Auguste Francotte M1870
© KIRIMON AUGUST 2008
This Company was founded in 1810, and was actively producing arms between 1860 and 1914; its principle establishment being Rue Mont Saint Martin 61, in Liege.
It was one of the principal manufacturers of weapons in Liege during the second half of the 19th century, until 1914, when its activities were blocked by the German occupation.
In its heyday around - 1890, not less than 150 revolver types were being produced for sale.
Ref Taylerson.
The company came to prominence with very good copies (licensed) of revolvers designed by Adam, Tranter, and Smith & Wesson. It also adopted a Pryse locking system (relating to the opening of the frame by the means of two vertical arms releasing two pins on both sides frame), although it is not clear if this was licensed… With reference of Mr I V Hogg - they also adopted a system of barrel locking; the design of which is recognised as being by Pryse...
Francotte also made modifications to the ‘Lefaucheux system’, which enabled them to put thousands of revolvers "Lefaucheux-Francotte" on the market. These were initially Pinfire cartridges - but later these became centre fire.
Francotte also produced a number of military revolvers, like the model 1871 in 11 mm for the Swedish cavalry, the 12mm Serbian Army 1875 model, or for Denmark: the model 1882 in 10 mm for the cavalry and the model 1886 for the Serbian Army in 9 mm for officers….
The Francotte Company was also a very important wholesaler, especially from around 1880, providing revolvers to arms retailers who affixed their names or their initials or stamps on these weapons. Usually the only indication of the original manufacturer of the weapon can be seen by stripping the gun. Somewhere – usually beneath the grips will be one of Auguste Francotte logos – usually ‘AF’. Therefore – it is reasonable to assume externally marked guns are – generally - pre 1880…
It is also know that Francotte had close links with British gunmakers…
So well regarded in the mid to late 1800’s was Francotte that Samuel Colt himself is thought to have presented a Colt First Model Dragoon Revolver, inscribed ‘From Samuel Colt to August Francotte, Premier Liege Gunmaker”,sometime prior to the America Civil war.
In 1875, the Serbian War Department asked Smith & Wesson for a quote for the delivery of 2,500 top break revolvers of the "1874 model" (better known as the "Russian model"). Yet the firm order went to the Francotte Company. The exact number of revolvers ordered from Francotte is unknown, but there is no reason to think that the actual order was different from the formal offer addressed to S&W…
As the Serbian Army had officially accepted a number of these revolvers in 1875, they are generally known as the ‘1875 model’. Ref Muller.
However, the weapon itself had already been developed by Francotte in 1869. Based on that latter year, this revolver can be considered as the oldest European-made regular service handgun designed for central fire ammunition.
In the same year (1869) the famous Austrian Gasser revolver was issued, which would be adopted in 1870 by the Austro-Hungarian Army.
Both revolvers show a number of similar features, the first being the ejector rod, which was in an own housing attached to the barrel, in order to offer a far better protection against bending.
The most remarkable resemblance, however, is the external flat safety spring, visible on the right side of the frame. That flat spring has a transverse pin on its end, which locks the hammer in a safety position. Once fully cocked, the hammer pushes the spring aside when falling down when the trigger is pulled.
Francotte further innovated by adopting a solid-frame with screwed-in barrel, which made the weapon far sturdier. More, the solid frame allows for a longer aiming line, since the rear sight can be placed on the top strap behind the cylinder. Another innovation was the spiral spring around the ejector rod, which pushes the latter back in its housing after use.
A remarkable difference between the Gasser and the Serbian Model is the cylinder locking system. While the Gasser cylinder bears a crown of protruding locking cams, Francotte preferred locking notches cut in a strengthening crown around the cylinder – essentially the standard system in use today.
For sale here today is a Francotte M1870/5 Revolver chambered for the mighty .500 revolver cartridge – aka .500 Webley/Eley etc…
This particular revolver is I believe a ‘civilian’ variant of the M1875, almost identical, save for a lighter cylinder, the shorter barrel #@$% 123mm and it being chambered for a none military cartridge. It should be remembered that at this time most Officers were required or expected to buy their own side arms - and I suspect this revolver was one such…
The action on this big revolver functions surprisingly well for a piece that is over 130 years old. It works well in both DA and SA, and the safety lock system still works perfectly. Good indexing with an almost perfect cylinder lock in battery with almost no lateral movement. Amazing!
There is good clear rifling in what is a bore that shows some – but less then I would expect - wear and minor pitting throughout, and the five (six wont fit with a .500 calibre) cylinder bores are similarly impressive. See Pics. All mechanical functions work well – ejection, loading gate etc.
Cosmetically the surface shows some of fading blue turned to patina with many dings and nicks indicating that this piece did see some hard use, some screws are probably replacements too… Impossible to say if this is the original finish – so I will play safe and say re-finish – although all markings are very clear, except there is some wear to the barrel address – maybe from holster use… There are also some spots of minor surface pitting here and there. See Pics.
On the barrel: BROQUA & SCHOLBERGà MONTEVIDEO
On the frame: Crown over AF
A Francotte over 1293 (Serial No)
‘577’
On the cylinder: Belgian pre 1893 proof marks.
The mark ‘577’ is similar to those I have seen on other Francotte of this period in use in South America around this time – I would date this revolver around 1877/9. Speculatively, this is a retail mark of some kind – maybe an internal reference mark from Scholberg & Gadet, who would have sourced these guns from Belgium, - or perhaps an early government registration scheme… Anybody out there got any ideas? The grips are I feel are original – the inner surfaces of these grips are ‘sculptured’ to accommodate and support the mainspring positioning but look to have been repaired at some time over the years. They fit well and are solid – and interesting pieces of history in their own right… See Pics.
The barrel address – fading and thin centrally as stated above – says BROQUA & SCHOLBERG à MONTEVIDEO…. The Broqua & Scholberg gun shop was the largest importer of arms into Uruguay in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the British designed .500 man-stopper (also introduced in the 1870’s) was very popular with South American military, para-military and police officers.
The .500 revolver round is designated an ‘obsolete calibre’. The age of this item, plus the fact that this calibre is regarded as ‘obsolete’ - means that it complies fully with UK legislation, and no license is required, as long as it is kept a curiosity or ornament.
An ‘ugly looking customer’ that positively oozes’ history – seldom seen in the UK in a calibre that is legal to own. Comes with the repro .500 cartridge box as shown.
As always – no reserve…
Any questions gladly answered – if I can!
Please add £15 towards P&P Inc insurance.
© KIRIMON AUGUST 2008
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