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
Collette victor
This is a
superb and desirable set featuring a precision pistol in a box decorated “French
style”, with its accessories (oil pan, screwdriver, cleaning rod, etc.).
All the
pieces seem to be in perfect condition.
It is
obviously a luxury ensemble.
The
pistol, with a particularly elegant line, is finely engraved. Its handle is
beautifully sculpted, its bridge is equipped with a fingerrest.
The weapon is unequivocally a precision shooting
pistol manufactured by
Victor COLLETTE
on the basis of a patent filed by one of his engineers,
Jean Nicolas
HERMAN.
This gun uses gravity to drop the cartridge into the
barrel. The magazine is located above the barrel and the sliding movement takes
the next cartridge. Like the Volcanic pistol (forerunner of Smith & Wesson),
these pistols used cartridges with primer and powder inside the .41 caliber
(approximately 10.5 mm) round, which were produced by
LORON and
GAUPILLAT.
This
self-loading weapon was exhibited at the Paris Universal Exposition of 1855.
Victor
COLLETTE
was a weapons manufacturer at Quai Saint Léonard, 60 in Liège and registered on
the proofhouse from 1857 to 1861, but all indications indicate that his activity
lasted beyond that date.
Note that there is another spelling for his name,
sometimes written with a single L (COLETTE).
The period 1836 to 1909 is also seen as the length of time he was enrolled on
the proofhouse, but this is probably an extrapolation from the dates of his
birth and death.
Further
information on the site from the following link:
https://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20c/a%20colette%20gb.htm
The father of this system belongs to
Jean Nicolas
HERMAN, originally from Wandre in the Liège
region and having resided, among others, in Liège rue Devant les Mineurs, 18. He
was a gunsmith for
Victor COLLETTE
in Liège. The patents for the gravity system are AC7275 of 27.07.1853 and AC7997
of 5.05.1854.
https://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20c/a%20colette%20precisions%20gb.htm
Markings:
VC (under the barrel): Initials of
Victor COLLETTE.
Serial
No. 117 (below the barrel).
Oval ELG
on star (left side of the barrel) corresponding to the proof seal of Liège in
force from 8 September 1846 to 11 July 1893.
The
pistol must therefore have been produced between 1857 and 1861, during the
period of registration on the proofhouse.
HPH, Max, Chris
