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
Xhrouet
The Francotte rifle Model 1842 for Switzerland
History
Around 1839/1840, the Swiss government ordered weapons
from various Belgian gunmakers, including the Model 1842 rifle.
Among others, the Francotte company was contacted and
manufactured numerous rifles of that model, along with prototypes and
pre-series.
The presented rifle was purchased from Francotte by the
Liège Museum of Arms in early 1891, among a lot of 500 various weapons as
described in the list herebelow.
The rifle was Registered by the Museum under n° 2000
(marked on the forewood).
Later on, in 1928, the rifle was sold to gunmaker Jules
Pire of Antwerp (session dd 20.07.1928 - info received from the Liège Museum),
possibly because the Museum owned one or more doubles.
The marks:
ELG* in oval: final acceptance stamp until 1893.
Letters X and L in cursive on the barrel : this mark
refers to barrel maker family Xhrouet, located in Nessonvaux since the 18th
century.
Almost all parts are marked "crown over AF", which
belongs to gunmaker Auguste Francotte.
All other stamps remain unidentified.
Thanks to Max for this large research.
