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. STREELS & C°
Here is a very nice shotgun pinfire, with nice barrels in Turkish damask. Nice engraving. It was manufactured in Liège by the house J. STREELS et Cie, already mentioned on the site and in the sixth volume of Alain Daubresse’s “Liège gunmakers through their work”. This house was registered on the Liège profhouse between 1853 and 1866, which corresponds perfectly to the weapon in question.
On the other hand, we found nothing about Benoit Vidal, arquebusier in Carcassonne, probably the dealer.
Markings
ELG on star in vertical oval: accepted by the Liege Test Board from 1846 to 1893;
Perron: inspection by the Test Bench of Liège;
V under crown: countermark of a controller, in use from 1853 to 1877;
EL: provisional proof, in use since 1852;
17.0: probably the diameter in mm, probably a 16 gauge.
GP with the help of HPH.
J. STREELS & C°
It is
about a shotgun to percussion, with black powder and loading by the mouth. Locks
are “ahead” and turned blue with the flame. The hammers are external. The
unrifled bores are juxtaposed and of gauge 17,6 mm what should correspond to
gauge 16. A master key rod is visible on the barrels but not the rod! The stick
out of wooden of walnut is of form “Pistol”.
The metal
buttplate is bronzed.
The weapon carries the punches of the proofhouse of Liège, namely:
ELG* in a vertical oval: final acceptance, of use of 1846 to 1893.
Z*: countermark of the controller, of use of 1877 to 1968.
The weapon also carries the mark of manufacturing is J. STREELS & Co. This factory was installed street Sœurs of Hasque, 16 in Liège.
It was registered with the proofhouse of Liège of 1853 to 1866 before becoming P. STREELS & Co of 1866 to 1890.
It was taken again in 1890 by
SARTON Hubert,
street of the University, 4 in Liège.
(See
heading of invoice attached).
8822:
it is most probably about the serial number.
GG
J. STREELS & C°
For little that the two photographs allow it to me, I then to say that it is about a double shotgun to percussion (loading by the mouth).
The stick out of wooden of walnut is carved “with the French” but the subject is not discernible on the photograph.
The barrels carry the punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
Spangled ELG in a vertical oval: final acceptance, of use of 1846 to 1893.
V crowned: countermark of the controller, of use of 1853 to 1877 (what gives us already a period of manufacture).
Peron: inspection, of use of 1853 to our days.
EL in English letters: provisional test, of use of 1852 to our days.
Moreover, we notice the mention J. STREELS & C° which corresponds to the manufacturer of Liège STREELS J & Co street Sœurs De Hasque n°16 in LIEGE. It was registered with the proofhouse of 1875 to 1881. (Which still recuts the period of manufacture).
GG
