The Fabrique d'armes Émile et Léon Nagant, later known as L. Nagant & Cie, Liège, was a Belgian firm established in Liège in 1859 as a manufacturer of firearms and later automobiles.
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | firearms, vehicles |
| Founded | 1859 in Liège, Belgium |
| Founder |
|
| Defunct | 1931 |
| Fate | Acquired |
| Headquarters | , Belgium |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | firearms, automobiles |
| Parent | Impéria Automobiles |
| Footnotes / references Major contributors to the design of the Mosin–Nagant service rifle by Russia and then by the USSR | |
History edit
The company was originally founded by brothers Émile (1830–1902) and Léon (1833–1900) as an industrial repair business, which included repairing damaged firearms.[citation needed] In 1867, the Nagant brothers entered the firearms market when their company received a license to produce 5,000 Remington Rolling Block rifles for the Papal Zouaves; they later adapted the rolling-block design to produce double-barreled shotguns under the name "Remington-Nagant".[1] The company is best known for Émile's contribution to the design of the Mosin–Nagant Russian service rifle, adopted in 1891.[2] This introduction to the Tsar's military administration led to the adoption, in 1895, of the Nagant M1895 revolver (designed by Léon) as their standard-issue sidearm.[3] The following year, Émile's progressive blindness led to his retirement from the firm which was renamed to "L. Nagant & Cie, Liège", with Léon being joined by his sons Charles and Maurice.[citation needed]
Car manufacture edit
Later, the firm moved to the manufacture of automobiles; Nagant began with building cars under licence of the French firm Gobron-Brillies and later Rochet-Schneider.[4] Nagant cars were made from 1900 to 1928. Overhead-valve engines appeared after World War I, at which point the company was making around 200 cars per year.[5] The firm was purchased by Impéria Automobiles in 1931.[6]
References edit
- ^ "Nouvelle page 0".
- ^ Wood, J. B. (2003). The Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly: Part 4 Centerfire Rifles. Vol. 4 (2 ed.). Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 383. ISBN 978-0-87349-631-5.
- ^ Jeff Kinard (2004). Pistols: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO. p. 161. ISBN 1-85109-470-9.
- ^ "Nagant and Nagant-Hobson". Unique Cars & Parts USA. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Boddy, Bill (January 2000). "Belgium's forgotten Nagant". Motor Sport. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Baldwin, Nick (1987). The World guide to automobile manufacturers. Facts on File Publications. p. 342. ISBN 978-0-8160-1844-4.