Hello All,
Buckstix and I might have bored the whole board to death with our Lefaucheux rifle adventures, but something is puzzling me.
When looking at my 1898 rifle, there is a 5 digit number on the bottom rib with a specific font. Often this is followed by a date.
I assumed until now that it was a Lefaucheux number, and then I realized that I had seen similar numbers before on other guns with Bernard barrels.
I have seen this on "no brand" guns, Guyot, Chapu, Lepage and Lefaucheux...
the dates are:
Devisme #3583 : 1843
No pic
Perrin #8184 : 1854
No Pic
Lepage-Moutier
#6084 : 1850
#17078: 18??
Lefaucheux described
here #19526 : 1866
#20938:1868
No name lever action
#23177 : 1870
Faure Lepage #24759:1873
Guyot #30685 : 1882
Roblin #33??? : A
The first A I know of. The number looks like 33169.
Guyot #357xx : ????
Pigeon #37xxx : post 1899
Gastine Rennette #38083: post 1899
So now the issue is that:
- The only obvious common element is the barrel maker (Bernard)
- A barrel maker is not usually providing the ribs, and even less assembled tubes
So either:
- Bernard was actually providing the assembled gun to all these guys
- somebody else was and from 1850 to 1900s! I sure don't know who that could be...
If you guys have Bernard barrels from any maker please look for this numbering and report, that would be fantastic!
Good hunt,
WC-
P.S> US Parkers don't seem to have this...
