Infantry riffle N°1
This is a FLINTLOCK '' INFANTRY RIFLE No 1'' of the Belgian Army, inspired by the French Model 1816 or 1822 except for the lock which is closer to model ''AN IX''.
Without the exact measurements of this gun (OA length, Barrel length, Caliber) it is difficult to be more precise.
MARKINGS.
Few stamps are present:
ELG in an oval; this is the ''large'' stamp with the 5 branches STAR, used from 1818 to 1893 as PROOF acceptance.
Crowned P: could be the unknown mark of the manufacturer of this weapon, probably belonging to the arms industry of Liège and manufactured in the beginning of the years 1830, the M.A.E having been created only after 1840.
Five manufacturers "could" correspond to this mark are:
PECKLERS N
PELLETIER Fils
PEREE J
PIRLOT E
PLOMDEUR J.
It should be noted that a close examination of this mark is impossible on a photograph and I am not sure that it is a P, the Crown being more visible thus confirmed.
We must also notice the total absence of any reception marks of the Belgian Government.
GG
Many thanks to the "ROYAL ARMY MUSEUM" Bruxelles for the pictures.
(N° identification : XLV 9611)
Photos Littlegun
This one is quite similar to the "Ordinary Infantry Rifle N° 1" manufactured in 1830 and 1831 by private contractors. "FM" could stand for "FRANCOTTE & MAY", signatories of a contract with the Provisional Government for the delivery (together with other manufacturers) of 4500 n° 1 Rifles (Brussels on October 23, 1830).
MD
Many thanks to the "ROYAL ARMY MUSEUM" Bruxelles for the pictures.
(N° identification : VI 329)
