doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com German Double 16 Hammergun

I recently bought a German 16 gauge hammergun that opens by pushing a lever to the side that doubles as a forearm. Is there a specific name for this type of opening system? Also, there is a name stamped on the flat of the frame J.H. Bovy Brevete. Any info. appreciated. Thanks.

Hello Possumhunter,

The action is called Lefaucheux.
Are you sure it is German? "Brevete" means "patented" in French.

JC

Here's a couple pics:

It does look very Teutonic.

JC

Possibly http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20b/a%20bovy%20famille%20gb.htm

Do the barrel flats look something like this?

More pics:

Joseph Bovy was not active for a very long time. He did hold multiple patents, more than the 6 that Alain mentions on LittleGun. Exactly how he improved the Lefaucheux patent is not clear. There were others (about 5) in his family who were also involved in the gun trade.

The Lefaucheux, a French gun maker known for his pin fire pistols, closing mechanism was a novel approach. It stayed around for a much longer time than some of the other attempts.

This gun was proofed in Belgium, only for black powder. There seem to be some interesting markings. Perhaps from the barrel makers. From the patent, the gun was produced some time on after 1870. It was not uncommon for German dealers to purchase guns and the sell them as their own. It was a common practice just about everywhere.

Pete

EL in cursive letters - provisional proof used after 1852.
Perron - Inspection mark after 1811.
Spangled ELG in an oval - definitive proof post 1818. Post 1893 mark is usually crowned.
Crown over lower case letters - the bench test controller's (inspector's) personal marks used 1853-1877. After 1877, the inspector's mark was usually a star over a capital letter.

Thanks for all of the information. So this places the gun in the 1870-1880 time period?

That should be about correct.

Pete