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
Wery & Massillon
(Better photos of the previous weapon)
Wery & Massillon
It is obviously about a copy of the Norwegian NAGANT (see site) recognizable to its front sight in half-moon with setback. I am unaware of if the parts interns are in conformity with the original model.
Copies of weapons being often of free inspiration.
The weapon does not carry any specific mark of Nagant, not even lettering/numbering of the parts facilitating disassembling/reassembly.
The weapon carries the mark W & M in a horizontal cartouche which belongs to company WERY & MASSILLON in Liege, it was registered with the proofhouse of this town of 1908 to 1920.
WERY, Charles, street St Gilles, 166 in Liege. From 1906 to 1913, it deposits 3 Belgian patents for:
- an ejector for shotgun called LE ROBUSTE one (with MASSILLON Mathieu Julien).
- an ejector for shotgun called LE RAPIDE (with MASSILLON M.J.)
- An automatic pistol (with MASSILLON Mathieu Julien and MARTIN Andre).
WERY and MASSILLON join then and are registered with the proofhouse of 1908 to 1920.
It carries the punches of this same proofhouse, namely:
Spangled ELG in a crowned oval: acceptance post 1893.
T spangled: countermark of the controller post 1877.
R crowned: rifled bore, of use of 1894 to 1968.
GG
