Firm NAGANTEmile (1830 - 1902) and Leon (1833 - 1900) melt in 1859 the Factory of Weapons Emile and Leon Nagant, Quai of Ourthe, 41 in Liege.

The meeting with the Remington brothers in 1867, makes it possible to take, under licence, the manufacture of 5000 rifles "Rolling Block" intended for the pontifical Zouaves of the guard of the Vatican. By improving the system of closing they produce shotguns to known guns

juxtaposed under the name of "Remington-Nagant".

They contribute to the adjustment of the turntable of the Dutch revolver Mle 1873 which are manufactured by the Arsenal of Hembrug and the Beaumont firm of Maastricht.

In 1876, they manufacture a rifle in 11 mm for Greece provided with the Mylonas system.

In 1877, they create a gun with two juxtaposed guns, system "Rolling block", of caliber 9,4 mm (cartridge carried out by the Bachmann Belgian, known under the name of 9,4 Nagant or 9,4 Belgian). This weapon will remain in equipment in the Belgian gendarmerie until

1901, it is the first Belgian lawful weapon with metal cartridge.

The revolver model 1878, available in simple and double action, gave rise to a series of weapons which were adopted by various European countries:

Belgium first of all: models 1878, 1883 and 1878/86 with the calibre 9,4 mm.

The model 1883 in double action by Norway and Denmark

The model 1887, calibre 7,5 mm by Sweden of them.

The model 1893, calibre of them 7,5 mm by Norway, Serbia and again Sweden; in calibre 44 (11 mm), by Brazil and Argentina.

And finally the model 1895 with advancing barrel (without "gas loss"), calibre 7,62 of them, by Russia.

In 1887, Nagant build a rifle with Mannlicher system into 7,65 and 8 mm, considered to be too complex, it are replaced, in 1888, by a Mauser system.

The same year, with the aid of Colonel Ivanovich Mosin, Nagant work with the production of a repeating rifle calibre some 7,62, likely to replace the "Berdan", lawful Russian with a blow. Famous rifle "Mosin-Nagant" is accepted in 1891.

The 2 brothers separate in 1896, Leon creates at once the "Factory of Weapons Leon Nagant" and, with its 2 sons Charles (1863) and Maurice (1866), in 1899, they launch out in the automobile adventure (but that is another history) to died of Leon, in 1900 the name of the

firm becomes "Factory of Weapons and Cars Nagant Frиres".

Patent of NagantLйon Nagant 1894

N°14.010

Exposition of Paris - 1900

Nagant 1877 GendarmerieBelgian gun NAGANT of Gendarmerie

This weapon with two juxtaposed guns functions with a mechanism Rolling-block directly derived from the weapon put at the bridge by Samuel and Eliphabet REMINGTON.

Those at the time of a voyage in Belgium met the brothers Emile and Leon NAGANT.

These people agreed on a partnership between the two companies so that the NAGANT sub-contract a part of orders REMINGTON for Spain and Egypt.

NAGANT obtains also the right to exploit on its personal use patent REMINGTON not without having to pay royalties well on.

Continuing on its impetus, company NAGANT obtains a contract of the Belgian gendarmerie for the manufacture of 2.000 guns type REMINGTON-NAGANT which will carry the official designation of "model 1877"

This weapon will be the first weapon with metal cartridge of the Belgian army.

It will be also copied, proof of its success, by various arms manufacturers inhabitant of Liиge such as William GRAH, Lйopold ANCION-MARX and Jules WORSE of Antwerp.

This weapon will remain in service with the gendarmerie until the beginning of the XXe century.

Technical index.

Length: 265 mm

Length barrel: 140 mm

Height: 185 mm

Calibre: 9 mm Belgian PN.

Weight: 1 kg 150.

Markings

Markings on this weapon are often very numerous, it acts in particular of:

EM and L NAGANT LIEGE: name of the manufacturers.

PATENT NAGANT.

Spangled ELG in an oval: mark BE before 1893.

