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
Henri Pieper
Fusil Rationnel
Henri Pieper
Fusil Rationnel
What we know about it:
LE RATIONNEL: registered trademark of Henri Pieper on November 16, 1896.
The Rationel was manufactured between 1895 and 1905, first by Henri
Pieper and then after 1898 by the Pieper Establishments.
Excerpt from a note from my book on the chapter of the Pieper
Establishments (created on the death of Henri Pieper):
The second star is the "Rational" rifle, another very simple weapon with inner
hamers;
but unlike the Hammerless Type 1900, arming is not done by opening or closing
the rifle but by means of an outer lever placed on the left side face of the
percussion mechanism. This device is supposed to offer the user ‘absolute’
security.
Apparently it will no longer be included in the catalog of Ancient Pieper
Establishments.
As for patents, I don't see any specific one for the Rational; but
perhaps I didn't look well...
Michel du Sud
Henri Pieper
Rifle Rationnel
Below the
photos of the weapon you will find a copy of Pieper’s original inventor’s patent
application nb 93065 dd oct 12th, 1890 and covering the mechanism of cape guns.
The patent was granted in Liège, so the whole text is written in French.
Although
this gun was made in Belgium, the German proofmarks probably indicate it was
imported in Germany some time and reproofed there on a later date.
Besides,
the Pieper family had roots in Germany.
The
signature H. Pieper Bté on the receiver of this gun mean “Henri Pieper Breveté”,
which is French for “Henri Pieper’s Patent”.
The small
lever on the left side, which allows cocking and decocking without opening the
gun, is a very interesting and rare safety system.
Marcel
