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
Jean FALLA
Here is a
beautiful juxtaposed Anson & Deeley made in Liège, engraved by Léonard Smeets.
He was appointed engraver on arms of His Majesty the King on 20 October 1952
(thus during the reign of King Baudouin).
See
SMEETS Léonard.
The seller of this rifle is the company
Adolphe JANSEN,
which has been active in Brussels for almost a century, as can be read in the
following section:
See
Adolphe JANSEN
Adolphe
JANSEN
was also linked to the Belgian royal family in the 19th century, but we do not
know until what year.
The weapon is actually a product of
Jean FALLA’s
well-known Liège company.
Markings
Y: the
annual letter Y for the year 1946;
I kg 235
: weight of the gun, in use since 1924 ;
M under
asterisk: countermark of a controller, in use from 1877 to 1968;
Lion on
PV: smokeless powder test, in use from 1898 to 1968;
ELG on
star in crowned oval: accepted by the Liège Test Bench between 1893 and 1968.
12-70 in
coated omega: nominal size and length of the sleeve, in use since 1924.
GP with
the help of HPH and PHL.
Jean FALLA
The JF
mark in a diamond is that of Jean Falla, known primarily as a maker of rifle
barrels.
Given the
unusual location of this marking, it is very likely that the gun is entirely his
own.
Alain
Jean Falla
It is
about a shotgun of the hammerless type. Locks “ahead” and nicely are engraved
animalist reasons in “bottom-hollow”. The opening is practiced using a key “Top
Lever” placed in top of the brech. A safety of the type GALAND (with slide)
there is assistant. The barrels of gauge 20 (16 mm1) are smooth and juxtaposed.
The stick in walnut is of type “pistol”.
The
weapon carries the lawful punches of the Belgian proofhouse of LIEGE, namely:
ELG* in a
crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.
Z*:
countermark of the controller post 1877.
EL in
cursive letters: provisional test post 1852.
PV
surmounted of a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke, of use of
1898 to 1968.
20-70 in
an omega: gauge nominal and length of casing. In use of 1924 to our days.
1Kg081:
weight of the barrel which can draw from the powders without smoke (weapons
smooth) except for the gram. In use of 1924 to our days.
Greek letter gamma:
yearly letter of 1950.
CHOKE
15.9: chokes barrels: gauged to 22 cm of the breech, of use of 1924 to 1968.
The
weapon also carries the following marks:
52277:
serial number.
SIEMENS-MARTIN MARTELE (HAMMERS) (hammer) CAP J.F.: steel of Liège used by the
manufacturer of barrels of rifle Jean FALLA in LIEGE (see the site).
The
manufacturer of the weapon in itself did not leave his mark, it will thus remain
anonymous.
GG
Jean Falla
According
to your photographs, it is about a shotgun, double juxtaposed, with unrifled
bores.
Locks are
of hammerless type with key of opening Top Lever and safety with slide of the
Galand type.
Engravings in hollow bottom of this weapon are “vegetable”.
The
weapon carries a lawful punch of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
EL in
cursive letters:
provisional test, of use of 1852 to our days.
It also
carries marks of Hungarian tests, namely:
a) ECU 2
vague R + 82: Punch of D test and date
b) ECU NR
78: Final test of the weapon in white or delivery condition
c) ECU
NR: Idem
d)
32895-49: N° of the test?
The other
marks on the barrels are:
9332:
classification of the weapon.
Siemens
Martin steel Falla patent brazing
indicates that the manufacturer of barrels of rifles
Jean FALLA
street Bonne News, 35 in Liege used steel SIEMENS MARTIN for the manufacture of
the barrels.
The initial
J.F.
also belong to
Jean FALLA.
Lovena:
female first name! I am unaware of to whom it belong, mark of the weapon,
owner???
Superimposed marks are visible on the barrels, I could not identify them!
There
seems finally that the manufacturer itself did not leave of trademark on his
weapon, it will remain unfortunately anonymous!
GG
Jean Falla
This is a center-fire shotgun.
The two juxtaposed barrels are smooth.
The breech are of the "forward" type. The opening system (breakage) is "top
lever". It is followed by a "Galand" type slide safety device. The forearm is of
the pump type. The plates are engraved with animal subjects. The walnut stock is
a pistol grip.
