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
Rongé Jean-Baptiste
Here is a
Levaux revolver manufactured by the "Manufacture d'Armes Jean-Baptiste Rongé",
house founded in 1789, registered with the proofhouse of Liege between 1832 and
1929. It is a revolver intended for the Danish army (it is the model 1891 for
the Navy). Six shots, calibre 9x17 R.
This one
was in any case manufactured after January 30, 1894 (date of the beginning of
the use of the pnche "crowned R", see below). This copy has been stripped of its
security on the right side for a reason I can't explain. Either it was an
accident, or the Danish army judged it to be useless, or even dangerous in the
event that one has to use one's weapon quickly, without having time to make sure
that the safety is removed. . . This is only a hypothesis, of course.
Pulling
strongly on the cap ring gives "easy" access to the spring, etc. in (partial)
application of patent 43296 filed by Dieudonné Levaux-Stas on October 11, 1877.
Here's a
drawing of it:
The
patent concerning the tilting of the barrel via the small hammer and the
circular extractor is number 038750 dated January 29, 1876:
See to this page the brothers of this revolver:
And also:
And again:
where you
can read that other gunsmiths have modified the weapon, such as Scholberg and
Gadet de Liège, for example, who fitted the weapon with a swivelling cover
plate.
The
markings
ELG on
star in crowned oval : acceptance, in use between 1893 and 1968;
W under
star: countermark of a controller, in use between 1877 and 1968 ;
R crowned
: rifled bore, in use between 1894 and 1968;
SA
crowned: a mark of the Danish army ;
JBR: the
initials of the manufacturer Jean-Baptiste Rongé.
According
to the link
https://www.tircollection.com/t32493-revolver-marine-danois-mle-1891
, the
total order would have been 2,045 copies, including 600 made by Rongé.
See also
the following description:
http://www.armeetpassion.com/revolverdemarinem1891.html
The photos do not show that the extractor is not star-shaped but a plate of the same diameter as the cylinder. In addition, when the weapon is open, the cylinder can be removed from its axis without tools.
According
to a German book, the weapon is based on an idea by Jean Warnant, with a
modification by Mariette.
GP with help of HPH
and MD
Rongé Jean-Baptiste
RONGE Jean-Baptiste
It is about a revolver top break Dieudonné LEVAUX with central percussion. This weapon was the subject of a patent filling the 15/02/1876 under the n° 38750. (See page LEVAUX on the website) the cylinder is with 8 sides then round carries a rectangular front sight placed dovetail. The cylinder is with 6 shots. The calibre is not indicated. The grips consists of two plates of walnut squared joined together by a screw placed to the bottom of the grips, established fact rather unusual. The brass screws are with 2 notches and they claim a special screwdriver! This stick ends in a ring of cap and its screw-pivot.
Punches
The weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of LIEGE, namely:
W spangled: countermark of the controller, of use of 1877 to 1968.
R crowned: rifled bore. In use of 1894 to 1968.
The “ELG crowned in a crowned oval” which is final acceptance is not visible on the photographs! Perhaps it is it on the internal face of the cylinder ?
Marks
This revolver carries the following marks:
720: serial number.
Spangled J.B.R. in a vertical oval: Revolver LEVAUX was manufactured by several firms of Liège of which in particular LEPAGE, ANCION-MARX and also Jean-baptiste RONGé as us this trademark proves it. This firm was located in LIEGE places Saint Jean, n° 4 (see the site).
Marks DENMARK and S.A. crowned are Danish military marks.
GG
Photos Littlegun
Revolver Rongé
