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
Van Cauwenberghe
It is a
mini-revolver commonly called "puppy" in Liège as opposed to the Bull-dog
revolver. That five-millimeter gun looks like five rounds to me. Loading is done
through a door placed to the right of the weapon. The round and short barrel is
striped, it carries a half-moon front sight. Underneath it is an articulated
rod. The cylinder is hollow and tanned. The trigger is retractable without
trigger guard.
The
weapon bears the hallmarks of the Liège proofhouse, namely:
ELG* in a
crowned oval: definitive acceptance post 1893.
J*:
controller's countermark, in use from 1877 to 1968.
Crowned
R: striped barrel, in use from 1894 to 1968.
CAL 5:
tear gauge – 5 mm.
Manufacturer: the manufacturer of this weapon is undoubtedly from Liège,
although he apparently left no mark.
Van Cauwenberghe : This gunsmith, retailer, was domiciled in Antwerp, 28, Canal au Sucre in the 1930s.
GG
Van Cauwenberghe
It is
about a shotgun to central percussion. The two barrels of gauge 12 are
juxtaposed. Locks carry the external hammers. They are engraved African reasons
(village, palm trees) the trigger guard carries an engraving representing the
explorer Charles Norton STANLEY. This name is also encrusted with the fine gold
on the tape connecting the barrels.
The weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, that is to say:
ELG* in a crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.
U* D*: countermarks of the controllers, of use of 1877 to 1968.
Peron: inspection, of use of 1853 to our days.
PV surmounted of a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke, of use of 1898 to 1968.
Small letter “i”: yearly letter of the year 1930.
EL in English letters: provisional test, of use of 1852 to our days.
12-70 in the letter omega: gauge nominal and length of casing, of use of 1924 to our days.
1Kg312: weight of the barrel which can draw from the powders without smoke (weapons smooth) except for the gram; In use of 1924 to our days.
Choke 18.3: chokes barrels, gauged to 22 cm of the breech, of use of June 30, 1924 to February 26, 1968.
The weapon also carries the following marks:
L. Van
Cauwenberghe Anvers:
Antwerp (City of the North of Belgium) retailer of this weapon.
Stanley:
see above.
D crowned
: punch of Delcour
with Nessonvaux manufacturer of the barrels.
13.120: number of the weapon.
GG
Van Cauwenberghe
This weapon is most probably Martini Francotte but the photographs don’t make it possible to certify it!
The house Van Cauwenberghe was not a company of manufacture, but rather a store of sale.
As much, at that time, it marked the weapons of their name!
Alain
