Short brass door handle "Bernadette" model - B137

The essentials

Door lever duck-bill style, small format, in solid brass, made in France. Sold individually, supplied with its square spindle, screws and Allen key. Designed for rim locks, it can also be fitted to a mortice lock with the appropriate roses.

• Material: solid brass, a full and heavy piece
• Length: 73 mm
• Square spindle included: a 7 mm rod, the French standard for mortice locks. Let us know if you have a rim lock and we will supply the 6 mm, at no extra charge
• Door thickness: up to 44 mm
• No return spring: the return action comes from the lock, which makes this lever immediately compatible with lift-action locks
• Finishes: from bright gold to anthracite
• Packaging: one lever, i.e. one side of the door. Two are needed to fully equip a door
• Manufacturer's warranty: 2 years

The duck-bill lever takes its name from its profile: a straight shank that bends downward and ends in a flattened tip. It is one of the oldest designs in French architectural hardware, and one of the most understated. At 73 mm, the Bernadette is a small-format lever: it projects only slightly from the door leaf and is held with the fingertips rather than a full grip. This short projection is an advantage where a longer lever would get in the way — a cupboard door, a narrow corridor, a passageway you brush past.

Is your door more than 44 mm thick? Write to us before ordering and we will check feasibility.

Rim lock or mortice lock?

This is what determines your order. Look at your door: is the lock case fitted onto the wood, clearly visible, or hidden because it is set into the thickness?

The rim lock

The metal case is screwed onto the face of the door. It is visible and forms part of the décor. This is the fitting method of older homes and the original use of this lever.

On that side, it fits directly onto the case, which already carries the entire mechanism — nothing else to provide. On the other side, it passes through bare wood. You can add a rose there — not for functional reasons, but to conceal the marks left by a previous drilling.

In that case, request the 6 mm square spindle: it is the standard for rim locks and is not included by default. A note in the order comments is all it takes.

All our compatible models can be found in our levers for rim locks.

The mortice lock, also known as a "rim-style mortice"

The case is set into the thickness of the door leaf: only the forend plate is visible, on the edge of the door. This is the fitting method for modern doors, and the 7 mm square spindle supplied as standard suits it perfectly.

In that case, on each face, three elements are needed: the lever, its rose, and a function rose chosen according to the lock — keyhole escutcheon, bedroom key, or turn and release for a bathroom or toilet.

The roses that complement this model are offered further up on this page, in the associated accessories. Not all roses in the catalogue are compatible with DCG pieces: the ones listed here are selected to work together.

Not sure about your lock? Send us a photo of the door and we will tell you what to order.

Choosing the finish

One thing to know before choosing a gold finish: bare brass tarnishes in open air within a few months. Our gold finishes are lacquered, which halts this process — the lever retains the brilliance it had on the day of installation.

• The golds — Polished gold, also called bright gold: the frank brilliance of brass, protected by its lacquer. Matt gold, or satin gold: the same warmth, without the sheen.
• The light greys — Polished chrome, the most reflective. Satin nickel, also called brushed nickel, and Lacquered nickel: more muted, and they don't show fingerprints.
• The deep tones — Bronze, a darkened brass with warm highlights. Copper, rosier in tone. Brushed chrome, aged grey. Anthracite, also called matt slate, almost black, for a striking contrast on a light-coloured door.

The difference between satin nickel and brushed chrome is difficult to see in photographs. If you are hesitating between two similar shades, write to us.

Where it comes from

DCG manufactures in the Vimeu area of Picardy, a family business since 1989. Each piece is gravity-cast in a sand mould, silver-brazed and hand-polished.