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

Fernand THONON

Here is a beautiful Liège superimposed rifle with nicely engraved platinum that immediately reminds of another beautiful copy of Fernand THONON examined on the site.

It looks very much like it, but unfortunately this one is not signed... nor is the engraving. That's too bad.

The markings

Peron: inspection by the proofhouse of Liège;

1kg194: barrel weight, in use since 1924;

q: annual letter for 1938;

u under asterisk: countermark of a controller, in use from 1877 to 1968;

lion on PV: smokeless powder test, in use between 1898 and 1968;

ELG on star in crowned oval: accepted, in use between 1893 and 1968;

12-70 in omega coated: nominal calibre, in use since 1924;

EL: Provisional proof, in use since 1852.

Choke 18.3: Choke gun, in use since 1924;

Andrew WS Nickel Toledo Steel Works Sheffield: a steelmaker from Sheffield. See also on the link cited above.

There are also two references to "Belgium.

GP with the help of HPH

Fernand THONON

A superb rifle made by Fernand Thonon.

Thanks to Brigitte Lachenmaier for the beautiful photos.

Fernand THONON

Fernand Thonon

The weapon

It is about a shotgun of the hammerless type, with key top lever and Galand safety.

The unrifled bores are juxtaposed and of gauge 12.

English engraving is with “rollers”.

The stick out of wooden of drowning is worked with English with a part of inch (or with monogram) new silver.

Punches

The weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:

ELG on star in an oval under crown: final acceptance post 1893.

Peron: inspection post 1853.

U under star: countermark of the controller post 1877.

PV surmounted of a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke, of use of 1898 to 1968.

12-65 in an omega lying: gauge nominal and length of the casing, of use of 1924 at our days.

1Kg275: weight of the gun which can draw from the powders without smoke (weapons smooth) to the gram near. In use of 1924 to our days.

Y: yearly letter of 1946 (year of manufacture)

CHOKE 18.3 - 18.4: chokés guns: calibre in mm to 22 cm of the breech and the mouth.

 In use of 1924 to 1968.

Markings

2721: job number.

Andrew Toledo Steel Works Sheffield: type of steel used for the guns. Steel aviation originating in Sheffield in England. See publicity and repertory of steels of Sheffield.

L.SMEETS engraver: it is of course about the engraver of Liège having carried out this splendid engraving unfortunately the engravers never were the subject of a complete study, so that we know little well of it about them.

Maison Fernand THONON LIEGE: it is about the manufacturer of weapons established in LIEGE street Louvrex, 50 then street Monulphe, 51. With his brother Edmond it deposited two patents for weapons of hunting. He was the successor of house THONUS Frères.

GG

 

Repertory of steels of Sheffield

Iron and Steel Board District 9—Sheffield

Fernand THONON

According to what I could see, it should be a question of a double rifle of hunting to lock hammerless, gauges 12. The lock is engraved in English style.

It carries the punches of the house of tests of Liege, namely:

S and V spangled: countermarks of the controllers post 1877.

Peron: inspection post 1853;

PV surmounted of a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke of use of 1898 to 1968.

The manufacturer is Fernand THONON, 51 street Monulphe in Liege which was registered with the house of tests of 1919 to 1929.

Its barrels were often manufactured out of nickel-plated steel TOLEDO - TOLEDO COMPRESSES - SIEMENS-MARTIN STEEL

GG

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