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
Rongé Jean-Baptiste
This is a beautiful single-shot pistol with a high level
of workmanship: ivory or bone grips, beautiful floral engravings, and a tilting
octagonal barrel. Its serial number is 4493. Its dimensions and rudimentary
sights (though mounted on dovetails and therefore deflectable) do not really
make it suitable for high-precision shooting, but place it in the category
usually referred to as "parlor pistols" (or garden pistols, parlor pistols, or
saloon pistols). These are weapons designed for recreational shooting at
reasonable distances and for a small caliber, generally 6 mm Flobert or .22
short.
This is a Liège copy of the single-shot pistol by the
English gunsmith William Tranter (1816-1890), whose weapons of this type bore
the inscription: W TRANTER PATENT. The initial patent was apparently filed in
1866 (British Patent No. 2113). Several pistols of this type, along with a
history, are described on the website.
The example examined here is from the production of
Jean-Baptiste Rongé Fils.
The catalog excerpt presented on this page shows a pistol
very similar to this one, surprisingly described as an "American system"!
Analysis of the hallmarks allows us to define a date range for the
pistol's manufacture: between January 26, 1877 (controller's mark T surmounted
by a star) and July 11, 1893 (ELG in an oval, not crowned). It is not possible
to be more precise in the absence of other specific markings or hallmarks.
Chris, HPH
Rongé Jean-Baptiste
It is about a pistol of stand single shot in calibre
6mm probably of type Remington. The rifled bore (?) is with sides with front
sight and
bead in “v”. Lever of manual extraction is placed in front of the room. The
trigger under trigger guard with volutes seems accompanied by a strecher making
it possible to reduce the weight of trigger.
The stick
out of wooden of oak (?) is at coasts of the type worsens.
The
weapon carries the punches of the proofhouse of Liège, namely:
ELG* in
an oval vertical: final acceptance, of use of 1846 to 1893.
R *:
countermark of the controller of use of 1877 to 1968.
The
weapon also carries the following marks:
7953
(read so well): it is acted as any probability of a serial number.
J - H (on
the barrel): probably marks of workshop.
Crowned
JBR:
it is the mark of the manufacturer
Jean-baptiste
Rongé, registered with the proofhouse of
Liège of 1832 to 1929 and domiciled place Xavier Neujean, 4. The house would
have been founded in 1789. From 189 to 1928,
Rongé
manufacture will deposit 4 patents and twelve trademarks (see Who’s Who arms
manufacture of Liège).
Appendices: two pages extracted from a
Rongé
catalogue and presenting the production diversified of the pistol of stand!
GG
