Is a weapon made in Liège in the 19th century less valuable than one made in France or the United Kingdom?

This is a very relevant question for a collector!

In fact, it would be inaccurate to claim that a weapon made in Liège, Belgium in the 19th century is systematically less valuable than a weapon made in France.

The value of an antique weapon depends primarily on criteria such as its rarity, state of preservation, quality of manufacture, historical interest, manufacturer and provenance.

Liège was indeed a major arms manufacturing center, producing very large quantities of weapons of widely varying quality, ranging from inexpensive arms intended for export to luxury pieces rivaling the best European production. Meanwhile, certain French manufacturers, notably those of Saint-Étienne and Châtellerault, sometimes enjoy a special prestige among collectors, especially when it comes to regulation weapons associated with French military history.

However, a high-quality Liège-made weapon or one produced by a renowned gunsmith can be more valuable than a more common French weapon. Thus, the place of manufacture is one factor among others to consider, but it alone cannot determine the value of a 19th-century firearm.

The reputation of 19th-century Liège gunsmiths demonstrates that Belgian origin is not synonymous with lesser value. Manufacturers such as Auguste Francotte and Henri Pieper produced very high-quality weapons, often intended for a wealthy international clientele. Some of their creations are now more sought after by collectors than more common French weapons.

This is a strong argument to challenge the idea that a weapon made in Liège would automatically be worth less than a weapon made in France.

Here are some other examples to cite, including:

• Henri Pieper (1840-1898) : inventor and industrialist from Liège, renowned for his revolvers, hunting rifles and technical innovations. His weapons are now highly sought after by collectors.

• Auguste Francotte : founder of a company established at the beginning of the 19th century, famous for its exceptionally high-quality hunting and luxury firearms. The Francotte brand is still considered one of the most prestigious in Belgian gunmaking.

• Jean-Baptiste Ronge : Liège gunsmith renowned for his fine and high-quality weapons intended for a wealthy clientele.

• Leonard Geerts and Joseph Janssen : renowned manufacturers of the second half of the 19th century, who widely exported their products.

• Ancion-Marx : an important Liège-based company specializing in revolvers and weapons intended for the international market.

• Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre (FN) : founded in Herstal in 1889, near Liège, it quickly became one of the largest arms manufacturers in the world.

Not forgetting the pistols invented and patented by the Liège gunsmith Gilles Mariette, notably the percussion pepperbox pistols from 1837 onwards. These percussion pepperbox pistols with ring triggers were among the most popular personal defense weapons of the mid-19th century. Their compact design, without a protruding hammer, made them easy to carry concealed in a coat pocket or travel bag. They offered several successive shots without reloading, a considerable advantage at a time when most pistols were single-shot.

We are pleased to offer you high-quality historical firearms from the workshops of Liège. We invite you to consult our catalog so you can discover the next acquisition to complete your collection.