Under one name or another, Pieper or their companies made firearms for nearly a century. The genius of Henri was his early adoption of the American factory system for arms production. Nicolas expanded the business. He is noteworthy for 2 reasons, his early hiring of women in the factory, side by side with men (some thing that did not take place in America until WWII). Also his large scale production of hand guns, which was the Pieper-Bayard mainstay for decades.
Henri Pieper was descendant from his German father, Heinrich Pieper. In the nearly century they were in business they produced rifles, shotguns, cartridges, machine guns, pistols, revolvers, and many military arms. It is easy to say, "They made junk" because at times they did. It also easy to say, "Their guns won just about every award and exposition in Europe", because at times they did. There is a misconception that they flooded the American market with cheap guns. They certainly sold their share of firearms under various trade names in the American market. However, they were not alone. It is simply too easy to assign all JABC to Pieper. Upon closer examination of these firearms, we often find other maker's trademarks and stamps.
Henri was followed in the business by Nicolas. I am not going to get into an exact history, nor listing of guns. It is simply too long.
Some names, trade names, etc associated with various Piepers;
Demi-Bloc, Centaure, Diane, Adler, Bayard, Eagle Gun Works, E.Leroy, P Couronné, The Leader, Royal Gun Works, Premier Arms, Compound Damascus, National Arms, Le Rationnel, Heny Arms
Nicholas Pieper, was in business 1906-1927, 1928-1932 making pistols and other arms with Jean Warnant and Hippolyte Thonon.
Trademarks stamped on barrels
NP, Nicolas Pieper
AEP, Anciens Establissements Pieper
Sources:
"Le Qui est Qui De L'Armurerie Liegeoise 1800-1950", Gadisseur-Druart
"Les Armuriers De Liege en Catalogues (1891-1930)", Gadisseur
"Bayard Les hommes, les armes et les machines du Chevalier Pieper & Cie 1859-1957", Druart
"Cinq siècles d'armurerie liégeoise", Claude Gaier
Web sources:
http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20p/a%20pieper%20nicolas%20gb.htmhttp://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/art...%20ets%20gb.htmhttp://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20p/a%20pieper%20s%20a%20ets%20gb.htmhttp://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20p/a%20pieper%20henri%20gb.htmhttp://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20p/a%20pieper%20en%20tete%20gb.htmPete
