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
Malherbe Edouard
Classical Model 1871 Comblain system carbine destined to the Belgian "Garde Civique". Although the weapon is a "short" rifle with an overall length of 120 cm, it is officially called "carbine". (The difference between a rifle and a carbine is determined by the length of the barrel. If the barrel is longer than 40 cm between the breech and the muzzle, it is called "rifle". If the barrel is shorter than 40 cm, it's called "carbine". The same goes for muskets and musketoons. The difference between a rifle and a musket is that a rifle has a rifled bore, while a musket is smooth; and a musketoon with rifled bore s called a "carbine" for the same reason).
Phosforic bronze receiver. These weapons have been manufactured by numerous small shops. The presented one was manufactured by Edouard Malherbe of Liège. This gunmakers was holder of 14 patents between 1856 and 1880, and is known to have manufactured Comblain rifles for Brazil.
Markings
GB in oval : (owned by) Belgian Government
U under crown: countermark of a controller, in use between 1853 and 1877;
L crowned in a circle: probably the countermark of a military controller;
GP with the help of PHL.
