SOLD - Robar & de Kerckhove Melior Model 1907 - 6.35mm

Description

12/20/24 - In the early 1900s, Jean Louis Joseph Robar, together with his son Louis Servais Hubert Robar and the industrialist Adrien Marie Joseph Ghislain Louis de Kerckhove (1879-1958) of Vechmael, Belgium created the Robar Fils & Co. gun factory. Louis de Kerckhove was not only a business partner but also a family friend. Henry Joseph Rosier, of Herstal, Belgium, was invited to work for the company as an engineer-inventor. In 1910, probably when his health began to deteriorate, Jean Louis Joseph Robar handed over the management of the company to his son, Louis Servais Hubert Robar. In 1912, at the age of 54, Jean Louis Joseph Robar died and his son Louis Servais Hubert Robar became co-owner of the company with Louis de Kerckhove. Hence the business became known as Robar Fils & L. De Kerckhove and operated under this name from 1910 until 1926. The first lot of Melior pistols was produced in 1908, though these pistols could only have been marketed in Belgium until such time as Henri Rosier’s foreign patents were granted. When Henri Rosier’s invention became protected by the British patent in 1909, the British patent number was added to the “MELIOR” slide inscription, including the patent application date of 1908. Moritz Magnus Jr. became the first major distributor of Robar’s Melior pistol, and he had his own MM-jr monogram placed on the grip plates. This one is all matching with as "Belgium" export marking. It has retained about 95% of its original finish. While there is very little actual finish loss, there is an area of noticeable patina and pin-pricking on the back strap. Very nice bore with good rifling.