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
DEFFET N. Or DELMOTTE Nicolas (Maybe !)
It is about a CHAMELOT - DELVIGNE M73 made in LIEGE as the punches of the profhouse of this Belgian city attest some. CHAMELOT and DELVIGNE often made manufacture their weapons in LIEGE because of a cost price less than in France. They often were in relation to PIRLOT Brothers in LIEGE (see site) the revolvers carrying this mark are not rare.
It is here about a “copy” civil Liège manufacture of lawful French model 1873/1874 and M1873 being reproduced on this weapon refers to its military homonym well (commercial interest). The lawful revolver 1873 was manufactured 1874 to 1887 exclusively by the Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Etienne (MAS). It was produced 325.000 standard models, 35.000 models officer (1874) and + 14.000 Marine models (13188 revolvers 1873 Marine) and officer (1566 revolvers 1874 Marine) between 1874 and 1886. And approximately 7000 specimens 1873 Marine “last manufacture” of the news cartridge in 11,73 mm with “powder without smoke” (engineer Vieille) in 1886 and 1887.
Many more or less faithful civil copies were produced in Liege and Saint-Etienne by various arms manufacturers until 1914.
The difference between the 1873 and the 1874 lie in the completion, the 1874 “officer” is reduced (grooved barrel) and is bronzed (shining or Chechmate).
With the origin, the manufacture of Chamelot-Delvigne of what will become lawful Modèle 1873-74 in France, Modèle 1872 in Switzerland and Modèle 1874 in Italy east ensured by Pirlot Frères which will market also its weapons for the civil market and the officers which traditionally buy their weapon. But they don’t manage to satisfy all the requests and other firms of Liège (Lepage Frères…) propose their own models (.450 and .380).
Punches
They are the punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
R spangled: countermark of the controller from the 27/01/1877.
ELG on star in an oval: final acceptance of the 08/09/1846 to the 10/07/1893.
Markings
M 1873: allusion (commercial) to lawful French
425: serial number
13 on all the parts: number of the weapon
ND: mark of a subcontractor. Several craftsmen can correspond to these initial, for example:
- DEFFET N, rocking-lever with OUPEYE about 1887
- DELMOTTE Nicolas, locks manufacturer with MORTIER about 1903.
Dr. E. LECLERC: it would be about the first owner of the weapon.
Chamelot Delvigne IN..Bé.: Attribution of the invention (agents of the patent)
The presence of the mention of invention makes think of an “official” manufacture of a manufacturer recognized in trade (royalties) with the inventors. Probably Pirlot or perhaps Lepage…
This weapon would have been manufactured in Liege between 1877 and 1893 according to the punches.
Chamelot Jean seems inhabitant of Liège of origin was. He resided in Liege Faubourg Holy Gilles, 28 of 1862 to 1869 then street of Bassenge, 20 of 1869 to 1873. DELVIGNE Henri-Gustave, was a former officer of infantry, domiciled in PARIS, German Holy Faubourg, 26 street Saint Domenica.
M1873: I do not have unfortunately a precise explanation to this problem not having the French patents of these inventors. Perhaps will find you a response in the articles on this subject in the Gazette of the Weapons (n° 88 - 282 - 305).
GG et HPH
