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
Merolla Frères
It is a
revolver pinfire and box frame, made in Liège as evidenced by the Liège
proofmarks. The fluted barrel own 6 chambers. The barrel is octagonal with
raised front sight and the calibre is
9
mm. A metal rod is placed under the barrel and attached to the console.
To open
the gun, simply unscrew the screw fixing the barrel to the carcass and the screw
fixing the barrel on the shaft. The barrel comes off and releases the cylinder.
The part that closes the frame above the barrel is fitted into the carcass with
two pins.
The butt
consists of two beautifully carved wooden chimeras. They are held by a central
screw and two rosettes. The butt ends with a ring and its pivot screw.
The
punches
The
weapon bears the marks of the Liège proofhouse, namely:
ELG on a
star in a vertical oval: definitive acceptance, in use from 1846 to 1893.
U*:
Controller’s countermark, in use from 1877 to 1968.
Marks
Apart from serial number 435, the brands are
conspicuous by their absence. No brand of the Liège manufacturer. It could
nevertheless be a weapon of the
Merolla brothers
(see patent 23. 148 of 30. 04. 1868 attached)
GG
This
weapon works in single and double action.
The
original system for disassembling the revolver is also found on a revolver
marked Rube Bte (see 19th Century pistols and pocket revolvers by Dimitri Singer
page 95).
Rube was
an armourer at Montdidier in 1855.