CHAMELOT & DELVIGNE REVOLVER
July 7, 1862 the Belgian provincial government of the province of the Brabant recorded a protocol with the files of MISTERS J Chamelot and H. J Delvigne, applicants of a patent for the invention of a revolver and resident with St. Gilles close to Brussels. Obtaining the patent is granted without examination and to the proper risks and dangers of the informants, without guarantee for the innovation and the value of the invention or the precision of the description and without fixing of a legal situation.
Brussels; July 15, 1862
The Minister of Interior Department
The first patent of a revolver Chamelot and Delvigne is allotted. The drawings deposited with the office of the patents were signed: J Chamelot, craftsman, resident in Liege and Henry Gustave Delvigne, officer of infantry, residing Paris. J Chamelot currently residing at Mr Fusnot at St. Gilles close to Brussels. The first revolver Chamelot and Delvigne, one six blows, were of construction and rather strange form. It was a weapon of pocket, for cartridge 7,5 mm Lefaucheux. The carcass and the barrel were composed of bronze and steel.
Henri Gustave DELVIGNE
Son of Charles Constantin Emmanuel DELVIGNE and Therese MERLIN, Henri Gustave DELVIGNE was born in Hamburg, Germanic Confédération on April 10, 1800 (Encyclopedia britannica indicates 1799 per error). It will die in Toulon, France, October 18, 1876. He was the husband in first weddings of Anne (or Aime) Héraïde HEBERT. With its death he is known as widower in second wedding of Antoinette LAPORTE.
Chevalier of the Legion of Honor on December 27, 1830. He is a known as lieutenant of infantry of the ex-guard at the time of his death.
At the end of December 1932, at the beginning of 1933, it ordering George Lacassie, director of the Review of infantry, sought information on this officer for the General Challeat who wished to carry out a study on he. I do not know if this study has one day published.
H.G. Delvigne is named by decree of November 30, 1866 officer of the imperial order of the Legion of honor. It is then described as inventor of the arrows carries mooring ropes of rescue, author of many improvements brought in the weapons of precise details.
It would seem that its death certificate comprises an error on the name of his second wife. In fact, the latter should according to any probability name LAPOSTOL.
Jean Charles
From their association a long list of patents was going to follow.
Here are some.
Since Chamelot & Delvigne did not number different the evolution from the revolvers which they created, we will speak about “Variation” and not about “Model”. Two exceptions however, models 8 and 9 are both known under these terms, we will thus call them also “model 8” and “Model 9”
Alain
1st variation - July 1862 - patent 12861
2nd variation - September/October 1862 - patent 13241
3rd variation - December 1862 - patent 13258
Chamelot Delvigne 4th variation
5th variation - 30Mars 1863 - Patent 14147
7th variation - September 5, 1863 - Patent 14955
MODEL 8 - May 5, 1864 - Patent 16152
MODEL 9 - December 14, 1865 - Patent 18901
1869, variant of the model 9 with improved ejector.
May/June 1871, No. 12, a very refined design.
January/February 1873, fourteenth variation. Model introduced in the Italian army.
June/July 1873, fifteenth modification with the addition of a relief lever. Introduced that year in the French army.
1874, the barrel was made lighter in weight and shape by six longitudinal millings. Adopted by the French army as model 1874.
The model 1873 and 1874 are the two models that were most produced. They were used during both world wars.
September 1893, last variation, the stop screw of the receiver cover plate was combined with a relief lever.