doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Just returned from Belgium

Jim, yes ideed it is one of the two Lefevers that you sold me. You remember very well that importing them take's a lot of time and money, but I am very happy with them.
I like Lefevers and I hope to solve importing problems in a near future because I want one more.
Marc.

Hi Marc,
Happy to hear you are still enjoying them. Also, congratulations on your marriage. The last reference I remember to Tanya was that she was your girlfriend. I wish you many years of happiness! Ann and I are married over 51 years, now.

Pete ,Your pictures bring back many memories of Liege. For a year I lived 15 Km; up stream on the Meuse/Mass in Maastricht.I was a frequent visitor to Liege;in particular to the Arms Museum and the Saturday market.A market that seemed to run for miles along the bank of the Meuse right in front of the Arms museum. In this market it was possible to purchase anything from live chickens to a cased pair of dueling pistols!
In those days, the Arms museum had a fantastic display of the machinery used to produce damascus barrels,frankly I was amazed by the size of billet/bundles used and the massive rolling mills required to reduce the billets to the familiar ribands that are illustrated being hand welded in so many gun books.The variety of damascus patterns achieved by the master barrel makers of Liege was astounding. In particular barrels,stacked rolled and forge to incorporate the manufacturers name in the finished barrel. I was told that engineers /students from the nearby German engineering university in Aachen had studied the manufacturing process but had been unable to figure out the billet stack required to produce these magnificent named barrels.
The gun in the museum that most impressed me was the 14 barrel volley gun made for Colonel Thomas Thornton,circa 1804. I believe by a gunmaker, Dupe &Co; of Oxford,England.Colonel Thorntons sporting tours of the Scottish Highlands are credited as highlighting sporting opportunities in Scotland. Pete,I hope you managed to see this unique gun.

Roy,

How fortunate you were. The display is greatly decreased. There is a another silent documentary at the Museum of Wallon Life. It shows the billets coming down the rolling mill.

The gun you referenced is no longer on display.

The market is now on Sundays. It still runs for many miles along the river. Maastricht is one of many towns I wanted to visit, but did not have time.

Pete

Pete,I was sorry to learn that the Thornton gun is no longer on display in the Liege Arms museum and that the Damascus production exhibit has been down sized.This likely a result of the serious economic problems faced by the city of Liege in the early 1990,s.If you happen to have access to the book,"100 Great Guns", by Merrill Lindsay, the Thornton gun is pictured on page,131. The catalogue reference at the Liege museum is given as;Ae 1[5866]
Perhaps you could arrange to view the gun if you are ever in a position to make return visit to Belgium.

Roy,

I do want to return. The Belgians are very friendly and extremely helpful. The Belgian countryside is beautiful. When we arrived they were harvesting pears and apples. Liege is a mixed bag today. Some areas show the economic hard times, others seem unaffected. It is very much a university town today. Students are coming and going all day at the train station from around the province.

The Arms Museum in Liege has been merged into the Curtius. It now covers a great many areas. The facility is gorgeous. It seems to me that Claude Gaier, who was the director had enormous influence. When he retired, the focus shifted.

The same is true of the remodeled Museum of Wallon Life. The Royal Museum of Military History in Brussels has some fine pieces on display.

Viewing the gun would be a treat. However, I have been informed that the remaining collection has been moved off site. All the items are in wooden crates and sit in a military storage area. Even the curators do not have access to them. C'est la vie.

I was able to find some other "treasures". Not exactly guns, but related. I am in the process of putting it all together now.

Pete

Roy,

Is there an arms museum in Maastricht? Are you aware of any other arms museums in Belgium or perhaps Luxemburg?

Thanks,

Pete

Pete,I do not believe there is an Arms Museum in Maastricht.As you may be aware,Maastricht was home to some fine gunmakers in the 17&18 Century, The only trace of the cities gunmakers that I uncovered was the odd example of flint lock pistols/rifles seen in antique shops.
Regret cannot offer advice on museums in Luxemburg or other cities in Belgium.
Maastricht is city rich in history & well worth a visit; access to Liege is easy ,less than 30 mins, drive.

There's meant to be on at the 'Citadel of Dinant' never been there so can't comment.

Even 15 years ago they would only display 1/3 of their collection at the Liege arms Museum, the other 2/3 would be up in the loft.

The thing that might be worthwhile to see are the various military/arms fairs.
Some are strictly military some a combination of both.

If military arms are of interest, Armurerie du Nord is a must visit.

You could also knock on the door of the Liege gunmakers school, I doubt they would turn you away and try and do a tour of the various gunshops.

There are also various 'Battle of the Bulge' museums but none I would recommend. Most are quite small considering the distance you would have to drive to get to them.

ArnoldB,

The gun makers school was on my list, but I just ran out of time. I know they have some history related items there. There was just too much to see and do in only 8 days.

I was hoping to find someone in Nessonvaux I could speak with. I had a hope there might be a local historical society. I am sure many of the families residing there are descendants of the gun makers. The old Imperia factory is still there, although in ruins.

Good thought about some of the military fairs, thanks.

Pete