The Littich fitting of the sample of 1843 with the minimum known number 23

Общая длина: 1175 мм.
Длина ствола: 824 мм.
Калибр: 17.8 мм.

A very rare Russian fitting in almost perfect collectible condition. One of the main features of the item is the presence of the number 23, which is the minimum known number for this weapon today. This sample was accepted in Russia adopted infantry battalion skirmishers and plasters in 1843. A fitting of this design was proposed in 1832 by General Berner of the Brunswick service. In Russia, it was known under the name "littikhsky" (according to the place of production). Its greatest aiming range (1200 paces = 853 m.) significantly exceeded all the samples available at that time in the Russian army (including four times the range of a smoothbore infantry rifle). Special bullets were used to fire from the Littikh fitting: initially spherical, with belts, later, from 1849, pointed, with ears (Colonel Kulikovsky). When loading, the ears of the bullet were inserted into the rifling of the barrel. The bayonet-cleaver of the fitting could be used both together with the fitting (as a bayonet) and separately from it (as a bladed weapon or a working tool). The presented copy was commissioned by the Russian Military Department at the Pierre Joseph Malgerbe factory in Liege (3,500 fittings for 9 battalions were originally ordered, in total about 10,000 fittings are known to be manufactured). In 1843, Mulgerbe was ordered a batch of 864 fittings for arming plastuns and skirmishers of the Black Sea Cossack army; in 1844, the Cossacks received these fittings. Special attention should be paid to the fact that all these numbers are early, i.e. they fit into the first thousand of the batch ordered by the Russian military department.

The barrel of the fitting is steel, forged, round in cross section. Small rounded cutouts are made on the muzzle at the beginning of the rifling for the convenience of lowering the bullet into the channel. An arrow–shaped front sight is embedded on the muzzle from above, and a bracket for fixing the bayonet is reinforced on the right. On the breech of the barrel, the Belgian control stamp "SK" is punched above the number 2. On the breech, there is a notch on top for a fitting sight, initially consisting of three shields of different heights with slots movably mounted on a T-shaped rack. On the right side of the breech is an influx under a steel pipe, on which the number of the weapon 23 is punched.

The capsule lock. The inscription "PJ.MALHERBE A LIEGE" (brand of the manufacturer) is placed on the key board. Malherbe (Pierre Joseph), also known as "de Goffontaine" (Pepinster's enterprise (Verviers)) and Malherbe Philippe Joseph (or Malherbe's son or "Malherbe and Company") represent the same large firm. In 1807, Pierre Joseph Malherbe de Goffontaine owned three manufactories, and after the fall of the French regime, he bought the Saint-Leonard manufactories in Liege and Chaudfontaine from Gosuin's son (in addition to his own). According to the dating of the weapon (flint — impact), it would be possible to distinguish whose initials are "P.J" stands before the surname, but the name "de Goffontaine" is usually assigned to Pierre Joseph. In the case of the fittings of the 1843 model, we can say that they were already made by his son, Philippe Joseph). The inscription is completely erased, which can be explained by numerous cleaning of the key board. The trigger is steel, smooth, and reinforced with a single screw. The trigger guard is brass, oval in shape. The trigger is steel, C-shaped. A belt holder is placed at the base of the trigger guard.

The bed is wooden. The barrel is attached to the forearm with three valves (slots for valves without overhead eyes) and a tail screw. An oval brass medallion with the monogram "H I" (Nicholas I, 1825-1855) under the imperial crown is embedded on the neck of the butt. The trigger guard is smooth, with an entablature in front and a sub-finger intercept in the back. Two ramrod tubes with rollers. On the forearm there is an entablature. The butt plug with a comb is attached to the butt with two screws. The image of the Russian double–headed eagle and the number of the weapon 23 are engraved on the crest of the butt. On the right side of the butt there is a drawer for accessories with two cutouts (round and square). The lid of the drawer is made of copper alloy, hinged, locked with a spring-loaded steel hook. The tip of the forearm is smooth. The ramrod is made of steel, with a cylindrical cup at one end.