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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

J.J. Rissack

This is a 6-shot revolver. The trigger is ringed. The hammer is inside. The grips extends to the cylinder to cover the percussion mechanism. A large notch in the shield facilitates placement of primers. The cantilever gun is mounted in a keyhole and equipped with front and back sights.

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

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

Crowned U: controller's countermark, in use from 1877 to 1963.

The weapon also bears the trademark of its inventor, J.J. Rissack Breveté (patent). He was a gunsmith in Herstal (Liège). He was the author of 22 Belgian patents from 1847 to 1869. The original weapon was 8.5 mm calibre, 267 mm long and weighed 580 grams.

J.J. Rissack

Here is a nice annular percussion rifle of calibre 6 mm well in the style of the salon weapons of the second half of the nineteenth century. Beautiful English butt carved, trigger guard with scrolls. It is marked Rissack breveté (patented).

Markings

FG: initials not listed

EL : provisional test since 1852

5.4 : the diameter, i.e. for a 6 mm annular percussion cartridge

Two unidentified hallmarks

231

Rissack breveté (Patented)

In all probability, it is a weapon covered by patent 020253 of October 5, 1866 filed by Jean-Jacques Rissack. This prolific gunsmith filed more than twenty patents between 1857 and 1869.

Also worth mentioning is the article by Dirk Ziesing published in the June 2015 bulletin 130 of the Friends of the Musée d’Armes de Liège.

GP with the effective and appreciated help of HPH.

J.J. Rissack

This is a pepperbox made by J.J. Rissack, Herstal, Liege, around 1855. The ignition system is needlefire, based on a patent dated October 1850. A paper cartridge or loaded bullet (similar to the Beringer system) is placed in the barrel either from the front or by unscrewing the barrel and then inserting the bullet from the rear. The barrels are rifled with 8 lands and grooves with right hand twist.

The firing pin is struck by the hammer. This pin then strikes the needle, igniting the priming compound in the rear of the bullet. After firing the hammer has to be put into the half cock position so the barrel can be rotated a quarter turn, by hand. Upon rotation the firing pin is forced back by means of a cam in the frame. Please note the screw in the top of the frame, holding the firing pin in position.

As far as we can find out now this is the only Rissack pepperbox in existence. All known pictures (book by Dunlap and the catalogue of the Frank Horner collection) are of this particular weapon.

"From the collection of Jas van Driel"

Rissack J.J.

RISSACK J.J. arms manufacturer in Herstal (BE 1850/1857), prolific inventor deposited considerable patents in company of his/her son. Thus are born well various weapons in the tone from the time like a pepperbox with eight shots, a pistol with metal cartridges (1855) of the rifles and shotguns and modifications with the “longuesses” of the weapons taking care by the cylinder head (1858) and singular a riding crop-gun with needle.

In 1857 our man joins a certain GRISARD which does not seem to leave the rows of arms manufacture of Liège but rather of finance.

Association will last until 1863 and will see the production of the famous gun with percussion RISSACK.

This revolver with six shots and open framework functions only in double action actuated by a trigger with ring and an interior hammer. Indeed the grips in drowning is prolonged to the cylinder to cover the mechanism with percussion to internal hammer.

A broad notch in the shield allows the placement of the starters. The barrel with sides is assembled in key and is provided with bodies of aiming.

The weapon measures 267 mm, weighs 580 grams and is of gauge 8,5 mm.

It is marked punch of the bench of test of Liege (spangled ELG in an oval) and mark J.J. RISSACK BREVETE on the console on the left-hand side.

In 1863 RISSACK father and son take again their freedom and remain registered with the bench of test until 1870. They then do not seem any more to be occupied but of rifles.

GG & MD