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

Adrien PLIERS

It is a percussion revolver signed Adrien Pliers. He was active at Liège, where he filed six patents for inventions or improvements between 1855 and 1866. The present invention consists of an articulated rod (see attached drawing of patent 8560 DU 02.02.1860)

The weapon bears the statutory hallmarks of the Liège proofhouse, namely:

ELG ̈* in a vertical oval: definitive acceptance, in use from 1846 to 1893.

Z crowned: Controller’s countermark, in use from 1853 to 1877.

The gun also bears the mark Pliers breveté (patent) attesting that the gun is indeed patented by Adrien Pliers (see above). It is in fact an improvement residing in the fact of an improvement of the rod. It is articulated which makes it easy to use for loading!

Adrien PLIERS

This pinfire revolver is undoubtedly an invention of the Liège gunmaker A. Pliers. The mark on the gun confirms it. However, looking at the six patents of the person concerned, I do not find this surprising little system, namely a small pin fixed under the cylinder. Unlocking it seems to make it possible to rotate the washer at the back of the cylinder to put the hole in front of the spindle cartridge housing for loading/unloading. The pinfire cylinder is smooth and engraved with floral motifs. The curved trigger is protected by an oval bridge. The grips appear to be of smooth ebony (or false ebony) with a sculpted upper part. They are held by a central screw and two ear rosettes.

The punches

The weapon bears two hallmarks of acceptance from the Liège proofhouse, namely:

ELG* in a vertical oval: accepted, in use from 1846 to 1893.

Z crowned: Controller’s countermark, in use from 1853 to 1877.

The markings

The gun bears the trademark A.Pliers Breveté belonging to the gunmaker Adrien Pliers of Liège. From 1855 to 1866 he filed 6 patents for armoury.

GG

Adrien PLIERS

Description of Revolver A. Pliers 7 mm pinfire.

This revolver has the signature, “A. Pliers Patent” on the left thunder.

Adrien Pliers, inventor and armourer in Liège from 1855 to 1866, filed several patents during this period.

We are on a classic base of a pinfire revolver, 7 mm in Single and Double Action.

The great originality lies in the circular plate that rotates between the breech and the back of the cylinder, the socket ejection system and its reloading.

The central axis is screwed into the breech, crosses the thunder and extends about halfway through the barrel.

It is necessary to turn the key, which crosses the base of the barrel and fixes it, held by a screw on the other side, by 180°.

This key also holds the ejection rod.

The rod gets “stuck” between a cleat and the edge of the breech and transmits pressure on the key to hold the breech.

By turning it 180° upwards, this allows the rod to be positioned at the level of the cylinder cavities, sliding the barrel along the central axis to its stop and releasing the barrel for unloading or reloading.

So there is no door in the breech.

Between the cylinder and the breech there is a circular plate, a kind of drive “wheel.”

On the cylinder side this wheel is smooth, just a small hole receiving the pin that is on the cylinder face. The other side is notched. Secondly, the mechanism is almost identical to other systems. A lifting arm, during arming, pushes the cylinder (solidarity by the small pin to the “wheel” in firing position. In the same movement, at the end of arming an outgoing cleat at the base of the breech, block the “wheel / barrel” .... Then Fire!

The whole weapon is engraved with leaves, lianas and flowers.

Trigger folding, ebony grips finely grided in the shape of a drop of water.

Markings , hallmarks and characteristics

On the left thunder: “A. Pliers Patent.”

On the same side, at the carcass / gun junction a crowned N of the controller

On the cylinder the proof mark of Liége; ELG in an oval, as well as a crowned N.

Inside one of the grips an H printed.

Length: 195 mm / Barrel length: 97 mm

Cylinder: 6 shot pinfire 7 mm / Length: 25 mm / Diam.: 30 mm

Drive wheel: Diam.: 30.8 mm / Thickness: 3 mm

Axle length: 99 mm

Breech thickness: 3 mm

Current weight: 358 grams, but missing the trigger and a screw

Sources of inspiration for the description:

The site “littlegun”

Qui est qui de l’armurerie Liégeoise” by Guy Gadisseur and Michel Druart

Pistolets et revolvers de poche” by Dimitri Singer

Guillaume

Adrien PLIERS

Arms manufacturer of Liège which deposited six Belgian patents of 1855 to 1866 including last four in collaboration with H.J. THONARD.

Photos Littlegun

Adrien PLIERS

Revolver of pocket pinfire, open framework and folding trigger.

The gauge should be of the 7 mm but it is not easy to control on photographs.

The barrel is with 6 cells and is decorated with a floral engraving just like the frame.

The barrel with sides with the thunder then round is fixed at the axis of the cylinder by a key.

The grips are out of ebony or false ebony.

This revolver is covered by a first patent n° 7322 of 1859, soon followed other patents of improvements.

This weapon is provided with a shield preventing the cases from moving back at the time of the firing.

A key is placed on the right side of the frame and with the operation of this one, the block gun and the barrel slip on the axis thus allowing the loading and unloading.

The manufacturer was Adrien PLIERS arms manufacturer of Liège which deposited six Belgian patents of 1855 to 1866 including last four in collaboration with H.J. THONARD.

GG

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