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Auguste Francotte’s Company was founded in 1810, and established in Rue Mont Saint Martin 61, in Liege. The company was especially active between 1860 and 1914, and was one of the principal manufacturers of weapons of Liege during second half of the 19th century, until 1914, when its activities were blocked by German occupation. The author Taylerson states that at about 1890, not less than 150 models of revolvers were offered by A. Francotte. The Francotte Company was also a very important wholesaler, around the years 1880. They provided revolvers to arms manufacturers who punched their names on these weapons. It is only by dismounting them that one can find the initial AF. Very good copies of his revolvers were made at Adams, Tranter and Smith & Wesson under license, this secured his career. The Francotte house also manufactured a number of rifles, and shotguns, based on the system Martini, possibly renamed Martini-Francotte. Such rifles were still used in open shooting competitions after World War 2. Francotte also produced a number of military revolvers, like it model 1871 in 11 mm for the Swedish cavalry, or for Denmark: the model 1882 in 10 mm for the cavalry and the model 1886 in 9 mm for the officers. He adopted the system of locking used by Pryse (the opening of the framework being carried out by the means of two vertical arms releasing two pins on both sides framework, which was a P Cournet patent). According to Hogg, Francotte also adopted a system of cylinder-catch used by Pryse, it consisted of a milled button assembled in front, under the barrel: while turning it of a half-turn, one frees the cylinder assembly. Francotte also bought the rights to the Lefaucheux lock-work, which enabled him to put thousands of revolvers stamped "Lefaucheux-Francotte" on the market. Initially these revolvers used pin-fire cartridges, later center-fire cartridges. Francotte designed a gun with four barrels, patented in England 15891/1885. According to Hogg, it could be that the model built by "Braendlin Armoury" was made under lisence from this Francotte patent. This double action revolver’s trigger mechanism is of the Lefaucheux/Francotte design and not the Beaumont/Adams design that A Francotte used earlier. The hinge-open mechanism locks with a Cournet/Pryse type catch. There is an extractor mechanism for the cases and a hook at the base of the stock to attach a stock. It is classified as an antique in the USA. (Ref. ‘Pistols of the world’ by Hogg and Weeks p108)

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