doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A Darne look alike question

I have a 16Ga that I bought in Santa Barbara in 1974 that was represented to me as a Darne. I believe it is not as Darne. The only name I can find on it is on the barrel flat. I can not make out the first letter but the rest of them spell out lctifie in a half circle. In the center of the half circle is AC. It looks like a Darne with the sliding breech. Can anyone help me ID this fine shotgun? It has a one piece stock with a case colored receiver with a small amount of engraving on it.

There were several Darne clones, after the patent expired. What you believe to be the name is almost certainly "rectifie", which means adjusted or regulated, usually in reference to the barrels/chokes.

Thank you, that must be it. So what I have is a Darne clone with no makers name on it. The serial number is 34608 so they made a bunch of them.

Maker may not have started SN's with 0. Sometimes a maker producing a knock-off of another brand would start with a high SN to make it appear they had been selling a lot of guns. Oftentimes we misuse the term clone as well. A clone has to be identical in every feature, just not an original. If any part was changed, then technically it is not a clone.

MJS,

Here is site that will help you id actual Darne guns by model:
http://www.fusildarne.com/html/anglaisdarne.htm

As Larry has stated, there were many Darne clones. If you post pictures of the gun including any markings there are some here that may be able to help id the maker.


Pete

If it doesn't have the name Darne, or Halifax on it, it 'ain't a Darne. Period. If it has a one piece stock, it is typically an 1894 patent gun, as opposed to Regis Darne's later 1909 patent guns, which contained several improvements, stylewise and mechanically.
Clone is a pretty good term for the whole mess of sliding breech copies, since they all spawned from the fertile mind of Regis Darne, who could well be called France's J.M. Browning. Most of them are well made. I wouldn't get too shook up about what name was, or wasn't on it. Either shoot 2 1/2 inch ammunition in it, or have the chambers lengthened, and go use it. It isn't worth a fortune, and, if they fit a guy, they are super bird guns.
Enjoy.
Best,
Ted

Here are a couple of photos.

And two more.

17.1 is the bore diameter (16 gauge) expressed in MM. PT means it was proofed with French smokeless powder T, which came into use in 1900. The crossed lightning bolts mean it was proofed in a finished state. It appears to have the 1894 rocker style of safety on the left side of the gun. Certainly appears to be brazed barrels, as opposed to mono-block.
Looks to be an enjoyable bird gun. Use it in good health.
Best,
Ted

Single (standard) St. Etienne proof. Some Darnes (and clones) had heavier proofs, but they're all pretty stout.