Post by sevenfan on Oct 13, 2019 9:03:33 GMT -5
Joe's post got me thinking about one I was given some 35 or so years ago by my mother in law. No manufacturer information anywhere but does have proof marks and other markings. Playing around yesterday, I tore it down to see if I could figure out what it really is.
Before the original Reloadbench shut down, I was communicating with another member who had one (might have been MrGnA) but was never able to determine precisely what this was. Yesterday I learned it's a 6mm Flobert Warnant parlor rifle manufactured in Liege, Belgium.
It's in poor shape, missing a few screws, and someone broke the stock, which is more elaborate than the rifle itself. Surprisingly, the bore is fairly bright with rust spots in places, nowhere near as bad anticipated considering the corrosive nature of ammo of the time. Tooling marks are horrendous.
Was able to date manufacture to late 1800s, possibly 1893, as the E L G oval has the crown on top and rifle is the 3rd version (Warnant) with a "breech block" that contains a transfer hammer and also operates the extractor.
Was telling my wife about this yesterday and she told me it may have been given to her dad when he was young or he may have obtained it when he was stationed in Belgium during WWII.
Know I have digital pictures somewhere so will try to remember where I saved them. If unsuccessful I'll take some new pics.
Thanks Big Joe for posting about smoothbore 22s!
Edit for corrections: Can't confirm it was manufactured in Liege, just where final proofing was done. Also, the oval with E L G and crown means it was manufactured 1893 or later as the crown over the oval started July 9, 1893.