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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

SIMONIS - JANSSEN & DUMOULIN

Here is a very classic revolver pinfire, in the most common caliber, 7 mm. It looks like the Constabulary model, but the ejection rod from the sockets is typical of pin revolvers.

You can read on the barrel “THE PRESERVER AMER... ICAN” I suppose, and on the left side, SOUND MOVEMENT which means that the mechanics work well: it’s the least of things...

We also see a large S crossed by a small J, and a D on the broom pads.

At the end of the nineteenth century, some Liegean shipowners filed trademarks with such snore names, as RIGA and above all Antoine BERTRAND but I could not find the depositary of this copy.

As evidenced by the ELG stamp on star in oval, the weapon was tested between 1846 and 1893, and even more precisely between 1877 and 1893 (letter z under star).

As for the letters S J and D, they could be the association A. SIMONIS, J. JANSSEN and DUMOULIN Frères, but without any guarantee.

GP with the help of Chris, HPH, AD and MC.

Simonis - Janssen & Dumoulin

Here a revolver with six shots, of military style, gauge 9,1mm (perhaps one .380) resulting from association A. Simonis, J. Jansen and Dumoulin Frères (Brothers) & Co. It comprises left side a swivelling door giving access to the mechanism as one finds of them several alternatives in this end of 19th century. Door of loading on the right, rod of ejection in the style of the lawful revolver French 1873 Chamelot-Delvigne.

Markings

ELG on star in oval: acceptance between 1846 and July 11th, 1893

Z under star: countermark of the controller between 1877 and 1968.

S J & D: association Simonis, Jansen and Dumoulin

The working life of association S J & D is not known for us. It deposited eight patents between 1883 and 1886, but none relates to a revolver. It also deposited several trademarks (until November 1889).

Albert Simonis was registered with the proofhouse of Liege of 1873 to 1900. He deposited 19 patents, but none relates to this revolver.

Dumoulin Frères was registered with the proofhouse of Liege of 1877 to 1894. They deposited six patents of 1879 to 1890 but none relates to this revolver.

We do not know which of Jansen in Liege belonged to association: undoubtedly Joseph, but its working life seems to start in 1894.

The weapon is thus in any case former to July 11th, 1893.

Simonis - Janssen & Dumoulin

It is a Schulhof war rifle with rotating magazine manufactured by the Liège firm Simonis, Janssen and Dumoulin hence the brand S.J. & D in a cartridge visible on the gun.

This firm filed 8 gunsmith's patents in the period 1883-1886.

The Schulhof rifle was the unfortunate competitor (but not the only one) in a Belgian state competition to adopt a new war rifle for its army. We know that the Mauser 1889 rifle was adopted!

Simonis - Janssen & Dumoulin

Pretty small bulldog hammerless very nicely decorated.

Mark PEERLESS was deposited the 25/02/1887 by the mechanical factory of firearms SIMONIS Al., JANSEN J. & DUMOULIN Frs.

I am unaware of the significance of B & F?

SIMONIS-JANSSEN & DUMOULIN

S.J. & D, this mark was deposited by company SIMONIS-JANSSEN & DUMOULIN of Liege which deposited eight patents of 1883 to 1886.

It also deposited several trademarks of which:

FABRIQUE MECANIQUE S.J. & D

UNION MACHINE C° NEW YORK

PEELESS

PRIZE MACHINE GUN

THE CONTINENTAL

As regards the weapon, it acts of an army rifle to bolt but I do not know this system, which could say some more?

Dimensions : Overall length : 132cm/Barrel length : 78,5cm/Calibre : 8mm striped

Photos Littlegun

UNION MACHINE C°

It’s thus a shotgun, juxtaposed, carrying the mark UNION MACHINE C° which is a trade mark the 24.02.1887 (UNION MACHINE C° NEW YORK) by the mechanical factory of firearms S.J. & D (Albert Simonis, J Janssen and Demoulin brothers).

It carries also various punches of which those of the proof house of Liege is:

Spangled ELG in a crowned oval - acceptance of 1846 to 1893.

Peron: inspection - of 1853 until today.

EL in cursive letters: provisional test - of 1852 until today.

N spangled: countermark of the controller - of 1877 to 1968.

From these various marks we can deduce that this weapon was mechanically manufactured between 1887 and 1893.

Many thanks to "LES KRAFT, COLUMBIA, NJ, USA" for the pictures.

Revolver Excelsior SJ&D

Seriously, this weapon poses problem to me because mark EXCELSIOR was deposited the 07.08.1893 by LA MANUFACTURE LIEGOISE D’ARMES A FEU street of Vertbois, 54 in Liege.

However, the weapon does not appear in the catalogues ML which I have and which are however same time!? It is astonishing because one likes in theory to make display of the innovations.

Perhaps the patent or the licence was yielded to S J&D, I do not know anything of it!

Could Michel perhaps see in the patents ML in order to confirms the assumption?

The ML even deposited a mark ACIER EXCELSIOR the 07.09.1901.

Everyone knows that S J&D = Simonis A., Janssen J & Dumoulin Frères!

Albert Simonis deposited with his name (and not in the name of association) several patents for revolvers well before 1891.

One can reasonably estimate that it then made manufacture those by association... at least ten years before the ML makes deposit the Excelsior mark.

I will check in the patents as soon as possible.

Michel

Many thanks to "JIM" for the pictures.