Part of the. Riddle from the net.
I am quoting [loosely - very - translating] from a French book given me by a French Doctor called "The Encyclopedia of Hunting Arms" by a Dominique Venner. Of Lebeau-Courally it says - and please excuse my translational abilities?
" In 1866, a master armourer/gunsmith from Argenteau (a suburb of Liege in Belgium) decided to open his own manufactury. Surrounding himself with a team of known-to-be-good craftsmen he began making sporting shotguns of high quality. He also made unique weapons such as the "mitrailleuse" with 5 juxtaposed barrels [??all striped?? perhaps fluted??] for Winchester .22 cartridges, in the form of a bottle, and firing simultaneously. This astonishing weapon, of which the first made was sold to the Kalwer armoury in Moscow was used for wild fowling on ducks and geese as well as big game [this means deer and boar in French - not African type big game].
Auguste Lebeau became the Royal supplier to the Spanish, Italian and Russian royal families and then partnered with Ferdinand Courally. He also became associated with the British firm of Webleys for the manufacture of revolvers. When he died in 1896 F Courally became the sole proprietor. In 1902, this latest association became known as [the firm of] Webley-Lebeau-Courally.
At the end of the First World War (1918) the business was restructured and took the business limited company name of Auguste Lebeau-Courally. The business was entrusted to a Mr Philipp Reeve, an Englishman. When he died in 1956 the business was resumed by M Joseph Verrees another Liege gunmaker. When he in turn died in 1982 the business was continued by Mme Anne-Marie Moermans who had already been working in the business for 15 years. Shotguns and Express Riles [made by] Lebeau-Courally are amongst the best and most beautiful of the late 20th Century."
There follows a picture of the engraving and action of an express rifle on the theme of "The Big Five" These were made in .470NE and .375 H&H Magnum.
I hope and trust this throws a little light on the subject?
