New Here and have a few questions

robertsails · February 9, 2011, 04:27 PM

Hello everyone,

I am new here and have a few questions. I have been into black powder guns since I was a kid. I have a few that I shoot and a few I keep safe. Today I picked up two new ones. I can not figure out there dates. Maybe someone here can send me in the right direction.

One is a Flintlock. On the left side of the barrel it has a circle with an E over a L and G over a star. On the same side it has the following words. 108 Malherb. Under those words you see what looks like leaves or garland running across. Above the words you see a few sprigs of sticks with leaves and then from right to left you see the following A pole arm, a shield with a cross on it and a drum. The right side has the following. The word Aliege on a angle with A starting from the lower left if looking at it. Under the ALiege you see a crown some strange thing that reminds me of a old comb, and one other thing that looks like s sail or something. above Aliege are two more of the sail looking things. Lower right of the top looks like a spear head. I do not think they are sails but could be about anything. I will attempt to break out my macro lens later and take pictures.

The second pistol is a percussion. On the right side of the barrel you see two things that kind of look like Crowns then a U under them. Under that you then see 7841. On the same side of the main body of the pistol just aft of were the barrel attaches you see the crown things again and the U as well. No other markings on that side. On top of the barrel just in front of the nipple you see what could be 1806.

On the bottom of the barrel you see what maybe 14 and then on the main part of the pistol you see what maybe another 14 As if saying these two parts go together. Or it could of been initials just warn down.

I hope someone here can help me figures these two new pistols out. Thanks for all your help you maybe able to give to me. Have a great day.

Hardcase · February 9, 2011, 04:54 PM

Photos, as many as you have and as clear as you can take, will help immensely. If you have trouble posting them, just let us know and somebody will give you a hand.

The E over L and G over star symbols that you describe sound like Belgian proof marks.

And welcome aboard - it's great to have you with us!

pohill · February 9, 2011, 05:15 PM

For a start, check out these sites:
http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge...belge%20gb.htm
http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html

Kadmos · February 9, 2011, 05:19 PM

Yep Belgian. On the first for sure.

Here's a decent site of some of their marks.
http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html

robertsails · February 9, 2011, 05:30 PM

The little gun link will not work. My computer says it contains a virus. I tried on my iPad and it starts to open the goes to a different page.

pohill · February 9, 2011, 05:36 PM

That happened to me before at that site, too. I can open it now. Can you post some pics of the gun and the marks? Have you removed the barrels? This is what's on the bottom of my Belgian rifle's barrel:

robertsails · February 9, 2011, 06:25 PM

I have not attempted to do anything with either pistol as of yet. I am out and about right now. I will take pics in a little bit.

robertsails · February 9, 2011, 07:14 PM

I was sitting at a coffee shop having a drink and googling maker marks and found the marks for the second pistol. Crown over crown over U is German from the Franco Prussian war. So that puts that one around 1870 to 1871 roughly give or take a few years. The first one I will still need help with.

robertsails · February 9, 2011, 09:02 PM

This set and the next one are of the Liege pistol

robertsails · February 9, 2011, 09:03 PM

full shot

robertsails · February 9, 2011, 09:06 PM

Here are some of the German pistol pics

Hawg · February 9, 2011, 09:50 PM

Those are screw barrel pistols commonly called ladies muff pistols.

robertsails · February 10, 2011, 05:45 AM

From what I have seen the second pistol with the crown over crown over U was a military issued weapon. Either way I am happy I picked them up more so for the money I paid for them.

February 9, 2011, 04:27 PM	#1
robertsails Junior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Port charlotte Florida Posts: 12	New Here and have a few questions Hello everyone, I am new here and have a few questions. I have been into black powder guns since I was a kid. I have a few that I shoot and a few I keep safe. Today I picked up two new ones. I can not figure out there dates. Maybe someone here can send me in the right direction. One is a Flintlock. On the left side of the barrel it has a circle with an E over a L and G over a star. On the same side it has the following words. 108 Malherb. Under those words you see what looks like leaves or garland running across. Above the words you see a few sprigs of sticks with leaves and then from right to left you see the following A pole arm, a shield with a cross on it and a drum. The right side has the following. The word Aliege on a angle with A starting from the lower left if looking at it. Under the ALiege you see a crown some strange thing that reminds me of a old comb, and one other thing that looks like s sail or something. above Aliege are two more of the sail looking things. Lower right of the top looks like a spear head. I do not think they are sails but could be about anything. I will attempt to break out my macro lens later and take pictures. The second pistol is a percussion. On the right side of the barrel you see two things that kind of look like Crowns then a U under them. Under that you then see 7841. On the same side of the main body of the pistol just aft of were the barrel attaches you see the crown things again and the U as well. No other markings on that side. On top of the barrel just in front of the nipple you see what could be 1806. On the bottom of the barrel you see what maybe 14 and then on the main part of the pistol you see what maybe another 14 As if saying these two parts go together. Or it could of been initials just warn down. I hope someone here can help me figures these two new pistols out. Thanks for all your help you maybe able to give to me. Have a great day.

February 9, 2011, 04:54 PM	#2
Hardcase Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 1,909	Photos, as many as you have and as clear as you can take, will help immensely. If you have trouble posting them, just let us know and somebody will give you a hand. The E over L and G over star symbols that you describe sound like Belgian proof marks. And welcome aboard - it's great to have you with us! __________________ Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae

February 9, 2011, 05:15 PM	#3
pohill Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2005 Location: northeast Posts: 521	For a start, check out these sites: http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge...belge%20gb.htm http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html

February 9, 2011, 05:19 PM	#4
Kadmos Member Join Date: April 27, 2010 Posts: 93	Yep Belgian. On the first for sure. Here's a decent site of some of their marks. http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html

February 9, 2011, 05:30 PM	#5
robertsails Junior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Port charlotte Florida Posts: 12	The little gun link will not work. My computer says it contains a virus. I tried on my iPad and it starts to open the goes to a different page.

February 9, 2011, 05:36 PM	#6
pohill Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2005 Location: northeast Posts: 521	That happened to me before at that site, too. I can open it now. Can you post some pics of the gun and the marks? Have you removed the barrels? This is what's on the bottom of my Belgian rifle's barrel:

February 9, 2011, 06:25 PM	#7
robertsails Junior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Port charlotte Florida Posts: 12	I have not attempted to do anything with either pistol as of yet. I am out and about right now. I will take pics in a little bit.

February 9, 2011, 07:14 PM	#8
robertsails Junior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Port charlotte Florida Posts: 12	I was sitting at a coffee shop having a drink and googling maker marks and found the marks for the second pistol. Crown over crown over U is German from the Franco Prussian war. So that puts that one around 1870 to 1871 roughly give or take a few years. The first one I will still need help with.

February 9, 2011, 09:50 PM	#12
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Those are screw barrel pistols commonly called ladies muff pistols.

February 10, 2011, 05:45 AM	#13
robertsails Junior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Port charlotte Florida Posts: 12	From what I have seen the second pistol with the crown over crown over U was a military issued weapon. Either way I am happy I picked them up more so for the money I paid for them.