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
Rongé Jean-Baptiste
It is
about a shotgun to central percussion, hammers external and key of opening “top
lever”. The barrels in fine Damas Boston are smooth and of gauge 16. The metal
butt plate is with reasons in particular an eagle with the spread wings. The
lock called “ahead” are engraved arabesques. The double trigger curved is under
an oval trigger guard. The stick of form “pistol” is out of wood of walnut.
The
weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, that is to say:
ELG* in a
crowned oval: final acceptance, of use of 1893 to 1968.
16 C in a
rhombus: gauge, of use of 1898 to 1924.
M*:
countermark of the controller, of use of 1877 to 1968.
Peron:
inspection, of use of 1853 to our days.
16,4/17,0: chokes barrels, gauged in mm to 22 cm of the breech and the mouth. In
use of 1910 to 1924.
EL in
English letters: provisional test, of use of 1852 to our days.
Not for
ball: chokes unrifled bores. In use of 1878 to 1897. These dates are not
compatible with others, I am unaware of the cause of it.
The
weapon also carries the following marks:
J-B Rongé
Son in Liège:
manufacturer well-known inhabitant of Liège.
23995 and 23018: marks of manufacturing struck the weapon (guns and battery).
H.W:
mark of manufacturer of barrels of rifles of Vesdre (Liege) not indexed.
GG
Rongé Jean-Baptiste
Here a traditional shotgun juxtaposed with external hammers, key of opening Top lever, forearm with push rod, stick semi-pistol with cheek.
Markings
ELG on
star in oval under crown: acceptance between 1893 and 1968
Lion on
PV: test with the smoke-free powder, between 1898 and 1968
Peron:
inspection, since 1853
X and S
under star: countermarks of controllers, since 1877
57869:
undoubtedly the number of the weapon
P: could
be the initial one of Pirard, gunner, but without guarantee none.
20 on C
in a rhombus: gauge weapon, between 1898 and 1924
EL:
provisional test since 1852
Choke
14.8 over 15.5: chokes barrels, between 1910 and 1924
P
OK989.2: weight of the barrel which can draw from the smoke-free powders,
between 1892 and 1924
D= 65 mm
over 17.7: length of the room in mm, and diameter in mm after the optional test
with the smoke-free powder, of application between 1892 and 1924.
JW:
initial not identified.
Star with five branches with a crown in the medium and letters JRB: one of the registered trademarks by the Manufactory Jean-Baptiste Rongé Fils SA,
place Midsummer's Day 4 in Liege, then place Xavier Neujean by change of denomination.
It was founded in 1789. It was registered with the proofhouse of Liege of 1832 to 1929.
It deposited several patents between 1894 and
1929, and several trademarks between 1894 and 1897.
The activities were taken over by company
ARMAF
in 1929.
One can
thus conclude that the weapon was manufactured between 1910 and 1924.
GP with the appreciated assistance of PHL
J.B. Rongé Fils
Beautiful rifle with rod and percussion, loading by the mouth.
The hammers are external.
The locks are of type “retrograde” and marked with fine gold J.B. Rongé Fils A LIEGE around the hammers.
Wood mounting of drowning is with English.
J-B Rongé Son S.A. places Xavier Neujean was registered with the proofhouse of Liege of 1832 with 1929. The company was then taken again by the A.R.M.A.F. (see site)
He is to be regretted the absence of photographs of the punches of the proofhouse of Liege who are probably under mounting, that would have supplemented the identification.
GG