Lion upright on letter G in a rectangle: mark of the controller of the Belgian army.

Crowned JD: mark of the military controller for a weapon coming from the civil one.

1638: n° of series.

W: initials of the Belgian gendarmerie.

C and P frame S spangled: various small marks of workshops (controllers, inspectors etc).

Value in collection.

This weapon built in few specimens (approximately 2.000) became relatively rare on the market of the collection; its price is thus consequently.

GG

Photographs with the authorization of Mr. Christian Pisart.

Another NAGANT GENDARMERIEPhotos "MUSEE ROYAL DE L' ARMEE - BRUXELLES".

"Patent Remington"

A NAGANT GENDARMERIE with "carbin grip"Photos "MUSEE ROYAL DE L' ARMEE - BRUXELLES".

Nagant 1878Nagant Model 1878-1886 (for officer). Marking on the cap: 170 E. According to an old Mister present at the time of the purchase (Which

arised as a descendant of the Nagant family) it would be about a marking of the Civic Guard.

Thanks to Christian for the photos.

Nagant 1878-86

Nagant 1883 artillerie before 1900

Nagant 1883 artillerie after 1900

SWEDISH MILITARY NAGANT MOD. 18877.5-mm Swedish revolver with 4ѕ-inch barrel.

Nagant 1895Calibre 7.62 or .32ACP

Nagant 1895 or 1898Calibre 7.62

Photos of "COLLECTIBLEFIREARMS"

Brazilian Nagant

Brazilian Navy NagantCalibre .44

Nagant dated 1931Cal. 7.62mm

Russian revolver NAGANT, official name "Revolver of 3 lines (7,62 mm) model 1895", produced by the arsenal of Toula in 1900, 7 blows, simple and double action (model officer).

Nagant delivers 20.000 revolvers until the production begins in Toula in 1899, production which will last until the end of the Second World War.

The job number of the weapon starts again to 1 each years, the weapon always carries its year under the denomination (variable with the passing of years and of the modes) of the arsenal of Toula.

The model presented carries the marking (valid of 1899-1912) into Cyrillic which means "imperial Factory of armament of Toula" to the top of the grip, on the left-hand side. On right-hand side one finds the punch of the controller: initial surmounted imperial eagle.

Rolling block NAGANTRifle Rolling block of brothers REMINGTON was manufactured under license by brothers NAGANT quay of Ourthe, 41 in Liege.

In 1867, they manufacture of them 5.000 parts bound for the Vatican then in 1873 after some patents of improvements, they manufacture the snap hook of Dutch gendarmerie with protects handlebar gauges 11.3mm.

These weapons become typically NAGANT following the patent of 1873. The firm then manufactures weapons of various gauges on this system of breech like a rifle of rampart for Holland and a rifle of sport (cal 44).

Marking NAGANT BREVETE and the n° of series on 3 lines indicate that the weapon indeed was manufactured in Liege. I am astonished by the absence of punches of the bench of tests of Liиge except perhaps the V crowned which is, I think, the countermark of the controller

use of 1853 with 1877.Others marks quantified are markings of workshop without much significance.

Pontifical rifle Remington-Nagant.

It is in 1867 that the brothers Emile and Leon NAGANT quay of Ourthe, 41 in Liege obtained brothers REMINGTON the authorization to manufacture under license 5.000 rifles ROLLING BLOCK bound for the pontifical zouaves of Rome. These weapons were ordered by the

Belgian Catholics at the end of 1867 for the army Vatican

This robust and simple weapon was also adopted by various European countries like Denmark, Spain, Norway and Sweden.

In 1869, brothers NAGANT appreciably modified the system with block rolling of American rifle and gradually will improve it during nearly five years.

This weapon with one shot, with barrel white polished, round and marked of five sides to the thunder is equipped with a rise with cursor. Its caliber should be of 11,3 mm. His stock in drowning consists of a long barrel and a right stock finished by a plate of iron curved and

finished by two screws. The weapon is also equipped with an iron rod with head in the pear shape.

