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#142653 04/02/09 02:18 PM
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james-l Offline OP
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A couple of weeks ago while browsing thru Gunbroker I ran across this damascus Francotte in a buy it now auction for 300.00. Usual fuzzy pictures and not much description, I could see that it was a sidelock gun and appeared complete, so I bought it. Its serial # is 18718 and is marked Von Lengerke & Detmold, it is a back action SLNE with a moderate amount of pretty nice engraving and decent wood with no cracks or missing pieces. I am scratching my head as to when it might have been made, but my best guess is early 1890s. It has the ELG proof mark without the crown and not for ball in english on the barrels, blackpowder proofs. The serial lists on this site start at 18888/ 1890 for moderate grade guns and end at 16410 for best grade guns. I also checked Griffin and Howe site but they start at 1901 and do not list this # although they have some numbers for used guns on either side of this one. Anyone have an idea of when and what grade? Pictures below.









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james-l #142656 04/02/09 02:36 PM
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$300???....score my friend ...SCORE!!!!!
Is she tight....bbls clear of pits & with good wall dia"????
great deal I'd say
nice one , sometimes its a good thing to have a pair O stones & take a gamble, eh???
cheers
Franc Otte

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James,

Nice, very nice. From the marks the gun dates between 1878 - 1891. Also the LD is the mark of Lambert Dumoulin. What his firm did to the gun, I have no idea.

http://damascus-barrels.com/bp.html

Pete

PeteM #142733 04/02/09 09:56 PM
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james-l Offline OP
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Thats about what I figured Pete, I was browsing Von Lengerke and Detmold on Google and ran across its twin on a Cabelas site.It also has the LD mark on the action flats

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Francot...FTOKEN=80057029

I think they are a bit optimistic on their price. Does any one know when V L&D started importing Francottes? This one is engraved on the rib "Von Lengerke & Detmold New York U.S. Agents". Their 1890 catalog does not show Francotte as an item.

Jim


I learn something every day, and a lot of times it's that what I learned the day before was wrong

james-l #142945 04/04/09 05:08 PM
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VL&D imported Francottes from ~ 1900 to ~ 1930 (when VL&D was sold to Abercrombie & Fitch).

A&F then sold Francottes marked 'VL&D' until ~ 1933 (when their inventory ran out).

Subsequent Francottes sold by A&F were marked 'A&F'.


Always looking for small bore Francotte SxS shotguns.
Randall #142951 04/04/09 05:36 PM
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I don't know anything about the manufacturer, but the grain in the stock and the engraving suggests it may have been a higher grade. Hard to go wrong for $300. You did good.


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james-l #142971 04/04/09 09:41 PM
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me thinks american boys are too caught up in chasin' english and american classics while forgetting good ole' francotte. bad for them good for me.


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