Some of the most beautiful work of this craftsman are in this book “The Francotte Dynasty”.
For more detail see: The Francotte Dynasty
Auguste FRANCOTTE
Here is a percussion pistol made in Liège, Auguste FRANCOTTE more precisely, intended for the Danish army.
The particular shape of the hammer is also found on Dutch, English and Russian weapons.
Swing rod. Caliber not reported.
Mathieu
Willemsen, from the Nationaal Militair Museum in the Netherlands, has put us on
the trail of this pistol without any markings, visible and photographed in any
case, except the signature on the lock.
GP et Mathieu Willemsen
Francotte - Cavalry
Called
cavalry, it was distributed in the cavalry, but also in the artillery.
The Model 1842 percussion prescription pistol will
have been the last model of a muzzle-loaded pistol before revolvers arrived 30
years later. Two suppliers had shared the confederate market:
BEURET
and
FRANCOTTE, both in Liège. It succeeds the
17/42 models, which were converted from year IX and year XIII.
The gun
measures 36cm for 1400-1425gr, the barrel of a 17.5mm caliber measures 207mm.
Loading
of 5 grams of powder, but gun tested with 15 grams. Bullet calepiné.
Stud in
walnut and brass trimmings. The weapon has a "grain of rice" front sight, which
distinguishes it from its predecessor. Its manufacturing price at that time was
18.
The copy
I have is stamped with the coat of arms of the canton of Vaud on the cannon and
engraved with the word VAUD in the lacrosse on the left side.
He's at
number, stick and cannon bearing number 205.
Other brands: on the plate "FRANCOTTE,
Liège", on the barrel "ELG", on all parts,
including screws, the punch M in a cartridge (the controller), in the wood and
some parts, a Roman numeral VII, probably the craftsman assembler.
Baccardi
Francotte - Réglementaire
Here is a military percussion pistol in the style of the 1822 French, marked A. FRANCOTTE in Liège, originally a model 1842 for the Swiss cavalry which was also produced by BEURET Frères.
The gun (whose length and caliber were not communicated to us) is much longer than usual: it is in fact a “new” gun, much longer than the original one.
Although this does not appear on the many photos sent,
the barrel tip is not pierced for the passage of a wand. The front of the
lock body is square.
We note the presence of the letter H in a circle on three screws, probably the letter of an inspector. We also note the number 26 on the stick, and 451 and 88 on the barrel.
And of course the initials
AF under crown
of the house
Auguste FRANCOTTE.
There is
also the entrance to Liège and a shield with the letter Z. In fact, it is the
hallmark of the canton of Zurich. It is usually preceded by another Z for
Zeughaus.
The
Auguste FRANCOTTE
house was one of the most productive of the Liège armour industry for nearly two
centuries, active in civil and military weapons.
GP with the much appreciated help of MAX.
