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
SOLEIL Leon
It is a
small, faired hammer revolver that roughly mimics the general shape of a
semi-automatic pistol. The European market was flooded at the beginning of the
20th century by these small handguns, often referred to as "humpus" or
"hammerless". The latter term meaning "hammerless" is however abusive, even
inappropriate, since these revolvers obviously have a hammer, even if the hammer
remains invisible under the carcass. The manufacturers hoped that customers
would appreciate the “modernized” appearance of a system that was outdated at
the time because it dates back to the design of the British Bull Dog created in
1873. These revolvers, like this one, were often calibrated in 6.35 or 7.65 with
centre percussion (for this example, only a measurement of the diameter of the
chambers would make it possible to distinguish between these two calibres). The
only real improvement of these weapons was the presence of a stockpile of
ammunition inside the handle, as is the
case with
this one, which is impossible on a Bull Dog. The weapon also has an under-deck
trigger, while most of its counterparts have a folding trigger. The revolver is
equipped with a safety device, an accessory of little use on a revolver, but
which was especially appreciated by the German users for whom it was intended,
as indicated by the address of the dealer Carl Kürmes, Leipzig. The first name
of this gunmaker is normally written “Karl”, but it is possible that the Liège
engraver has francisized it as “Carl”.
Markings:
SUR, left
side of the carcass, for "safety" (abbreviation in French).
PV under
erect lion, right side of the carcass and back of the barrel (curiously modified
in RV) for proven live powder, since 1898 (but effective since 1903).
M under
star, right side of carcass and back of barrel, inspection stamp from January
27, 1877.
R under
crown, for rifled barrel, verification mark for rifled barrel handguns, from 30
January 1894 to 26 February 1968.
Oval ELG
under crown, stamp of the proofhouse after 1893.
N° 1 at
the front of the cylinder (serial number or indication for the craftsman?).
Crowned
LS on the stock skeleton
The
crowned LS mark could belong to:
Léon
Soleil, registered with the proofhouse from 1885 to 1897, active in Liège at 477
Rue St. Léonard.
Léonard
Soleil (father of the former), 477 Rue St. Léonard. He purchased the ABADIE and
PREVOST patents before selling them to his son.
Considering the markings on the "pistorevolver," which place it at the very end
of the 19th or rather the beginning of the 20th century, I would lean towards
Léon Soleil, whose dates of activity would fit well.
Based on
current research, it is likely that this weapon was produced at the very
beginning of the 20th century, during the period 1903-1914, by Léon Soleil.
Chris, Max, HPH,
Leon SOLEIL
Photos Littlegun
Leon SOLEIL
Revolver of ordinance Leon SOLEIL, the barrel is with 8 sides, platinizes it with rebounding hammer, the grips are finely squared, and the stick ends in a metal cap and a ring. The barrel is with 6 shots.
Punches
It carries the lawful punches of the proof house of Liege, namely:
Spangled ELG in an oval: acceptance, of use of 1846 to 1893.
D spangled: countermark of the controller, of use of 1877 to 1968.
The manufacturer
L SOLEIL FT à LIEGE. Corresponds to Leon SOLEIL manufacturer of weapons in Liege street Saint Léonard, 477 registered with the proof house of test of 1885 to 1897, son of SOLEIL Léonard manufacturer of weapons to the same address. This last sold to his son patents PREVOST Gustave and ABADIE, Ismaël concerning revolvers. This thus explains the mark System ABADIE patented struck the weapon.
PREVOST Gustave as for him registers with the proof house of 1876 to 1899, lived street of the gold Pot, 27 in Liege. It is him which acquired in first patent ABADIE before reselling it to Léonard SOLEIL the 18.05.1881. PROVOST deposited ten Belgian patents, in particular for a closing of plate of covering of the mechanism of revolver.
The mark FA crowned is unknown for me; perhaps it is a mark of the Portuguese army where the weapon was in equipment?
The small overlapping marks the ones in the others are also unknown for me.
DATING
This weapon was manufactured between 1881 (date of purchase of the patent) and 1893 (date of change of punch of the proof house.
GG
Léon SOLEIL
Revolver Leon SOLEIL, the barrel is with 8 sides, locks is with hammer rebounding, grips squared, the handle ends in a cap and a metal ring, the barrel is grooved with 6 cells. The loading is done by a right side door. The internal mechanism is quickly accessible thanks to the plate from covering.
Punches
Spangled ELG in an oval: final acceptance - of use of 1846 to 1893.
M spangled: countermark of the controller - of use of 1877 to 1968.
Manufacturing
Leon SOLEIL was a manufacturer of weapons in Liege street Saint Léonard, 477 and registered with the proof house of Liège of 1885 to 1897.
He was the son of SOLEIL Léonard manufacturer of weapons to the same address.
This last sold to his son patents PREVOST Gustave and ABADIE Ismaël concerning the revolvers. This explains the mark “Système ABABIE breveté” struck the weapon.
PREVOST Gustave as for him was registered with the proof house of 1876 to 1899. It resided in Liege street of the Gold Pot, 27.
It acquired patent ABADIE before reselling it in Léonard SOLEIL the 18.05.1881.
Date of manufacture
The weapon was manufactured between May 1881 (date of purchase of the patent) and July 1893 (expiry of validity of this type of punch)
GG
