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
Cylinder:
6 shot pinfire 7 mm
Drive
wheel: Diam.: 30.8 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
