Some of the most beautiful work of this craftsman, and many others, are in this book “Liège Gunmakers through their Work. 1800 - 1950”.
Nov 14, 2012 Date Historic Information Serial Number Info 1973-75 In 1969 Browningstarted using two digits for the date of manufacture: J=12 gauge K=20 gauge This was then followed by the serial number beginning with 1000. Example: 69J1000 = A 1969 Leige 12 ga. Shotgun with a serial number of 1000. J=12 gauge K=20 gauge. May 31, 2012 Hi, your shotgun was made after 1924 due to the Perron-Liege proof marks.(most sales were in the 1930s) This type of shotgun was sold by both sears and eatons and a host of other stores primarily in Canada. They are actually quite common and usually go for beteen $150 -$200 at auction.They were a good quality shotgun.
For more detail see: LIEGE GUNMAKERS
Manufacture d’armes Lepage
The weapon
It is about a shotgun to central percussion.
The juxtaposed barrels are smooth, of gauge 12.
Locks are of type “ahead”.
The hammers are external and the key of opening “Top Lever”.
The forearm is with pedal-trough.
Engraving is of style bouquets.
The stick out of wooden of walnut is worked with English.
Punches
The weapon carries the lawful punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG on star in a crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.
Peron: inspection post 1853.
S, K and AB spangled: countermarks of the controllers post 1877.
PV surmounted of a stylized lion: test with the powder without smoke, of use of 1898 to 1968.
12 C in a rhombus: gauge, of use of 1898 to 1924.
Choke 17.7/18.2 and 17.4/18.1: chokes barrels: calibre in mm to 22 cm of the breech and the mouth. In use of 1910 to 1924.
EL in English letters: provisional test, of use of 1852 to our days.
D = 20 mm/20.6: Length of the room in mm and diameter in mm after optional test with the powder without smoke. In use of 1892 to 1924.
Markings
MAISON LEPAGE A LIEGE: mark of the manufacturer LEPAGE street of Augustins, 26 in LIEGE. Registered with the proofhouse of Liege of 1919 to 1961. (See site)
5411: serial number.
ADH: manufacturer of barrels of rifles DELVAUX-HEUSE Arthur de Fraipont (valley of Vesdre close to Liege)Fox shock manual.
Crowned LV: except could error, it act of Louis VENDRIX (BE 1907/1937) who in any assumption would have manufactured the weapon for the account of LEPAGE? (See site)
T.I and S: ignored significance? Markings of workshops??
GG
Manufacture d’Armes Lepage.
Liège (1790 ?-1918).
Manufacture d’Armes Lepage S.A.
Rue des Augustins, 26 Liège (16/05/1918) (1921-1932) (Ann.1924) (Ann.tél.1949).
Rue Hayeneux, 217 Herstal (Ann.1959).
Successors of Jules Kauffmann & Co.
Deposit trademarks:
N° 2215 – Liège 03/05/1918.
N° 2216 – Liège 03/05/1918 transmission of the mark n° 538 du 22/09/1890.
N° 2217 – Liège 13/05/1918 transmission of the mark n° 771 du 03/01/1896.
N° 2218 – Liège 13/05/1918 transmission of the mark n° 794 du 06/10/1896.
N° 2219 – Liège 13/05/1918 transmission of the mark n° 809 du 23/11/1896.
N° 2220 – Liège 13/05/1918 transmission of the mark n° 810 du 23/11/1896.
N° 2221 – Liège 13/05/1918 transmission of the mark n° 939 du 09/10/1899.
N° 2222 – Liège 13/05/1918 transmission of the mark n° 957 du 29/11/1899.
N° 2238 – Liège 16/05/1918 transmission of the mark n° 1877 du 08/08/1912.
Liege Shotgun Serial Numbers
N° 2239 – Liège 16/05/1918 transmission of the mark n° 2110 du 22/07/1914.
Deposit belgian patent.
n° 294350 - 07/02/1921 Closure for rifle with rocker.
n° 297875 - 30/07/1921 Fixing of the bottom of the store with cartridges for firearms.
n° 297876 - 30/07/1921 Safety for automatic weapon.
n° 298415 - 23/08/1921 Ejector for rifle with rocker.
n° 388448 - 11/05/1932 Improvements for auto pistol.
Note: the Belgian patent n° 305326 be reproduced on the automatic guns Lepage was deposited by COMMERCIAL Jules (street Nysten, 42 in Liege) on August 30, 1922.
History.
'Since 1790 one announces Lepage Manufacture and in 1810, at the time of the establishment of the bench of tests, Lepage syndic is named.
The Revolution of 1830 makes it possible to the chief of the Lepage firm to affirm its patriotism at the same time as its industrial activity: the National Committee charges it with getting weapons with the army of the incipient country. It discharges this mission so well that in 1834 the Belgian government confers the iron cross to him for services announced to the cause of the Belgian Revolution.
Little time before the war the 14-18 Lepage house had also specialized in the manufacture of revolvers and several governments had recourse to it to equip their navy or their army with irreproachable weapons.
In 1918 the Lepage house, transformed into limited company 'Manufacture d’armes Lepage' went back immediately to work and since 1919 made appreciate its products on the English and American markets. It associated a machine shop which it transformed into model factory provided with American machines of high precision.
