Lepage
Here is a very nice pair of Empire style flintlock pocket or fob pistols, numbered 1 and 2, signed Le Page in Paris.
The engravings are unusual and quite nice, especially the animals.
No punch is visible.
It is difficult to say whether this is the work of the famous Jean Lepage, arquebusier to King Louis XVI, the Emperor and Philippe-Egalité (a hunting rifle that belonged to him is in the Royal Army Museum in Brussels-War Heritage Institute, in the collection room at Porte de Hal), born in 1746 and active between 1779 and 1822, or his son Henry (Jean André Prosper), born in 1792, died in 1854 and active between 1822 and 1842.
GP
Lepage
It is a
question of a shotgun to percussion to be charged by the mouth.
The
barrels are in Damas of gauge 28 seems it according to the punch corresponding
to 14 mm4. Locks are types “behind” the firing is with double piston and
starters of fulminate.
The rod
in wood some being used for the loading is maintained under the barrels by metal
master key-rod.
The stick
in walnut is worked with English, with cheek, with hand-shield out of ebony or
false ebony.
The
weapon carries an engraving-sculpture prone kind of hunting (hunter armed with a
rifle, dog attacking a wolf, eagle etc.) more beautiful.
The barrels carry engraving
LEPAGE A PARIS,
arms manufacturer well-known of the French capital, which in this case is only
the sleeping partner. Indeed the weapon carries the punch of LIEGE. It is thus
probable that weapon presents it belonged to an order made by the Parisian arms
manufacturer eager to benefit from the low prices and the knowledge to make arms
manufacture of Liège.
The
weapon carries only one punch of the proofhouse of LIEGE, namely:
ELG* in a
vertical oval: it means the final acceptance of the weapon. This punch was of use of
1846 to 1893. Considering the mode of ignition, the date of manufacture is
probably closer to 1846 than of 1893.
I note
the absence of the countermark of the controller is a crowned letter (1853/1877)
obligatory. Perhaps was it unobtrusive?
The
weapon also carries the following marks:
38241:
it is probably about the job number.
28:
as known as above is probably the gauge of the barrels.
JFD: This
mark struck the guns indicates probably the identity of the factor of barrels of
rifle originating in the valley of Vesdre (between LIEGE and VERVIERS) but it
was not possible to find its identity.
In short,
a beautiful part carrying a signature prestigious but originating in an area of
Liège so considered by her secular arms manufacture.
GG
Lepage
Lepage
FRENCH LEPAGE a PARIS cased percussion shotgun
Exceptional presentation set with “La Compagnie du Cottentin A Mr Cottin” marked brass plate on case’s top. A similar inscription is also found inlaid inside the stock on a gilt finished plate
30 by 9 inch brass mounted wood case is lined with velvet and red leather interior.
LE PAGE A PARIS marked on both locks and on barrel top.
27 ¾ inch damascus barrels.
20 gauge caliber.
Set with its original key and all its original tools, accessories.
Lepage à Paris
"Arquebusier du ROY"
Photographs by "ANTIQUEFIREARMS"
