Liege Ranger Shotgun Serial Number
Liege Ranger Shotgun Serial Number: A Complete Guide for Owners and Collectors
Liege Ranger Shotgun Serial Number: A Complete Guide for Owners and Collectors
If you own a Liege Ranger shotgun, you might be curious about its history, origin, and value. Liege Ranger shotguns were made in Belgium by various manufacturers and exported to the United States and other countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were popular among hunters, farmers, and sportsmen who appreciated their reliability, simplicity, and affordability. However, they were also often of low quality and not suitable for modern smokeless powder ammunition. In this article, we will explain how to identify and verify your Liege Ranger shotgun using its serial number and other markings.
Download Zip: https://urlcod.com/2w3uM0
What is a Liege Ranger shotgun?
A Liege Ranger shotgun is a generic term for a double-barrel smoothbore firearm that was made in Liege, Belgium, and sold under various trade names and brands. The name "Ranger" was one of the most common trade names used by the Belgian gunmakers, but there were many others, such as "Acme", "Champion", "Eclipse", "Falcon", "Globe", "King", "Peerless", "Royal", "Victor", and more . Some of these names were also used by American manufacturers, such as Stevens, Crescent, Iver Johnson, etc., which can cause confusion and misidentification.
The Liege gun industry was very prolific and competitive in the late 1800s and early 1900s, producing millions of firearms for domestic and foreign markets. The Banc d'Epreuves de Liege (Liege Proof House) was the official institution that tested and certified the quality and safety of the firearms made in Liege. The proof marks stamped on the barrels and receivers of the guns indicate the date of manufacture, the gauge, the chamber length, the type of powder, and other information . However, not all Liege guns have proof marks, especially those made before 1893 or those that were not intended for export .
How to find the serial number of your Liege Ranger shotgun?
The serial number of your Liege Ranger shotgun is usually located on the underside of the barrels, near the breech. It may also be found on the receiver or the forend. The serial number may consist of only numbers or a combination of letters and numbers. It may also have a prefix or a suffix that indicates the manufacturer or the model. For example, some Liege guns have a "J" prefix or suffix that stands for Janssen Fils & Co., one of the largest Belgian gunmakers .
The serial number can help you determine the approximate year of manufacture of your Liege Ranger shotgun, as well as its original configuration and features. However, you should be aware that some serial numbers may have been duplicated or altered by different makers or importers. Therefore, you should always compare your serial number with other markings on your gun, such as proof marks, maker's marks, trade names, etc., to verify its authenticity and origin.
How to use proof marks to date your Liege Ranger shotgun?
Proof marks are official stamps that indicate that a firearm has passed the quality and safety tests conducted by the Liege Proof House. They can provide valuable information about your Liege Ranger shotgun, such as its year of manufacture, its gauge, its chamber length, its type of powder, and its choke constriction. Proof marks are usually found on the barrels and receivers of Liege guns, but they may also be present on other parts.
The most common proof mark is the crowned ELG mark, which stands for Epreuve de Liege (Proof of Liege). This mark indicates that the gun has passed the final proof test with black powder. The Perron (tower) mark indicates that the gun has passed the provisional proof test with black powder. These two marks were used from 1810 to 1897 . If your gun has only these two marks, it means that it was made before 1898 and that it is not safe to fire with smokeless powder.
After 1897, new proof marks were introduced to indicate that the gun was tested with smokeless powder. The most common mark is the lion over PV mark, which stands for Poudre Vive (Live Powder). This mark indicates that the gun has passed the final proof test with smokeless powder. The star over E mark indicates that the gun has passed the provisional proof test with smokeless powder. These two marks were used from 1898 to 1924 . If your gun has these two marks, it means that it was made between 1898 and 1924 and that it is safe to fire with smokeless powder.
