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
Roland Désiré
Classic double-barreled shotgun, 12 gauge, centerfire.
The locks are external hammers with the opening lever located between them. The
stock is pistol grip style.
Markings:
ELG star within a crowned oval: acceptance by the Liège
proof house, used from 1893 to 1968.
12 C within a diamond: caliber of the firearm, used from
1898 to 1924.
Perron: inspection mark, in use from 1853 to the present
day.
Choke 10.4.
AF and W under a star, proof marks from January 27, 1877.
EL in cursive script, provisional proof mark since 1853
(gun barrels).
Origin:
Between the barrels, the shotgun bears the inscription:
The Roland Arms Co Liège.
The only ROLAND listed in "WHO'S WHO OF THE LIÈGE
GUNMAKING" is Désiré Roland, an abbot in Rumes and later Tournai, who between
1874 and 1885 filed thirteen Belgian patents, notably for hunting rifles. The
Liège Arms Museum houses four rifles by this inventor, two of which are known as
"Le Rapide" (The Rapid). It appears he was a Belgian inventor who created the
first adjustable chokes in Liège around 1881. See a rifle from the same
manufacturer on this page.
The hallmarks and markings therefore confirm a Liège
production, most likely from the workshops of Abbot Désiré Roland, at the very
end of the 19th century.
Chris, HPH
Roland
Double shotgun juxtaposed, unrifled bores gauges 12 with central percussion. Locks are with hammers external with key of opening between those. The English stick appears to be recut.
Punches
Spangled ELG in a crowned oval: acceptance of the bench of tests of Liege, used of 1893 to 1968.
12 C in a rhombus: gauge weapon, used of 1898 to 1924.
Peron: inspection, of use of 1853 until todays.
Choke: “chokes” unrifled bores, used of 1878 to 1898.
Another mark is very partially visible on a gun of the weapon but I could not identify it on the photograph.
Other markings.
COCKERILL STEEL: indicate that the guns were manufactured out of steel COCKERILL (undertaken iron and steel inhabitant of Liège)
Manufacturer.
The only ROLAND appearing in WHO IS WHICH ARMS MANUFACTURE LIEGEOISE is ROLAND Désiré, abbot of his state, which enters 1874 and 1885 deposited thirteen Belgian patents in particular for shotguns. The museum of weapons of Liege preserves four rifles of this inventor including two called "Le Rapide".
Year of manufacture.
Within sight of the dates of use of the punches being reproduced on the weapon, it seems that the year of manufacture of this one is 1898!
GG
