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
Lepage Frères
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A Revolver Bull Dog from Lepage Frères
Inscribed on the Liège firearms proofhouse from 1857 to 1868, the
company Lepage Frères is one of the successive names of the
constellation of armourers Lepage, whose history is related on the site.
Arms manufacturers in Liège, and having a shop on rue d’Enghien in
Paris, they deposit their logo consisting of a badge including the
letters L.F. and a stylized lion.
The Lepage Frères signature can be found on many high-quality weapons,
such as shotguns and spindle or system revolvers.
More rarely are Bull Dogs revolvers from this factory. A good example is
shown below.
The Bull Dog revolver in question has the usual characteristics of Liège
production, but with the particularity of having a 3-inch barrel, larger
than that of the classic British Bull Dogs, which usually have a
2.5-inch barrel. It is also noted that the front sight are located back
from their normal position at the mouth of the barrel. This barrel
length is occasionally encountered, as well as larger ones, because it
allowed to circumvent import laws in some countries that did not
tolerate the entry of handguns that were too short. After receipt, it
was enough for the owner to saw the barrel to the desired length... This
situation explains why we see from time to time Bull Dogs revolvers with
a long barrel positioned in the middle.
Jean-Christophe Plaquevent |
LEPAGE Frères
LEPAGE Frères
It is
about a revolver with (seems-it to me?) annular percussion. The loading is
practiced by the right back door with cartridges with annular percussion and
carrying the mark B (?).
The
weapon carries an engraving representing of the foliage and the birds. The grips
of wood (?) are carved of foliage and finish by a ring and without screw-pivot.
The trigger is curved in an oval trigger guard. The rod under the barrel is
maintained by a small metal tube into which it is slipped and fixed by a small
screw. The barrel (gauges?) is round and is surmounted by a rectangular band
with front sight and bead.
The
weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, that is to say
ELG* in
a vertical oval:
final acceptance, of use of 1846 to 1893.
R
crowned:
countermark of the controller, of use of 1853 to 1877.
This
part also carries the following marks:
232:
classification of the weapon.
LF:
Could be
Lepage frères
(Brothers)!
Enrolled
in the firearms proofhouse of Liège from 1857 to 1868, so possible!!
The “LF”
logo can be found on invoices from Lepage (see enclosed invoices)
GG
LEPAGE Frères
It is a
question of not to doubt a revolver of the type
Alexandre
Fagnus, arms manufacturer of Liège having
patented this weapon. It seems here that the weapon was manufactured for or by
Lepage
Frères à Paris as indicated on the carcass.
Mark “Caststeel” means that it is about crucible cast steel!
The weapon seems carry only one punch
of proofhouse of Liège :
ELG* in a vertical oval meaning acceptance by the
proofhouse of 1846 to 1893.
Not other punches of tests?
The weapon
is marked
Lepage Frères à Paris,
this company well-known probably made manufacture the weapon in Liege without
the name of the arms manufacturer of Liège, manufacturer real not being
indicated.
353 is probably the serial number of
this part.
For more details see our website in the page of FAGNUS Alexandre.
GG
LEPAGE Frères
Lepage (brothers) Henri and Perrin Arquebusiers-fabricants in Liege, Belgium from 1823-1860.
Then came the arms manufacturers whose warehouse was located at 12 rue d'Enghien in Paris in 1856.
Personal note of Guillaume : the deposit seems to exist before this date of 1856, since on the barrel of a revolver model 1854, the LF 272 (of the 2nd half of 1855), one can read "Lepage frères, 12 rue d'Enghien in Paris".
(See on the the very nice site of Guillaume (another collaborator of Littlegun) : http://s144812367.onlinehome.fr/la-maison-lepage-freres-lepage-chauvot-successeurs
Here is a revolver for pinfire cartridges of unspecified caliber which was of beautiful invoice. The barrel is extended by a part ending in "u" to ensure its attachment to the frame by means of two screws.
On the barrel one deciphers (with difficulty) Fabrique Lepage Frères in Paris rue d'Enghien 12.
The markings :
AJ under crown: not identified
EL under crown: the factory of E. Lefaucheux located in Liege;
ELG on star in oval: acceptance between 1846 and 1893;
G under crown: countermark of a controller between 1853 and 1877.
I admit that I don't see very well the link between the Lepage Frères factory in Paris and the Lefaucheux factory in Liège......
GP with the help of HPH
LEPAGE Frères
Here is
a revolver manufactured by Lepage Frères on the basis of a patent deposited by
N. J Dessard fils.
The
markings :
ELG on
star in oval : acceptance between 1846 and 1893
X under
crown : countermark of a controller between 1853 and 1877
Acier fondu
: the
type of steel used.
LF sur
lion: the trademark registered by Lepage Frères (unfortunately I don't have the
date of registration, see below). However, there is a "problem" since according
to the "Who's Who of the Liège armoury", Lepage Frères was entered on the
proofhouse between 1857 and 1868. However, as we will see below, the patent of
the revolver was deposited in November 1871....
To
complicate matters: Jarlier and Buigné write:
"Lepage
Brothers Henri and Perrin: harquebusiers-fabricants in Liege 1823-1860. Then
came the arms manufacturers whose warehouse was in Paris. (…) trademark
registration on December 24, 1859" (without specifying where the registration
took place; I also do not know how this trademark is presented, in other words
whether it is the one that appears on the revolver).
Finally,
Stockel speaks of "Charles Lepage, active between 1823 and 1868, probably the
son of François Lepage. Worked with his brother Alphonse between 1857 and 1868
under the name Lepage Frères. Probably died in 1868".
NJD
Patented: see link
This is
an application of the patent 029659 of November 23, 1871 filed by Nicolas Joseph
Dessard fils, active in Herstal between 1871 and 1873, which appears on the
Lepage Frères page above.
GP with the help of HPH.
LEPAGE Frères
Registered with the proof house of Liège from 1857 to 1868.
Photos Littlegun
LEPAGE Frères
Revolver with central percussion with top break of gauge not communicated. The barrrel-cylinder unit related to the carcass by a screw-pivot, rocks forwards when one actuates the button of opening placed on the left at the top of the carcass. Rocking is intended to facilitate the loading/unloading since there is no door. This rocking actuates a visible metal strip under the console and which takes support on before trigger guard to push back the star extractor.
The system is with simple and double action and the hammer is rebounding. The rifled bore is with sides with a higher edge.
The grips consists of two plates in bone seems to me it because the bone yellowed into growing old while the ivory remains white. These plates are maintained by a transverse screw and two brass rivet washers.
The weapon is covered with a pretty engraving of foliage.
Punches
The weapon carries to the back of the cylindr the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG on star in a vertical oval: final acceptance, of use of 1846 to 1893.
H spangled: countermark of the controller post 1877.
The weapon was thus manufactured between 1877 and 1893.
Marks
NJD BTé: it is about the mark of the Master-arms manufacturer Nicolas Joseph DESSARD son domiciled in Herstal street of Aigneux, 183.
ACIER FONDU (CRUCIBLE CAST STEEL): without comment.
ECU containing a drawn up lion and the initial LF belongs to manufacturer LEPAGE Frères, to see heading of letter of this firm in appendix.
5146 Probably a serial number?
The patent
This weapon is the subject of the patent n° 029659 of the 23.11.1871 for a system of closing and extraction for revolver. See drawing of patent in appendix.
GG
LEPAGE Frères
Registered with the proof house of Liège from 1857 to 1868.
Photos Littlegun
