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Henri Pieper

Biography.

Born in Soest (Westphalia) on October 30, 1840. Of modest origin, it makes technical studies with Soest then its training with Warstein.

It emigrates in Liege at the end of 1859 then resides successively at Herstal, Liege, Herstal and Verviers (1866). Little after its marriage it settles in Liege, street of Bayards n° 12 where it opens a workshop of mechanics and arms manufacture.

Its company thrives and increases.

In 1870 it increases the workshops of the street of Bayards which occupy from now on 6000 meter-squares; it creates a factory of guns of rifles with Nessonvaux in the valley of Vesdre. The mechanical manufacture of the weapons, primarily of the shotguns intended for export, represents the essence of the activity of the Pieper workshops.

In 1887, Henri Pieper joined the Manufacturers of weapons joined together, an association which gathers the factories Jules Ancion, Dumoulin brothers, Joseph Janssen, Pirlot-Frésart, Draws up-Laloux & Co, Albert Simonis and the brothers Emile and Leon Nagant with an aim of obtaining important orders for his members.

The following year, Henri Pieper takes part in the tests of the Belgian army in order to replace Comblain rifles in equipment by a repeating rifle. He presents several rifles at bolt with rectilinear action and rotary Schulhof or right store, of Mannlicher type. But it is finally Mauser which will be adopted under the denomination model 1889.

Henri Pieper takes part then in the creation of the National Factory which will manufacture this weapon; he will be administrator-delegate like one of the most important shareholders.

He will also leave his name associated with the development with the revolvers without gas loss whose alternative (model 1893) will be adopted by Mexico, at the same time as a rifle with barrel of the same type.

About 1897, the Pieper workshops will also launch out in the manufacture of bicycles and cars.

Henri Pieper will die prematurely the following year, August 23, 1898, at the 57 years age.

Production of weapons

Revolvers without gas loss models 1886, 1890 and 1893; shotguns of all types (with one or more guns, mixed, express train, with external dogs, Hammerless); rifles with a blow of the type Rolling Block, electric rifle; canardière-machine-gun; canardière with 7 blows with annular percussion; Optimus rifle with bolt; rifle Martini system; army rifles models 1887 and 1888; rifle with barrel model 1893, etc.

Patents deposited in Belgium

69 patents deposited of 1861 to 1896 in the field of the machines, shotguns, revolvers, cartridges and reducers, guns of rifles, Damas, various chargers of cartridges and ammunition belts, etc.

Trade marks in Belgium

Bayard (June 9, 1892); Eagle Gun Works, E.Leroy, Modified Diana, P crowned, H.Pieper, Diane, The Leader, Bayard Arms C°, Pieper Arms C°, Premier Arms C°, Damascus Compound, National Arms C°, Henry Arms C°, Royal Gun Works, Le Rationnel (January 4, 1894); Pieper Top Bolt, Schutz Marke, E-K, Eclipse Company, Metropole, Pieper' S Compressed Steel, Monarch Arms C° (of 1894 to 1898)

Henri Pieper

It is acted in fact of a rifle with short breech invented by Julien WARNANT of HOIGNEE-CHERATTE in the suburbs of LIEGE and patented by him in 1885 (Belgian patents n° 68.280 and 69.430)

The weapon existed into various calibres of the 6 to the 9mm.

I make the following observations:

- This type of very widespread weapon in Liege carries mark H.PIEPER BELGIUM, trade mark the 04.01.1894. However this weapon does not appear in the excellent book devoted to the PIEPER and with their productions by Michel DRUART (see Book heading of our collaborators on the site). Henri PIEPER of course manufactured rifles of small gauges to one shot like the school snap hook system MARTINY, rifle OPTIMUS patent PIEPER, rifle PIEPER system REMINGTON.

- I add that this type of weapons WARNANT was manufactured per a many arms manufacturers of Liège of most modest to most famous.

- Your weapon carries the punch of acceptance (1846/1893) of the proofhouse of Liege.

Conclusion: a very current weapon thus but carrying a mark of very famous manufacturer and this in spite of the fact that this production does not appear in the usual manufacture of the society. A gap to be filled, it is quite possible, which can pride all to know.

Appendix 1: sketch of patent 69.430.

Appendix 2: extracted the PIRE catalog.

Henri Pieper

Belgian Rolling Block Volley Gun by H. Pieper: 6 mm. 26", seven shot rd bbl. Liege proofs. Removable breech face/ejector, extra example included. Rolling block action engraved with panels of repeating banding. Lever with checkered spur. Checkered walnut fore-end and pistol grip stock. Hard rubber butt pad marked H. Pieper/Liege. The barrel retains 98% + original blue finish with a dove-tailed beaded front sight and a two-leaf fold-up rear barrel sight. The seven barrels are rifled.

Thanks to “CWSLAGLEANTIQUES” for the picture

Pieper Henri

Side by Side Drilling. 12gaX 32-40. 2 3/4" chamber, 28" steel barrels, not Damascus. 1881 Patent date.

Henri Pieper

This is a vintage H Pieper 22 Rifle Belgium Falling Block rifle Martini henry type action in excellent condintion butt plate has been replaced with a leather one homemade. Barrel measures 24 inches.

Henri Pieper

H. Pieper's Patent Single Shot Breechloading Rifle, Liege, Belgium.

Serial no. D613, .22 long rimfire caliber, 20-inch octagonal barrel, open sights, with maker marking on breech; blued, with varnished walnut stock; logo mark BAYARD on left side of butt.

Pieper 1889

Bayard

Revolver model 1889 coming from the Pieper companies in Liege/Belgium in caliber 8mm Lebel.

Length of the barrel: 10,5 cm.

Year of construction: approximately in 1900.

Revolver of service Pieper patent, 7 blows.

Pieper

Hunting riffle Henri Pieper

H.Pieper Classic 16ga. & .38 Rifle Breech Loader

What an impressive antique weapon!

Front and rear sights. Rib engraved "H. Pieper Patented April 23, 1881 Belgium".

Many thanks to Dave Burr for the photos.

Pieper "ELECTRICAL"

This rifle was presented by Henry Pieper has the exposure of Vienna in 1883.

The two piles are carried in the pocket of gunner and the unit can function 15 days without stop and has enough power for 1000 shots.

A wire is related to the plate of layer and the other with the mechanism of closing (!) the tube of the cartridge is out of brass and a wire of copper passes in the medium of the powder of the starter. The powder is maintained by a disc of paperboard of which the lower part is covered of a layer of copper (It was extremely complicated ammunition) which is in contact with the body of the brass tube.

The trigger completes and the spark between the copper wire and the coppered disc makes leave the blow.

Cristi

Many thanks to Cristian for the photos.

Pieper Henri

It acts of the army rifle to repetition, model 1888 of Henri PIEPER.

This weapon was an unhappy candidate at the time of the tests of the Belgian army into 1888/1889. This model is equipped with a rotary store Schulhof.

The Belgian State ordered with the inventor 100 specimens of the weapon which were distributed for tests in a Belgian company of infantry.

Many thanks to the "ROYAL ARMY MUSEUM" Bruxelles for the pictures.

(N° identification : F253/194 Collection of "Comte de Ribaucourt")

Dimensions : Overall length : 129cm/Barrel length : 76cm/Calibre : 8mm striped

Photos Littlegun