Grandma's Pistol (Part 2)

Thanks so much to everyone who sent notes here and on Facebook.  I've had fun learning about this little pistol.

To summarize what I've learned.  This basic style is referred to as a velodog pistol.  The name is a combination of the words velocipede (old term for bicycle) and dog.  They were used to scare off dogs that tried to chase and attack bicyclists.  They were designed to fit comfortably in a gentleman's pocket while riding a bike, thus the folding trigger and enclosed hammer.

However, a true velodog revolver had an elongated cylinder, chambered for 5.5mm center fire rounds.  My grandmother's gun does not have this elongation.  thus it is more likely a later revolver in the same style, but intended for personal defense, not dogs.

Auguste Francotte was based in Liege, and produced firearms beginning in 1810 and was most active in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The company produced no less that 150 revolver styles by the end of the 1800s.

Click to see full size. 

Thanks again to all those who helped in my hunting.  It's been a fun adventure!

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• Grandma's Pistol

Grandma's Pistol

Hello world.  Long time no see.  The good news is my PhD should be complete within a month (knock on wood).  For the past 6 months I haven't really had a spare moment.  But now I have a quandry for the masses out there that know so much more than I.

My husband and I are down to visit family for the holidays and were talking firearms and such, as you do.  This afternoon, grandma brought down this little guy for us to check out.  It was brought back from Belgium by my grandfather after WWII.  She doesn't remember ever firing it.  She much prefers her .22

I'm hoping y'all can help us ID this little guy.  It's simply gorgeous!

No serial number we could find.  The markings say A. Francotte a Liege.  Which matches with origins in Belgium, but my googling is finding my mostly long guns and a few larger revolvers by Francotte.  Heck, I'm not even finding dates they manufactured.  Definite search failure for me.

So, can anyone tell us more about this little gun?  It's about 3.5 inches long, folding trigger, pearl grips...  I'll let you see the rest in the pictures.  Not the best, but it gives the basics.  I can take more or different pictures if they would be helpful.