6 mm, so that one can also think of another cartridge like the 7.62 Nagant.
Safety known as “German” (superfluous) on the left side. Stem of ejection
swivelling in line with cylinder, squared plates connected by a transverse screw
and its rivet washers.
Markings
PV on Lion: test with the smoke-free powder, of application between 1898 and 1968.
ELG in oval under crown: punch of acceptance, application between 1893 and 1968
R crowned: rifled bore, of application between 1894 and 1968
Y under star: countermark of the controller, application between 1877 and 1968.
2568: undoubtedly the number of the weapon.
JFM
Breveté:
undoubtedly the initial ones of the manufacturer who could be
Jacques
François Martin. One finds them on another
revolver evoked on the site Littlegun.
It was
active in Dalhem around 1866 then in Liege around 1884-1885, but we do not know
until which year. It deposited patents concerning of the mechanisms of revolver
but they do not correspond to the weapon presented. It is consequently necessary
to take the mention “Patented” either like “patentee of arms manufacturer”, or
like anybody having deposited patents. And not in the direction of a weapon
concerned with a quite precise patent.
It is a
very current weapon of which one manufactured thousands of specimens (often
cheap) in various gauges until before 1933 (coming into effect in Belgium of a
more restrictive legislation as regards detention of weapons). As it goes back
to after 1898 and that one does not know when JF Martin did stop his activities,
one - (light?)- doubt remains in attribution.
GP with the appreciated assistance of PHL and GG †
Jacques François MARTIN
Here a
very traditional revolver of Belgian manufacturing, calibre and number of rooms
not communicated, with side safety on the left known as "German", door of
loading on the right and rod swivelling of ejection maintained in line with
cylinder.
Markings
Belgium on the barrel: to be sure that it is a Belgian production…
R crowned: punch for the rifled bores, between 1894 and 1968
S under star: countermark of the controller between 1877 and 1968
L under crown: not identified, perhaps the founder of the barrel
ELG on star in crowned oval: acceptance between 1893 and 1968
JFM Bté:
it is perhaps about Jacques François Martin
of Dalhem (1866) then established in Liege street Gérardrie 31, around
1884-1885. As an indication: It deposited three patents between these dates, but
none relates to the weapon in question. We write “perhaps” since according to
the current data, it was active between 1866 and 1885. However, the revolver was
as soon as possible manufactured between 1894. Admittedly, one does not prevent
the other…
GP with the assistance of MD
Jacques François MARTIN
Revolver of Liège copied from revolver GASSER Austrian MONTENEGRIN. The weapon is with central percussion and box frame. The grooved cylinder is with 5 rooms; probably of calibre 12mm. The rifled bore is round with integrated front sight. The plates in bone are connected by a transverse screw and two rivet washers. The rod swivels on an axis while the loading is practiced by a side door dropping thanks to the action of an external spring.
Punches
The weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG on star in a crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.
O spangled: countermark of the controller post 1877.
R crowned: rifled bore, of use of 1894 to 1968.
Marks
L crowned: it is probably about the mark of the founder of cylinder of Herstal.
7033: serial number.
NI crowned: It is acted in fact of the monogram of NICOLAS (or NIKITA) Ier, king of Montenegro which was large amateur of this type of weapon.
JFM Bté: in any assumption it could be a question of MARTIN Jacques François arms manufacturer in LIEGE about 1884-85. It worked especially the revolvers and deposited 3 patents.
JT & C° - bored heart of an arrow SCH ..... MARKE: this mark is inspired by a mark of Léopold GASSER, SCHUTZMARKE means MARK DEPOSEE while the bored apple of an arrow of GASSER seems it replaced by a bored heart of the same arrow. (See the card of max FLIEGENSCHMIDT and its Montenegrin on the site)
In the final analysis, too many marks for only one weapon! That does not simplify the identification. The case was frequent for the copies of Liège of small quality. It as had to be prevented as the holder of the initial patent does not come to ask for accounts!
Appendix: page of catalogue A. MASEREEL presenting a similar weapon.
GG
