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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

WARNANT-CREON Julien

It is a small rifle, called garden or living room, in caliber 9mm Flobert and intended for precision shooting at a reasonable distance. It has an octagonal barrel, standard sights and a diopter holder. (It's the tin welded piece you wanted to know what it's used for !!)

The trigger guard is worked with a sketch of finger rest. One-shot, its extractor is Warnant system.

Reminder: Louis-Nicolas Flobert, French gunmaker (1818 - 1894), invented the first metal cartridge with annular percussion in 1845. This was a major innovation in the field of firearms ammunition. The 9mm Flobert is still in use today and rifles of this calibre are still produced today.

There is no specific indication of the manufacturer of the weapon. However, the letters WC engraved on the gun may possibly militate for Walter Clément (see the website) but much more probably for Warnant-Créon Julien, see on the website a rifle showing points in common with it, patented on March 23, 1885.

Note the analogy of the extraction system between the two weapons.

Markings:

Peron (little step) : stamp of the inspector of the proofhouse (valid from 16.06.1853 to the present day) in several places of the rifle.

M under star: control stamp in effect from January 27, 1877, left side of the hammer.

WC on the barrel, possibly Warnant-Créon branding.

Number 99 (or 66 depending on the reading direction) probably a serial number, on the barrel, next to another unidentified marking (an animal?)

Marking in front of the sight, evoking the letter J.

FL. 9 m. C, extractor in open position, Flobert 9mm calibre indication.

Note: On the available photos, we could not detect an ELG oval.

In conclusion, this rifle was probably manufactured by Julien Warnant-Créon in Liège, after 1885.

Chris, GP, , HPH

Julien WARNANT-CREON

Here is an impressive five-shot revolver not reported by the lucky owner (although it has at least one cartridge that seems to match), probably a .450. Finger rest under the bridge, nice crosses.

I see only a G in a circle and a crowned Y that could be a controller’s countermark (used until 1877). I’m surprised I don’t see any other punches, Liégeois or otherwise... We know the arms manufacturer Henri GÜLPEN who used the letter G, but he was active between 1910 and 1914, which seems too late for this type of revolver. 577 is probably a production number.

You can clearly see the WARNANT-CREON Patented mention. The latter, whose name was Julien (1854-1916), has already been mentioned on the site. He has filed several patents, including revolvers, but I have not found anything that closely or remotely matches this one and its locking system (at least among the ones I own).

Julien Warnant-Creon

The weapon

Rifle of living room or garden of the type WARNANT to long mobile breech.

Calibre of the barrel with 8 sides is 9mm.

The stick out of wooden of walnut or beech is carved “with the French” or “head” of a head of lion and foliage.

This weapon was invented by Julien WARNANT-CREON of CHERATTE (Liege) and the patent deposited the 23.03.1885 (see technical drawing in appendix).

Punches

ELG on star in a crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.

Peron: inspection post 1853.

O spangled: countermark of the controller post 1877.

Marks

FL 9MC: calibre 9 mm Flobert.

3203: serial number.

1909: although that is very little used, it is probably about the date of manufacture.

8,4: ignored significance.

Two other marks on the barrels partially erased escape my comprehension?

The manufacturer

As often in arms manufacture of Liège for the parts of average quality, this weapon voluntarily does not carry any marking of manufacturer. The anonymity of this one will thus be respected since it is not possible to make differently.