Auguste Francotte&Comp. () was a privately owned firearms manufacturer based in

Liège Liège ( , , ; wa, Lîdje ; nl, Luik ; german: Lüttich ) is a major city and municipality of Wallonia and the capital of the Belgian province of Liège. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east of Belgium, not far from b ...

, Belgium. It was founded between 1805. and 1810, and was still in operation after 1948.

History

The company was founded in 1805 by August Francotte in

, based at Rue de Mont-Saint-Martin 61. The company was especially active from 1860 to 1914 before manufacturing ceased due to the

German invasion of Belgium German invasion of Belgium may refer to: * German invasion of Belgium (1914) during World War I *German invasion of Belgium (1940) The invasion of Belgium or Belgian campaign (10–28 May 1940), often referred to within Belgium as the 18 Days' ...

. The company resumed production after World War I.

Arms for Serbian military

In 1857, the Principality of Serbia ordered

rifle A rifle is a long-barreled firearm designed for accurate shooting, with a barrel that has a helical pattern of grooves ( rifling) cut into the bore wall. In keeping with their focus on accuracy, rifles are typically designed to be held with ...

s ( Francotte rifle model 1849/56) and

pistol A pistol is a handgun, more specifically one with the chamber integral to its gun barrel, though in common usage the two terms are often used interchangeably. The English word was introduced in , when early handguns were produced in Europe, an ...

s of percussion cap system for its armed forces. Also, in 1875, Serbia procured 11 mm Lefaucheux-Francotte M. 1871

revolver A revolver (also called a wheel gun) is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six roun ...

s of double action,

Никола Гажевић Nikola () is a given name which, like Nicholas, is a version of the Greek '' Nikolaos'' (Νικόλαος). It is common as a masculine given name in the South Slavic countries ( Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, Mo ...

, Војна енциклопедија 8, Војноиздавачки завод, Београд (1974), стр. 146-147 similar to a Danish revolver Lefaucheux-Francotte M1865.

Production

Throughout the period from the middle of the nineteenth century to 1914, Belgian gunmakers like Auguste Francotte made large quantities of rifles and revolvers of the most diverse construction, calibre and size; most, however, were imitations (produced under licence) of other well-known systems ( Martini-Henry,

Mauser Mauser, originally Königlich Württembergische Gewehrfabrik ("Royal Württemberg Rifle Factory"), was a German arms manufacturer. Their line of bolt-action rifles and semi-automatic pistols has been produced since the 1870s for the German arme ...

, Smith&Wesson, Nagant). Francotte rifle M1857

During the first decades they manufactured various arms for various nations around Europe, among others 1,500 M1849 kammerladers for Norway.Later they concentrated on high-quality, expensive civilian arms.

Rifles

* Francotte-Martini rifle, single shot breachloader with falling block action. Made after 1865, it was an unlicenced derivative the of the

Peabody rifle The Peabody action was an early form of breechloading firearm action, where the heavy breechblock tilted downwards across a bolt mounted in the rear of the breechblock, operated by a lever under the rifle. The Peabody action most often used an ...

. Modern versions are of the hamerless type, and have a removable

breechblock A breechblock (or breech block) is the part of the firearm action that closes the breech of a breech loading weapon (whether small arms or artillery) before or at the moment of firing. It seals the breech and contains the pressure generated by th ...

, which can be easily removed for cleaning. It is a very well made and expensive weapon.

Revolvers

Model 1865, Chamelot-

Delavigne Delavigne may refer to * Germain Delavigne (1790–1868), dramatist and librettist * Casimir Delavigne (1793–1843), poet, dramatist and librettist See also * Delevingne * Lavine Lavine may refer to: * Charles Lavine (born 1947), a ...

double action pinfire revolver with solid frame and fixed cylinder, with no mechanical extractor. Made for Danish navy, caliber 11 mm. * Model 1871, Lefaucheux-Francotte double action pinfire revolver with solid frame and fixed cylinder, with no mechanical extractor. Made for Danish army, caliber 11 mm. * Revolver m/1871, Lefaucheux-Francotte double action revolver with solid frame and fixed cylinder, with no mechanical extractor. Made for Swedish army, caliber 11 mm. * Model 1882 (trooper's model), similar as above, made for Danish army, caliber 10.9 mm. * Model 1886 (trooper's model), similar as above, made for Danish army, caliber 9.5 mm.

Recourse

{{Reflist Firearm manufacturers of Belgium Companies based in Liège Province