Thanks Pete - for the link...
I have read also that many of these were mass imported to the USA... The metal of the receiver is not a standard gun metal... at least not the hardened steel or Damascus I am used to.
so my real question (apart from can it be used) is why was it made? Was it a tourist type catch the eye gun? Was it a special order? Was it an apprentice given the go ahead to make a gun?
I will take a stab at answering some of these. Something on the order of 1 million of guns were imported from Belgium over a 15 year period. They were always contract guns, IE, they were purchased by an American company with a contract to have them produced in Belgium. Remember Sears advertised that they had Belgian guns for sale.
The receivers were always fluid steel. Damascus was only used for the barrels.
The Belgian guild system was old and long. An apprentice would only move up after many years. Often a journeyman was hired based not only on experience and skill but also on the number of sons who could run errands for the shop.
It was most likely produced for a large catalog house. But as Steve wisely points out, if they could only talk. This one has been cared for. It was some one's pride for a long time until it became a hand me down. The art deco look is not much different than that seen on some graded Flues.
Having made all the above generalizations, I am sure there were exceptions to every one of them.
Pete
