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
Albert Spirlet & Cie
This beautiful
revolver with checkered grips (probably walnut), a 7-sided barrel, a cap ring,
and an ingenious loading and unloading system with simultaneous ejection of the
cases by upward break (often called tip-up) is the work of gunsmith Albert
Spirlet. It is clearly a fine piece of late 19th-century armory.
The weapon's
opening system consists of a pushbutton placed in front of the trigger guard.
Once pressed, it releases the barrel-cylinder assembly upward (tip-up) by
pivoting on the sight. Spirlet was one of the pioneers of the inventors of
simultaneous ejection systems.
Spirlet revolvers
are well documented on the website, as well as a description of the system and
the corresponding patents (16 patents from 1860 to 1876). Further information is
also available at the following link:
http://www.armeetpassion.com/spirlet.html
An identical copy
is available on the website, with a detailed description (see also its eventful
history...):
Comparing the two
weapons reveals that the caliber is identical, i.e., .450 centerfire. This
ammunition became widespread for handguns starting in 1867 after its adoption as
the standard caliber by the British Army. Markings:
ELG over an oval
star, cylinder, proof mark from September 8, 1846, to July 11, 1893.
K under a crown,
right-hand barrel block and cylinder, proof mark from December 30, 1853, to
January 26, 1877.
5892, left-hand
barrel block, probably serial number.
Cast steel,
right-hand barrel block, a very common indication for Spirlet revolvers.
Al Spirlet et
Cie, left-hand barrel block, maker's signature.
By Albert
Spirlet, Quai de la Boverie, Liège.
In conclusion, this is a Spirlet
system revolver in .450 caliber, produced by this same manufacturer between 1870
and 1877.
Chris, HPH
Albert Spirlet
The weapon
It is about a revolver with central percussion with opening “tip up” i.e. the barrel with sides, rocks upwards on the hinge placed in top of the frame and that the pushbutton placed under the frame was in a hurry.
The collective extractor is out of star.
The cylinder smooth but slightly engraved is with 6 shots.
The grips in wood (to drown?) are squared, they are joined together by a screw and two rivet washers with ears. It ends in a ring of cap and its screw pivot.
Punches
The only visible punch on the photographs is the V crowned which is the countermark of the controller of the bench of tests of Liege, of use of 1853 to 1877.
Spangled punch ELG in an oval which is the punch of final acceptance, valid of 1846 to 1893 should be visible in theory on the back face of the barrel.
The manufacturer
The crowned lion drawn up on its former is a mark used by Albert SPIRLET (1) quay of Boverie, 31 in LIEGE.
From 1860 to 1876, it deposits sixteen Belgian patents (see site)
Mark FC (?) on an amount of stick is not very readable. It could acts of a mark of subcontractor.
GG
At the end of 2009 I had ordered a beautiful Spirlet revolver in the USA.
February 20, 2010 the customs announced me to have received a parcel for me coming from the USA. This parcel was filled with water and had obviously been immersed underwater during several weeks!!
Here are photographs of what I had ordered, at the beginning!
Alain
And here are photographs of what we discovered in the parcel!!
After a long work of restoration which will be told to you in a special page, here is the state of my Spirlet today.
Alain