After 1924, new proof marks were introduced to indicate the gauge and the chamber length of the gun. The most common mark is the 12-70 in an omega lying mark, which stands for 12 gauge and 70 mm (2 3/4 inches) chamber length. This mark indicates that the gun is chambered for standard 12 gauge shells. Other marks may indicate different gauges and chamber lengths, such as 16-65, 20-63, etc. These marks were used from 1925 to 1968 . If your gun has these marks, it means that it was made between 1925 and 1968 and that you should use the appropriate shells for your gun.
After 1968, new proof marks were introduced to indicate the year of manufacture of the gun. The most common mark is a letter inside a circle, which corresponds to a year code. For example, A = 1969, B = 1970, C = 1971, etc. This mark indicates the year when the gun was proofed, which may be different from the year when it was made. Other marks may indicate different proof standards or tests, such as CIP, NP, NP*, etc. These marks were used from 1969 to present . If your gun has these marks, it means that it was made after 1969 and that it meets the current proof requirements.
How to use maker's marks to identify your Liege Ranger shotgun?
Maker's marks are stamps or logos that indicate the name or the initials of the manufacturer or the importer of the gun. They can help you identify your Liege Ranger shotgun and its origin, quality, and value. Maker's marks are usually found on the receiver or the barrels of Liege guns, but they may also be present on other parts.
There were hundreds of Belgian gunmakers who produced Liege Ranger shotguns under various trade names and brands. Some of the most well-known and reputable ones were Janssen Fils & Co., Francotte, Lebeau-Courally, Pieper, Dumoulin, etc. These makers usually stamped their names or initials on their guns, along with their trade names or brands. For example, Janssen Fils & Co. used the trade name "Ranger" and stamped their guns with "JF&C" or "JF&C RANGER" .
Other Belgian gunmakers were less known or less reputable and produced lower quality guns for export markets. These makers usually used generic or misleading trade names or brands to attract buyers or to imitate famous makers. For example, some makers used the trade name "Acme" or "Eclipse" to suggest high quality or innovation, while others used the trade name "Stevens" or "Remington" to suggest American origin or affiliation . These makers usually stamped their guns with only their trade names or brands, without their names or initials.
Some Belgian gunmakers also exported their guns to foreign importers or distributors who rebranded them with their own names or labels. For example, some American importers such as Hartley & Graham, Simmons Hardware, Sears Roebuck, etc., bought large quantities of Liege guns and sold them under their own names or catalog numbers . These importers usually stamped their guns with only their names or labels, without the original maker's name or mark.
How to use trade names to value your Liege Ranger shotgun?
Trade names are words or phrases that indicate the model or the brand of the gun. They can help you value your Liege Ranger shotgun and its collectibility and rarity. Trade names are usually found on the receiver or the barrels of Liege guns, but they may also be present on other parts.
The value of your Liege Ranger shotgun depends largely on its trade name and its association with a specific maker or importer. Some trade names are more desirable and valuable than others because they represent higher quality, better craftsmanship, more features, more history, more popularity, etc. For example, a Liege Ranger shotgun made by Janssen Fils & Co. is more valuable than a Liege Ranger shotgun made by an unknown maker because Janssen Fils & Co. was a well-known and reputable maker who produced high quality guns with many features and innovations . Similarly, a Liege Ranger shotgun imported by Hartley & Graham is more valuable than a Liege Ranger shotgun imported by Sears Roebuck because Hartley & Graham was a prestigious and influential importer who supplied guns to the US military and law enforcement agencies . Some trade names are also more rare and collectible than others because they represent limited production, special edition, or custom order guns. For example, a Liege Ranger shotgun with the trade name "Royal" or "King" is more rare and collectible than a Liege Ranger shotgun with the trade name "Acme" or "Champion" because the former were made for high-end customers or markets, while the latter were made for mass consumption or export . Similarly, a Liege Ranger shotgun with the trade name "Stevens" or "Remington" is more rare and collectible than a Liege Ranger shotgun with the trade name "Ranger" or "Eclipse" because the former were made to imitate or compete with famous American makers, while the latter were made to appeal to generic or foreign buyers . The value of your Liege Ranger shotgun also depends on its condition, originality, and completeness. A Liege Ranger shotgun that is in good working order, has all its original parts and finish, and h