Pistol Identification Request

[Shooty McShootface]

Hi guys? Can anyone help me with some more information on this Belgian flintlock pistol?

There are severalstamps - ELG and a star, a crown with "LI" underneath - both these on the barrel, and a crown with an "F" underneath (next to hammer).

Many thanks.

 

[Brazos John]

The E LG in an oval is the proof stamp from Liege, Belgium.
Liege was a manufacturing center in the past, producing steel and turning out lots of firearms, and proofing other guns made elsewhere.
Read more about Liege. It's fascinating! And a beautiful city! Narrow streets that dead-end with no turn-arounds! Reminded me of a spy movie with a car chase through the narrow streets.

 

[OLUT]

Hi guys? Can anyone help me with some more information on this Belgian flintlock pistol?

There are severalstamps - ELG and a star, a crown with "LI" underneath - both these on the barrel, and a crown with an "F" underneath (next to hammer).

Many thanks.

Since I left Belgium over 20 years ago, I have no access to all the various "crown" stampings. Your gun is a typical Belgian made military pistol , but it has a distinctive side plate that is lacking on many of them. These pistols were sold to many different countries. For example, see the listing below that I pulled off the internet for this type pistol. Bannerman sold MANY of these as surplus over the years, with a big advertisement and a selling price of $6.95 in my 1927 catalog. (He must have sold out, as I can't find them in my 1940 catalog). They are sometimes also called a sea service pistol.

 

[Shooty McShootface]

The E LG in an oval is the proof stamp from Liege, Belgium.
Liege was a manufacturing center in the past, producing steel and turning out lots of firearms, and proofing other guns made elsewhere.
Read more about Liege. It's fascinating! And a beautiful city! Narrow streets that dead-end with no turn-arounds! Reminded me of a spy movie with a car chase through the narrow streets.

Thank you John. I plan on making a trip there to explore the rich manufacturing traditions of that city. Hopefully early this year when the days get longer.

 

[Shooty McShootface]

Since I left Belgium over 20 years ago, I have no access to all the various "crown" stampings. Your gun is a typical Belgian made military pistol , but it has a distinctive side plate that is lacking on many of them. These pistols were sold to many different countries. For example, see the listing below that I pulled off the internet for this type pistol. Bannerman sold MANY of these as surplus over the years, with a big advertisement and a selling price of $6.95 in my 1927 catalog. (He must have sold out, as I can't find them in my 1940 catalog). They are sometimes also called a sea service pistol.

View attachment 373529

Thank you for the response Olut. That does indeed look very similar to my version, except this one has a flat butt as opposed to the round butt in my images. That sentence reads a little strange I note the ELG without crown means its from 18 August 1818 and 11 June 1893 as Belgium did not exist as a State yet. I understood it to be a cavalry pistol from 1810 but the one above mentions maritime? I think, but cannot be sure, that the crown and initials are proof marks of the examiner...but then why do these have crowns? France, Netherlands? Can you tell me what you mean by disntinctive side plate? Many thanks again. Does this pistol have a type / name?

 

[Mle1822]

This pistol is a Belgian made copy of French Service pistol, simplified from the models An M9 and M13 for colonial use, probably 1820s. Belgium as such didn't exist, it produced firearms for other armies. French pistols were used by many countries in and after napolenic wars, there were hundreds of thousands made. Picture by Udo Lander, Fred Hofele.