Navigation modes in papers 3 for mac. It manufactures there its automatic pistol for which it took the patents after seven years of study '
(According to a Lepage catalogue).
Production of weapons (about 1926).
Rifles with tilting barrels and hammers external - closings with double key, simple, double, triple and quadruple Greener bolt.
Hammerless rifles - closings with double key, simple, double, triple and quadruple Greener bolt.
Rifles express train with Purdey closing.
Semi-automatic pistols Lepage with 8 blows cal. 6,35 - 7,65 - 9 mm short and 9 mm long Browning.
Lepage pistols 9 mm of war with 12 blows, with or without sheath.
Pocket hammerless revolver, also more commonly called 'Bossu' (UNEVEN), shoot cartridges with sharp powder of 8mm LEBEL.
Liege Shotgun Serial Numbers Chart
It could also be manufactured into 6,35 and 7,65 BROWNING and 5,8 VELODOG.
It carries the punches of proof house of Liège according to:
Liege Shotgun Serial Numbers List
R crowned: rifled bore - of use of 1894 to 1968.
Lion surmounting PV : test with the powder without smoke – of use of 1898 to 1968.
Fie titan manual 380 cal. J spangled: countermark of the controller - of use of 1877 to 1968.
The manufacturer:
Manufacture d’armes LEPAGE street of Augustins, 26 in Liege – Proof house of Liege 1919/1961.
GG
Photos Littlegun
Lepage velodog
Thanks to Alberto for the photos
Manufacture d'armes Lepage
Lepage manufacture d'armes
It acts of an automatic pistol Lepage (Liege) calibre 9mm long.
It carries the n°2!
The system is interesting: there is no bar of transfer between the trigger and the trigger plate, it is the magazine who does this work.
The weapon is massive and was to be a 'great capacity' at the time.
Nicolas Lambert
Many thanks to the 'Ets CORNET' for the nices pictures.
SOLD FOR:$1,130.97 Make: Browning (Fabrique Nationale Herstal) Model: Liege B26 /27 (we determined the year of manufacture to be 1981, making this shotgun fall between the B-26 and B-27. the B-27 was not cataloged) Serial Number: L13PZ02317 Year of Manufacture: 1981 (PZ date code) Gauge: 12 Gauge, 2 ¾” Shells Action Type: Top Lever Break Over/Under (O/U) with Single Selective Trigger and Ejectors Markings: The left side of the upper barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL P.Q. / FABRIQUE NATIONALE HERSTAL / MADE IN BELGIUM” followed by “CHROME”, an “A” with a cross over it, a “PV” proof mark, “12w-70” in an Omega and “18 4”. The left side of the lower barrel has a stylized “J”, an enclosed “1Kg 504”, a “PV” proof mark, “12w-70” in an Omega and “18 4”. The lug that retains the forearm is marked with a “T”, “T” and “0”. There are a whole series of inspection marks on the underside of the monobloc and “YY” on the underside of the barrel just ahead of it. The right side of the upper barrel is marked “PATENT PENDING / SPECIAL STEEL 12GA. SHELLS_2 ¾”” and the right side of the lower barrel is marked “02317”. The right side of both barrels are marked “**$” to denote Skeet choke. There is a “Z” above the forward barrel lug on the right side of the monobloc. The forearm seems unmarked. The inside of the receiver is marked with a “PV” proof mark and “2317”. The upper tang is marked “L13PZ02317”. There is a Browning Buckmark on the trigger guard and “BrowninG” preceded by a Buckmark on each side of the receiver. Barrel Length: 28” Choke: Skeet (**$) and Skeet (**$) Sights / Optics: This shotgun is mounted with an orange fiber optic front sight on a 9/16” wide ventilated rib. Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are checkered walnut. The forearm and pistol grip checkering is unmarred. The only notable marks are a few compression marks on the belly of the buttstock. There are no chips, cracks or scratches in either stock; only some light handling marks. The LOP measures 13 ½” from the front of the trigger to the back of the White Line black ventilated rubber recoil pad. The drop at the comb is about 1 ½” and the drop at the heel about 2 3/8”. The stocks rate in about Excellent overall condition. Type of Finish: Blue Finish Originality: All Original Bore Condition: The bores are bright. There is no erosion. Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 99% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows light handling marks. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Excellent condition. Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The tang safety (up and down) is also the barrel selector switch (left and right.) This shotgun has a mechanical trigger. We have not fired this shotgun. Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None Our Assessment: This Browning Over/Under 12 gauge was made by FN after the Browning Superposed was largely discontinued. It was designed prior to the Japanese manufactured Citori. Although made primarily for the European market, some were imported to the United States. We believe this example was made for the U.S. as photos we have seen of the European models have sling swivels, and because an extra line on the barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL P.Q.” In the Model Section above is a link to a discussion regarding another shotgun similar to this one, including a response from a representative of the Herstal Group authenticating the shotgun under discussion in that forum. It would appear these shotguns are both a Liege B26 made in the early 1980s. Our example is in exceptionally nice condition, apparently having seen little use and careful storage. The wooden forearm is released by depressing a “U” shaped button located in the front of the forearm, just below the barrels. The lack of a visible and normally placed forearm release gives this shotgun a very subtle, clean look. These Browning Liege shotguns are rare here and this one is sure to turn a few heads at the Skeet fields.
