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
NEUPREZ Frères
It is a
shotgun with central percussion and top break. The opening (break) is done with
the help of the top key placed at the top of the breech. Behind it is a
Galand-type zipper.
The
12-gauge smooth barrels are juxtaposed. The forearm placed underneath is of the
“pump” type. The breech is square and has a slight English engraving.
Walnut
wood butt is shaped in the "English".
The
weapon bears the statutory hallmarks of the Liège proofhouse, namely:
ELG* in a
crowned oval: definitive acceptance after 1893.
Peron:
inspection in use from 1853 to the present day.
EL in
English letters: provisional proof, in use from 1852 to the present day.
12C in a
diamond: calibre, in use from 1898 to 1924.
PV
surmounted by a stylized lion: smokeless powder proof, in use from 1898 to 1968.
M* – AD*
– S*: Controller countersigns, in use from 1877 to 1968.
P.1K388,3: barrel weight capable of firing smoke-free
powders
(smooth arms. In use from 1892 to 1924.
Figure 6
stylized: this is an annual letter indicating the year of manufacture.
Unfortunately the pre-1922 list disappeared during the 14/18 war.
Choke
18.2 – 18.3: choked barrels: calibrated in mm at 22 cm from the breech and at
the mouth. In use from 1898 to 1910.
D = 65 mm
/ 20.7: length of chamber in mm and diameter in mm after optional smokeless
powder test. In use from 1892 to 1924.
The
weapon also bears the following markings:
NF in a
rectangle with rounded corners:
this is the trademark of
Neuprez Frères,
manufacturers of barrels for rifles rue Bonne Nouvelle, 11 in Liège.
6223 on
guns: this is probably a gun manufacturing number.
J.S. on
cannons: meaning ignored. It is in all likelihood the brand of one of the
speakers who were numerous on this type of weapon!
The
manufacturer of the weapon itself left no mark on the gun, so he will remain
anonymous.
GG
NEUPREZ Frères
The punch on the barrels representing letters ACN in a circle is the mark of the manufacturer of barrels of rifles NEUPREZ Frères Street Bonne Nouvelle, 11 in Liege about 1924. The manufacturer of the complete weapon remains anonymous of share the absence of his mark.
GG
