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
Leruitte-Smeets Clémentine
It is a rifle with two juxtaposed barrels, one in FL9 mm calibre and the other
in 22Long calibre. The walnut wood butt is of the “pistol” type. The double
locks is, it seems to me, of the Warning type.
The pontet is in volutes.
The weapon bears the marks of the proofhouse of Liège, namely:
ELG * in a crowned oval: accepted, in use from 1893 to
1968.
Peron: inspection, in use from 1853 to the present day.
AF*: Controller’s countermark. In use from 1877 to 1968.
R crowned: striped cannons, in use from 1894 to 1968.
8. 3 and 9. 3: this could be the gauges in mm (in use
since 1889)
Other markings
FL 9mm – FL 22L: calibres.
1904: This is probably the year of manufacture?
J. WEINGALTEN DUSSELDORF (so read? ): it is most likely
the dealer-armourer who resells this weapon.
LS crowned:
this is a trademark of the arms manufacturer
Leruitte, Clementine born Smeets,
living in Liège rue Duvivier, 16. She was registered on the Liège proofhouse
from 1854 to 1892.
This crowned LS trademark was
registered on 12. 08. 1885. The factory changed its corporate name and became
Widow Mde Leruitte from 1892 to
1909.
GG
