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
Eugène Bernard
This
handsome percussion shotgun, equipped with a Lefaucheux-style opening lever,
features the classic double-barreled design and two external hammers operated by
two triggers beneath an ornate trigger guard.
It is
clearly a high-quality firearm, as evidenced by its metal parts, which are
entirely engraved with floral motifs and enhanced with gilding depicting various
game animals pursued by hunting dogs.
The
shotgun is clearly signed "Eugène Bernard Canonnier de Paris" (underside of the
barrels) as well as "Canons de Bernard" on the rib. The weapon also bears a logo
with the initials EB under a crown within an oval. The craftsman Eugène Bernard
is well-known on this site as a barrel manufacturer. See:
https://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20b/a%20bernard%20eugene%20gb.htm
The rifle
shown in the link above is extremely similar in construction to the one examined
here; see, for example, the work on the trigger guard. This suggests that the
two rifles may have been assembled by the same gunsmith using barrels supplied
by Bernard.
The other
visible markings are 1860 (probable serial number or year of manufacture?) and
17.5 (caliber?).
The rifle
was resold by Demorieux, a gunsmith in Cléry. We have no information to identify
this gunsmith, especially since several French towns bear the name Cléry.
This
rifle, with its typical mid-19th-century design, was therefore most likely sold
in France. Its barrels were produced by the Liège craftsman Eugène Bernard for a
weapon assembled by an unidentified gunsmith.
Chris, Alain
Eugène Bernard
The
weapon
It is
about a shotgun to juxtaposed barrels with central percussion and external
hammers. Locks are of type “behind” nicely engraved floral and animalist
reasons.
The
opening of the weapon is practiced using the key of trigger guard.
The
juxtaposed barrels are in Damas
Markings
EB
crowned in an oval:
mark manufacturing (barrels?).
Peron:
punch of inspection (1853 at our days) of the proofhouse of Liege.
Spangled ELG in an oval:
acceptance of the test of Liège, of use of 1846 to 1893.
The last
not easily readable mark can-to be the letter Q joined with C under crown? This
mark is unknown for me.
The
manufacturer
I count 15 arms manufacturers carrying the patronym of
Bernard,
in Liege, at the 19th century.
I have an
Emile
and a
Ernest but not of
Eugène.
The
study of arms manufacture of Liège of the 19th century does not have anything an
exact science because the traces which reach us in dispersed order and were the
subject of no serious publication at the 20th century.
According to Jarlier,
Bernard Henri Eugene
was a manufacturer of barrels of rifle in Liege in 1840.
He
announces himself by the registration of a trademark on January 18, 1862. I
unfortunately could not discover more information on this craftsman?
The weapon is marked (barrel and lock)
Flobert Bté to Paris,
it acts of course of the inventor of this weapon. Maintaining like determining
which did what on this part. The barrels without question were manufactured in
Liège,
Bernard being a probably manufacturer of
barrels of rifles. The punches of tests of Liège are visible ON the barrels and
not elsewhere!
I think that
Flobert
bought the barrels in Liege and manufactured the remainder of the weapon in
Paris but that remains to prove?
GG
