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
Nagant “Customs” (Copy)
It is about a revolver of ordinance with central percussion and box frame. The barrel is with 8 sides with a front sight in half-moon. The rod slides in a guide integrated into the console and is maintained by a small leaf spring. The cylinder with 6 blows is grooved; these grooves are elliptic as envisaged on this model. The wood grips of walnut squared are maintained by a transverse screw and two rivet washers. The stick ends in a ring and its screw-pivot.
The weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG* in a crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.
AH*: countermark of the controller post 1877.
R crowned: rifled bore, of use of 1894 to 1968.
The weapon also carries the following marks:
DOUANE B 317 which leave us think that it could be a question of a revolver NAGANT model 1878-86 in simple and double action adopted by the Belgian customs. It will be replaced only in 1900 by a Browning pistol. I however deplore the absence of the mark of LEOPOLD II (2 L interlaced under crown in a circle and struck by the Manufacture d’Armes de l’Etat (Manufactory of the State) and mark NAGANT PATENTS!? In addition the complete mention of the customs mark is DOUANE BELGE (BELGIAN CUSTOMS) what does not seem be the case here.
As of before 1900, with the expiry of the patent, other firms whose ANCION-MARX copied revolvers NAGANT with a certain commercial success.
L crowned: marking of the founder of barrel.
GG
