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
MARIETTE
A great
classic as this Liège salon pistol for Flobert ammunition. In the absence of
indication on the caliber, it may be assumed to be housed in 6 mm Flobert like
most of its congeners. Nice wood (walnut?), trigger guard with fingerrest, heavy
octagonal barrel (smooth or rifled ?), renaissance type handle make it a
beautiful weapon. The photos seem to show that the sights are adjustable in
drift, with the front sight mounted on a wave tail.
Single-shot barrel, designed for recreational shooting at a moderate range,
flooded the European market with the invention of the metal ring percussion
cartridge by Louis-Nicolas Flobert in 1845. Most of these weapons have been
carefully preserved, often underutilized, and remain fully functional, provided
that the appropriate ammunition (which is still in production) is used. The
specimen presented here is a good illustration because it seems to be in
excellent condition both aesthetically and mechanically.
Markings,
Punches:
ELG on
star in an oval: stamp of the test bench in effect from 8 September 1846 to 11
July 1893.
Z star:
control stamp from January 27, 1877.
GM crowned: perhaps the initials of the manufacturer,
which in this case could be one of the
Mariette
brothers (Gilles or Guillaume), but without
certainty.
JC: initials that could correspond to those of the
gunner Joseph CAP,
also subject to usage restrictions.
In summary, a nice flobert gun, probably 6 mm,
manufactured in Liège, possibly by
Gilles or
Guillaume Mariette, between 1877 and 1893
according to the visible punches.
Chris, HPH, GP
MARIETTE
Here is a
beautiful side lever opening gun called
LECLERCQ, adjustable sight, signed
MARIETTE.
Which of the
MARIETTE
is not easy to determine since there were a dozen of them. Especially since
there is no mention of “patented”, which is “normal” since
MARIETTE
did not invent the
LECLERCQ
system... The weapon is, in any case, after 1893.
An
overview of the production of some members of the Mariette dynasty is given on
the website.
The
markings
ELG on
star in crowned oval: accepted, in use between 1893 and 1968;
LD crowned:
Lambert
DUMOULIN?
Y under
star: countermark of a controller, in use from 1877 to 1968;
Perron:
inspection by the proofhouse of Liège, in use since 1853;
G.S:
unidentified;
EL:
provisional proof, in use since 1852;
5.4: in
principle it should be the calibre: I expected 5.6 or 6 mm, but I can’t find 5.4
in my modest documentation.
GP avec l’aide de HPH
MARIETTE
5 smooth
9 mm Flobert caliber barrels in a single block that rotate around an axis
terminated by a nut that holds the assembly in place.
We have
to turn this block by hand.
Total
length: 18 cm
Barrel
length: 7,57 cm
Marks:
ELG in
oval (1811 to 1893), inspector’s stamp, crowned Y (1853 to 1877)
Mark “Mariette
Breveté”.
In one of the grooves of the barrel: Flobert 1859
(This is the serial number because the same
number is behind the bridge.
Richard C.
Mariette
Here is
an unusual 22 cal Mariette pepperbox.
Many thanks to Paul of Antikke våpen for the nice pictures
Mariette
Double rifle of hunting to central percussion.
The juxtaposed barrels are smooth and of gauge 28 (14 mm4).
The hammers are external.
The stick in wood (walnut tree) is of type “pistol”.
The hand-shield is finely squared.
The system of closing of the type LECLERCQ or key snake, is a modification of closing with double bolt with side lever.
The lever bolt instead of being placed in front of the trigger guard, circumvents locks it and comes to finish close to the place which the inch occupies when rifle is held.
This very practical lever actuates the opening of the rocker with the greatest facility.
The weapon carries the punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG on star in a crowned oval: acceptance post 1893.
J spangled: countermark of the controller post 1877.
Peron: inspection post 1853.
EL in cursive letters: provisional test, of use of 1852 to our days.
28 C in a rhombus on point: gauge, of use of 1898 to 1924.
Time of manufacture: between 1898 and 1924.
Manufacturer:
The MARIETTE mark is struck between the barrels. She does not present a first name what complicates the identification because the named arms manufacturers MARIETTE were numerous.
By considering the period of manufacture (between 1898 and 1924), we can eliminate several for only retaining from them:
MARIETTE Dieudonné of HOIGNEE-CHERATTE, registered to the proofhouse of 1904 to 1922 and which is the author of 23 Belgian patents.
MARIETTE E. HOIGNEE-CHERATTE, registered to the proofhouse of 1911 to 1912 and which will deposit 2 Belgian patents.
MARIETTE-CERFONTAINE Dieudonné which is perhaps the same one as the first quoted, manufacturer of weapons with CHERATTE and which of 1891 to 1908 deposits three patents.
GG
