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
Schroeder Frères
This is a one-shot slaughter gun for cattle, with
"automatic" extraction of the sleeve when the chamber/barrel is tilted. The
words "tue bétail pratique" (practical slaughter) allude to this extraction
system and the presence of a handle. This makes it possible with one hand to
hold the head of the animal, with the other, to hold the device and activate the
trigger.
Most cartridge slaughter systems consist of a
more or less sophisticated tube that must be handled with two hands to operate
it and keep it in contact with the animal’s forehead while a third person holds
it. After use, the sleeve must be ejected by pushing it through the barrel.
I will situate manufacturing in the 1930s.
He bears the hallmarks of the proofhouse of
Liège:
Star-shaped ELG in a crowned oval: Accepted in
use from 1893 to 1968.
S under star: controller's countermark from 1877
to 1968.
Peron: inspection from 1853 to the present day.
PV under lion erected: live powder proof since
1898.
Suisse (Switzerland) : according to the calibre
used, mentioned in the catalogues 7.8 mm.
This is actually the 7.5 mm X 22.5 Swiss.
Declined ammunition, for shotgun cartridges, with a variety of powder charges
(more or less powerful than the 7.5 mm of the Model 1882 ordinance revolver).
Colour code on the cap to differentiate between sheep, pigs, cattle and/or
animal weight.
Schroeder Brothers
could be the manufacturer. As for the initials
FW
(Frédéric
Walthéry ??? active at that time), without
any certainty, they could be those of the patent holder.
HPH and PHL for the attached document.
Schroeder Frères
Here is
a classic center percussion revolver close to the Constabulary model but in this
case, the grip is rounded. Loading door on the right, ejection rod pivoting in
the axis of the barrel. Six shots, unspecified caliber, probably a .320. Hammer
safety on the left. Cap ring. Partly octagonal and round barrel.
Markings
ELG on
star in crowned oval : acceptance between 1893 and 1968
Double p
under star : probably the countermark of a controller between 1877 and 1968
C
crowned on the barrel: unidentified; it cannot be the countermark of a pre-1877
controller since the weapon was manufactured at the earliest in 1921...
EF
or EP (?) on the carcass on the left side: could be the initials of
Emile Fraipont,
registered at the proofhouse of Liège between 1903 and 1927, arms manufacturer,
rue Monulphe 45 in Liège.
LA:
probably the brand of the smelter, unidentified
SF in a
circle
below grips plates : probably the trademark registered by
Schroeder
Frères on February 26, 1921. The arms
factory SPRL
Schroeder Frères, Max et Charles Edouard,
rue Simonon 8 in Liège, was registered on the Liège proofhouse between 1919 and
1938. They succeed their father Edouard. They had a branch in Brussels, rue des
Comédiens, 26.
The fact that the initials
EF
are visible may lead us to think that the weapon was almost certainly sold by
Emile
Fraipont : the initials SF in a circle are
indeed hidden under the plates of the handle. But I am not 100% sure that it is
on the one hand the initials EF, on the other hand that the SF in a circle is
indeed the brand of Schroeder Frères.
GP
with Alain’s help