The weapon carries the punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG* in a crowned oval:
final acceptance from 1893 to 1968.
Peron:
inspection, in use from 1853 to the present day.
PV surmounted by a stylized lion:
smokeless gunpowder proof, in use from 1898 to 1968.
G*:
countermark of a controller, in use from 1877 to 1968.
16-70 in an omega:
nominal size and case length.
In use from 1924 to the present day.
1Kg267:
weight of the barrel being able to draw powders without smoke (smooth weapons).
In use from 1924 to the present day.
CHOKE 16. 9:
chocked barrels, calibrated 22 cm from the breech.
In use from 1924 to 1968.
Letter 0 not closed:
this is probably an annual letter that I do not find on my list.
Sorry.
4464:
serial number.
The gun does not bear any legible manufacturer’s mark, but the barrels bear the
mark JF and
JF in a diamond, which are trademarks of the barrel manufacturer
Jean Falla.
GG
Jean Falla
The manufacturer of the barrels
The mark of Jean FALLA, manufacturer of barrels of rifles, Rue Bonne Nouvelle, 35 in Liege is partially visible on the guns (see mark in appendix)
The company Jean FALLA was registered with the bench of test of Liege of 1931 to 1953.
The manufacturer of the weapon
This weapon, a shotgun juxtaposed, hammerless, with top key and stick of drowning English style is a whole of scattered parts (guns - locks - wood) joined together by a small arms manufacturer of Liège who did not judge good to sign his work.
The practice was very current in the many small workshops of Liège of the time, which I locate between 1931 and 1968, guns having been able to be gone up after the disappearance of factory FALLA in 1953!
GG
Rifle GASTINNE-RENETTE
This weapon is a shotgun to juxtaposed unrifled bores, locks hammerless, key top lever, English stick, the engraving of locks is also in the English style.
It carries the punches of the proof house of Liege to knowing
Spangled ELG in a crowned oval: acceptance, use of 1893 to 1968.
Surmounted statement of a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke, use of 1898 to 1968.
12-70 in large C: gauge nominal and length of the casing, post 1924.
Manufacturer (of the barrels ?)
The manufacturer of the barrels and perhaps of the complete weapon is Jean FALLA already evoked on the site.
He used in particular steel POLDI NICKEL STEEL KLADNO JF and the head of woman in an oval is well its mark just like JF crowned.
This company manufactured barrels of rifles but also complete weapons.
Mention GASTINNE RENETTE was registered after purchase of the weapon by this famous Parisian arms manufacturer who wanted to benefit from the keen prices inhabitant of Liège.
GG
Many thanks to Douglas for the photos.
Jean Falla
Jean Falla
The weapon
It is about a shotgun to locks H&H hammerless, key top lever, juxtaposed unrifled bores gauges 12. Engraving and the stick are of English type.
Punches
It carries the punches of the proof house of Liege following:
Spangled ELG in a crowned oval: acceptance (1893/1968)
12-70 in large C: gauge nominal and length of the casing (post 1924)
1 kg 270 and 1 kg 287: weight of the guns which can draw from the powders without smoke (weapons smooth) post 1924.
Peron: inspection (post 1853)
G spangled and Y spangled: countermarks of the controllers (1877/1968)
EL in cursive letters: provisional test (post 1852)
CHOKE 18.3: chokes guns: cal. to 22 cm of the breech (1924/1968)
PV surmounted of a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke (1898/1968)
Greek letter: yearly letter of 1957 on a barrel.
Letter O: yearly letter of 1976 on the other barrel.
6015: job number.
Marks
Jean FALLA was a manufacturer of weapons and manufacturer of barrels in Liege Street New Bonne, 35.
He used in particular the trade mark and engraved with the serrated roller “head of eagle - Acier comprimé CAP JF” It acted of a steel high strength allowing the manufacture of extra-light barrels.
J.FALLA was largely evoked on the site.
Specified
Does the difference in dating (1957 and 1976) challenge me a little, I suppose that there will have been a change of barrel at a certain time or although the manufacturer would have used an old gun??
Wasn't the photograph showing the marks of the guns very clear (blow of flash - incomplete mark) I thus issue some reserves with the possible mark of another manufacturer, FALLA having perhaps manufactured only the guns?
GG
