doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Francotte - model? (warning: multiple photos)

Hi All,

I posted this on another website but didn't receive any responses, so I am reposting here:

I found a Francotte shotgun in the back of an antique store. I don't know anything about Francotte shotguns, and the clerk was just as unknowledgable.

Serial number is 857XX.

The shotgun has a single trigger, cross-bolt, and side clips, and looks to me like a box lock with decorative side plates. The bores are bright and shiny. The butt stock has a cheek piece for a right handed shooter and has been refinished with some sort of glossy finish. Except for the refinish and resulting poor wood-to-metal fit, the gun looks to be in excellent shape.

I snapped a few closeup photos which I have attached below. Can anyone identify the model, approximate year of manufacture, and estimate a value?

Thanks.

--shinbone

(Edited on 5/29/08 to add serial number)

Francotte Shotgun - left side


Francotte Shotgun - right side


Francotte Shotgun - top


Francotte Shotgun - barrel flats

This was made 1924 or later. Without seeing the marks on the barrel flats, it is hard to tell. It has short chambers, so it is not a newer gun. Francotte is a respected Belgian maker.

This is one of the nicest Francotte's I have seen in a while. A high end gun, not the usual "knock about."

For Belgian proof marks and trade marks you can go here:
http://damascus-barrels.com/bp.html

Pete

Not super high end due to those wood-metal fits

Seems to be a restock. Serial number? I can't quite make out the number on the flat. Is that the complete number?

I should add that the forearm appears original and un-refinished.

You have omitted the most important single piece of information for determining the date of manufacture and possibly the model - the serial number.

That is the weight of the barrels in kilograms.

Pete

I would guess, for the lack of birds, that its a gr25 .

FYI

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/conten...erarchyId=11653

Serial # will be on trigger guard tang, underside of forearm, etc.

What is stamped on top side of barrels?

I agree w/ dblfever - it's likely a 25 Grade, or maybe even a 30. It's not a 20 or a 45 (Eagle Grade).

I also agree w/ eightbore - the gun has been restocked...