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
Dieudonné Joseph Renotte
Here is
an open-frame revolver of calibre 450 according to the happy owner, in a nice
box. The locking system is obviously reminiscent of the early Colt revolvers.
There is a barrel ejector rod underneath the barrel.
The only
marking photographed is a U under a star, the countermark of a controller in use
between 1877 and 1968.
There's
also an unidentified SG.
In 1854,
David Renotte,
a gunsmith in Housse, filed a Belgian patent for a rotating thunder weapon
system. See the package leaflet that already exists on the site.
The MAL
retains a five-shot 11-mm revolver, dated 1854, with reference number 2787. But
we don't know what he looks like.
There's already been an I.D. on
David Renotte.
It concerns an Adams-type revolver, so very different.
However, it is clear from patent AC 7701 of January
31, 1854 filed by Dieudonné Joseph Rennotte
(with two Ns, while the mention on the gun shows only an “n”...)
that the gun in its box is indeed covered by
this patent of AC 7701 of 1854. But it is of much later manufacture... if the u
under star is indeed that of a controller after 1877...
GP
Dieudonné Joseph Renotte
Here is an Adams revolver marked, if I read it correctly, "D Renotte breveté
(patented)";. I note that the patentee's P is badly hit, so the Renotte's R
could just as easily be a B. To add to the confusion, there are also three
Rennotte at the same period (certainly with two N, but there would be a book to
write about typos on Liège weapons. . . ).
I mean, we also found a trace of a D. Benotte, arquebusier of the King of the
Netherlands, on an almost similar weapon, but there are doubts about the
authenticity of the label inside the cassette containing the revolver. Moreover
and above all, this D. Benotte is completely unknown to ultra competent people
in the Netherlands, where no trace of this "arquebusier of the King of the
Netherlands"; and therefore no weapons are known. Here is the link:
https://eaukce. antiques-auctions.
eu/en/archivDetail/28/13/3318-a-percussion-revolver-system-adams-in-its-case/;
The markings
ELG on star in oval: acceptance from 1846 to 1893
U crowned: countermark of controller from 1853 to 1877
S crowned: countermark of controller from 1853 to 1877
Stöckel knows neither Renotte nor Rennotte nor Benotte.
Jarlier/Buigné does not know Benotte or Rennotte, but Renotte D. , seen on a
Renotte-Comblain percussion revolver (1860).
Claude Gaier does not mention any of the three names.
The "Who is who"; mentions David Renotte and three Rennotte, including one
Dieudonnné Joseph, but not Benotte.
Above all, there is already a notice on the littlegun. be website on Dieudonné
Joseph Renotte about a very similar revolver.
It was also suggested that it would be possible for the weapon to fall under the
AC 7701 patent of January 31, 1854, filed by David Joseph Renotte: the problem
is that by opening the text of the patent, one comes across Dieudonné Joseph
Rennotte (with two "n").
Anyway, I lose what's left of my Latin. . . . .
There is also a lot to say about the term "patented". The usual and especially
official acceptance in Belgium and France, among the authorities in this field,
is that it is a weapon resulting from a registered patent. However, it is not
uncommon (charming euphemism. . . ) to find this mention on a "common" weapon,
in any case having no part/mechanism in connection with a registered patent.
Therefore, in my opinion in any case (and I am not the only one to think so), it
could also be a reference to the fact that the arms manufacturer in question
held what could be called a certificate of competence.
GP with the help of MAX, HPH, MD and PHL.
Brevet 3669
Brevet 5950
Brevet 6195
Brevet 7701
Brevet 8247
Dieudonné Joseph Renotte
The weapon
Revolver with percussion with box frame and blasting powder.
The barrel is with 8 sides with small dovetail front sight inserted and bead cut in the amount of hammer.
The smooth cylinder is with six chimneys of gauge 450.
The stick east seems it of only one part, out of wood of walnut finely squared. It ends in a metal cap.
The whole of the metal parts carries engravings of sheets of vine branch.
Punches
The weapon carries the punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG on star in an oval: final acceptance, of use of 1846 to 1893.
T crowned: countermark of the controller, of use of 1853 to 1877.
Period of manufacture: between 1853 and 1877.
Markings
The weapon carries the mark of its inventor, namely D. RENOTTE PATENTS.
Dieudonné RENOTTE, Joseph, was an arms manufacturer with COVER LEZ LIEGE since 1853. He was a then “platinor” (manufacturer of lock) to Liege. During the period of 1856 to 1859, it deposits 5 Belgian patents for:
- Improvements with pistols and rifles.
- Modifications and improvements brought to firearms with DANDOY.C.
- Modifications made to the system of firearms revolver with DANDOY C.
- A double trigger with departure continuous or at will applicable to the revolvers, with DANDOY. C manufacturer of weapons.
- An addition with the closing of the weapons revolvers (with DANDOY.C.)
DANDOY Célestin manufacturer of weapons was registered with the proofhouse of 1846 to 1865. From 1865 to 1867, it created company DANDOY Célestin & Co.
875: is probably a serial number.
AC in an oval (read so well): this mark is unfortunately unknown for me, it does not appear in any collection on the arms manufacturers of Liège.
GG
