Liege Model 1869

History

The ejection method of firearms is attributed to Frenchman Casimir Lefaucheux and patented in 1835. The system, if successful, would lead to the early use of separate metal cartridges to hold the primer and projectile, which proved to be more effective than competing designs that still relied on separate loading of gunpowder and projectiles at the time.

This led to a series of firearms using the Lefaucheux system - revolvers, rifles and shotguns - one such development appeared in Liege, Belgium, the 9mm caliber Model 1869 needle fire revolver.

The revolver features a traditional design layout with an open nickel-plated frame. The hammer is exposed behind, depicted with the graceful curves of spurs. The barrel is 5.55 inches long and has a front sight for coupling to the rear mount for accuracy. The handle is securely attached to the frame and covered on both sides by gripping surfaces. Military lanyard loops are added to the bottom of the handle.

The trigger ring is a large oval with a well-curved trigger inside. The revolver is the heart of the pistol, housing 6 chambers for 9mm needle fire cartridges. A loading door is located on the right side of the frame, and a pushrod accelerates the ejection of the spent casing from the cylinder.

The pistol has a double-action mechanism, where a single pull of the trigger operates both the hammer and the drop hammer (as opposed to single-action, which requires the operator to manually pull the hammer). The bayonet can be mounted on the bottom of the barrel, although its use in combat is debatable.

There, the revolvers were duly marked with a Liege certificate to certify their official government inspection.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes