A large 19th century flintlock pistol

[fernando]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

...I had a look at that mark and I'm almost 100% positive that it is a V and not a W under the crown. British private purchase, I'm assuming.

Private purchase ... 'one' possibility; as not an official contract. I wouldn't see the Brits importing guns from Liege with their local oval mark ... and later missing their own proof marks. The (imprecise) V under the crown on the lock plate, to my humble view, would hardly be the British proof mark created around 1670. I dare say ir is the mark of a Liege lock maker ... or spurious suff ?

Originally Posted by M ELEY

controlled Belgium at the time?

Napoleon controlled Liege in 1810.It was under his rule that the mark LG in the oval was created ... and strictly enforced.

Originally Posted by M ELEY

... Here are some Leige markings, the earliest resembling a candlestick?

The famous Perron (meaning steps ... of a tower). It was Liege's own mark, but it had no such strict enforcement.