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
VAN MAELE Jean
Single shot pistol signed "Jean
van Maele, armurier breveté à Bruxelles"
(patented gunsmith in Brussels).
The grips
is engraved with floral motifs. The barrel and breech are inlaid with silver
wire.
Cyril
Jean VAN MAELE
Here is
a beautiful hunting rifle juxtaposed with English stock, external hammers, sold
by the Brussels arquebusier Jean Van Maele, patented arquebusier, who was a
supplier to the King of Serbia at one time. Beautiful damas barrels. In all
likelihood - to be confirmed by the lucky owner if necessary - the part in front
of the trigger guard allows the barrel to be opened to load the cartridges and
eject the casings (some volute levers of this type arm the hammers). I haven't
been able to find the inventor so far, especially since I don't know exactly
what the lever is for.
The markings
ELG on star in oval: acceptance between 1846 and 1893
Peron: inspection since 1853
EL: provisional test since 1853
18. 2:
calibre in mm, since 1889, in principle a calibre 12. As I do not see any other
indications concerning the calibre, I assume - with some reservations - that the
weapon is pre-1892.
Eugène Bernard, gunner + EB on H in crowned circle.
Once
again under any reserve: it is well put Eugène Bernard, but where does the H
come from? All the other rifles of Eugene Bernard do not have the H. . .
GP
Jean VAN MAELE
The weapon
Revolver of ordinance of gauge 450 with central percussion and box frame.
The rifled barrel is round, with a higher side carrying a front sight in half-moon.
The cylinder with 6 rooms is smooth.
The loading seems to be practiced by the right side door and unloading using the metal rod swivelling on an axis.
The trigger under trigger guard is smooth and curved.
The handle in wood (walnut?) is of only one part and squared.
It is withdrawn by exerting traction on the ring of end.
VAN MAELE Jean does seem deposited only one patent concerning a shotgun, difficult consequently to explain more precisely the operation of this weapon.
Punches
The weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG on star in an oval vertical: final acceptance of use of 1846 to 1893.
L spangled: countermark of the controller post 1877.
Period of manufacture
Information above, it arises that the weapon was manufactured between 1877 and 1893.
Markings
DDL Bté: it acts with my direction of marking of arms manufacturer LEVAUX-STAS Dieudonné, manufacturer of Blegny-Trembler weapons (Liege), which of 1870 to 1888 deposited 11 patents concerning the guns and the revolvers.
Jean VAN MAELE Patented in Brussels: harquebusier of the King of Serbia, 16 (then 20) street Grétry in Brussels - House founded in 1866 -. It is known for an arms patent deposited in 1866 (shotgun).
VAN MAELE J and BODSON N. deposited patent 20626 of the 14.12.1866 for an improvement brought to the rocker of a rifle undertaking by the breech.
It’s probable that it used as bases a revolver Levaux (Dieudonné) to associate there a possible improvement but which does not make does not seem he the object of a Belgian patent.
25: it is acted as any probability of a serial number.
GG
Publicities in appendix belong to the collection of Pierre-Henri that we thank.
Jean VAN MAELE
Rifle revolver pinfire and box frame.
The barrel with 6 shots is not grooved.
The barrel is with eight sides.
The stock is of English type.
The trigger guard is with volutes.
The weapon is equipped with two sling swivels.
The loading is practiced by a side door and the unloading of the casings inflated using a metal rod (missing) fixed in the axis.
VAN MAELE harquebusier in BRUSSELS is known for a patent in 1866. It is not certain that he is the manufacturer of this weapon but rather the retailer?
GG
