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
Joseph Thonon
It is a
shotgun with central percussion and barrels juxtaposed. The system is called
hammerless with “top lever” opening wrench and Galand type slide safety. The
butt is shaped "à la française" !!
The
weapon bears the hallmarks of the Liège proofhouse, namely:
ELG* in
a crowned oval: definitive acceptance post 1893.
AB* and
B*: Controllers' countersigns, in use from 1877 to 1968.
16 C in
a diamond: calibre, in use from 1898 to 1924.
Peron
(little step): inspection, in use from 1853 to the present day.
PV
surmounted by a stylized lion: smoke-free powder proof, in use from 1898 to
1968.
Choke
16.4/17.0 and 16.9/17.0 : shocked barrels. Measured in mm at 22 cm from the
breech and at the mouth. Used from 1910 to 1924.
D = 65
mm / 18.9 : Length of chamber in mm and diameter in mm after optional smokeless
powder test. In use from 1892 to 1924.
1K151:
Weight of the barrel capable of firing smokeless powder (smooth weapons) to the
nearest gram. In use from 30 June 1924 to the present day.
This
weapon also bears the following markings:
Maison
Jos. Thonon
(Jos Thonon house) : This house was registered in Liège from 1885 to 1912.
Made for
Natta Marseille : Natta was a gunsmith in Marseille (26, rue de l’Etrieu) in
1900, reports the “Who's who” of the weapon in France.
6619:
Number of the weapon.
G91 :
Workshop brand?
The marks A in a capital C and others in rounded letters are unknown to me. They are likely owned by the manufacturer??
GG