It carries the punches of the bench of tests of Liege, namely:

Spangled ELG in an oval: final acceptance, of use of 1846 to 1893.

Peron: inspection, post 1853.

A crowned letter which is the countermark of a controller (of use of 1853 to 1877) is not visible on the photographs but should be present in theory on the weapon.

The weapon also carries the following marks:

Surmounted cross keys of a tiara: mark of the Vatican - cross keys of Pierre Saint.

F 1 12608: should be the job number of the weapon.

PATENT REMINGTON: without comment.

EM and L NAGANT A LIEGE: also without comment.

And here is that of right-hand side

Riffle Mylonas

M1872 Greek Mylonas:

GENERALLY:  Developed by a Greek Artillery Major named Enstathios Mylonas, the M1872 Mylonas featured a breech block which dropped vertically actuated by a lever located ahead and protruding below the trigger guard.  The rifle is a modification of the Belgian

Comblain but with a larger protruding hammer and the under lever in lieu of the trigger guard/ housing lever of Comblain's patent.   The Mylonas was not considered successful and was shortly replaced by the M1874 French Gras.

DISTINGUISHING CHARECTERISTICS:  The style of the breech block actuating lever is unique to the Mylonas and readily distinguishes the rifle.

MISC NOTES:  The Mylonas was chambered for the M1874 French Gras cartridge (11x59R).  However, The Gras was adopted by France 2 years later than the Mylonas.  Perhaps the Gras cartridge was modeled after the Mylonas cartridge.

Manufactured by Nagant but also (?) by Francotte.

Nagant rifle in .410

This elegant Nagant rifle (a 114 cm length, of which71 cm for the unrifled bore) is based on patent 63999 of January 30, 1884, does of them one of the improvements of a former patent 39512B deposited on 9 May 1876 based on the Remington system. Like says it the patent, “the goal of this improvement is to prevent the gunner from making leave the blow by pressing the trigger, when the lever is not closed. For this

purpose, the primitive trigger is modified and replaced by two parts.”

This type of weapon existed in various gauges, in particular the .44, as there can see with the reading of the impossible to circumvent book “the Revolvers and Nagant rifles” of Misters Feys and Smeets, pages 25 and 26.

The introduction of a cartridge posed problem to us. Firstly, the punches of Liege do not mention the gauge of it, secondly, if it were obvious quay that it was about popular gauge .410, the introduction of the cartridge, even shortest in our possession (a 36 mm length) were not possible because of the presence of the hammer in the axis of the breech. After grinds tests, it appeared that it is necessary to support

thoroughly on the lever of trigger guard, which still makes move back the hammer of a few mm and allows the introduction of a cartridge. There is more practical than that, because it is necessary to hold the weapon of the two hands, it cartouche falling then by gravity in the

breech.

Rifle NAGANTIt acts of a military rifle NAGANT system MANNLICHER calibre 8 mm.

The bolt designed by NAGANT has longitudinal movement and is the essential characteristic of this mechanism.

The magazine is placed in front of the trigger guard and consists of one limp oblong fixed.

It can contain five cartridges.

The loading is done under, the bottom of the magazine swivelling around a hinge located at the front one.

The weapon must be turned over for the loading which can be done to the unit or the five in once.

This weapon was patented by NAGANT brothers on October 26, 1887.

It was presented at the tests of the Belgian army in August 1888.

Other patents were deposited by NAGNANT in order to mitigate certain imperfections but in fact the MAUSER will be chosen by the military in spite of undeniable qualities of the NAGANT.

NAGANT also manufactured the bayonet of this rifle.

Technical details

Weight 3,895 kg - 4,325 with the sword bayonet.

Calibre: 8 mm with pad.

Length of the weapon without bayonet: 1m 220.

Barrel: 68, 5 cm - 6 stripes of left-hand side to the step of 240.

GG

Many thanks to the "ROYAL ARMY MUSEUM" Bruxelles for the pictures.

(N° identification : F305/200 Collection of "Comte de Ribaucourt")

Patent Nagant