Need help identifying a piece of history

[Hawkshadow]

This rifle was handed to me last week after sitting in a basement for probably 50 years. I don't know much more about it other than that the gentleman used it to shoot groundhogs when he was a youngster in toronto (1920s).

The markings on this rifle are definitely interesting. Especially the crowns...

Any help that you could lend to identify this rifle would be greatly appreciated! If you need any additional info or pics, let me know.

 

[LawrenceN]

Belgian made from the proofs and style, .22 Flobert perhaps?

 

[Willy Tincup]

I would say a Flobert. The holes in the barrel being for the pins that the missing breech block swings up on.

 

[Hawkshadow]

Thanks for the lead. Once I had that google did the rest! Anything that anyone else has to add would be greatly appreciated.


"From what I gather, in the 19th and early 20th century Belgium was similiar to Spain, they had alot of makers creating large numbers of inexpensive firearms for export around the world. Many shotguns and guns like yours were imported here, with local trade names of retailers stamped on them. Very little historical information except that you can tell their origin thru the Belgian proofs. They even made large quatities of muzzleloading guns quite late, for export to primitive countries. Many of them are interesting in appearance but due to their economy status and a lack of very much information published they do not command very much collector interest here. Eventually there must have been a shakeout and the major makers like FN in Belgium established a good reputation thru military and commercial sales of high quality arms so they sort of overshadowed the unrecognised makers. You may glean more information at some point but it will probably be difficult to find. "
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