doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Killer Guyot hammergun - English???

Here,s an interesting Gyot story. In the early 1980,s I traded a Browning Rifle for A Gyot shotgun.The gun had been brought back to North America in the kit bag of a soldier returning from Europe following the end of world WW2.The problem with the gun was the barrels had been crushed near the muzzle.According to the owner, the gun had been taken from a fallen German Soldier following a skirmish at a French Chateau.Recognising it as a fine gun but not wanting it used again by the enemy,the soldier crushed the ends of the barrels in the great doors of the Chateau.
Here are the details of this gun.
Name on rib: Gyot A Paris, 12 Rue De Ponthieu.
Serial #2903 No; 1 of pair.Number on barrels 25550
Type. Bar Action [sidelock] Hammer gun.Bar-in-wood, top lever opening, with Purdey third bite lock up.
28 inch, fine stipe Damascus barrels,[Could have been of Belgian origin] both 1/2 choke.
Proof marks, London black powder, Not for ball.[1875-1887]
The gun was fitted with sling swivels
Engraving, 90% cover, finest scroll. Makers name on locks.
Escutcheon, Engraved witha ducal crown and rampant Lion.
The gun was equal to London,s BEST!
Gyot was active in the English market in the late 1880,s. For example he was a competitor in the Hurlingham gun trials of 1897. His gun out performed many of those entered by leading English makers.
No, I don,t have the gun, after retaining it for many years, toying with the idea of resleeving it was ultimately sold, "as is," to a well respected collector in the U.S.A for $1200.

The gun featured in this post could easily be the #2 gun to the gun described above. However #1 was in better shape apart from the barrels!

Why English??? Are the proof marks the one and only answer or could the barrels be 'proofed' in England and then sent back to France for assembly.
Be something to yank that lock out of the stock and take it apart to see if there are any initials under the tumblers or the under side of the bridle plates.
G. Granger builds beautiful guns also and they are all French!!

Roy,

That is a great story.

Pete

Others here more expert in the field of heraldry than I should certainly comment, but I don't believe that's a family coat of arms on the stock. Interesting gun, for sure.

Roy - Thanks for the story. Very cool.

Treblig - if the gun was made in France or Belgium, it would probably have Euro proof marks on it. Maybe not, though. I think the proof laws were a bit more flexible in the 19th century.

The sling swivels make me think this gun was retailed in Europe, not in England. So why would a French gun, sold in Europe, have just British marks on it? If it was made in Europe and then sent to the UK, it would still have Euro marks on it.

Mal- thanks for your insights. Always appreciated. I'm checking into the Purdey connection.

Anyone know anything else?

The owner of the hammergun told me that there is a book out there about best-quality French guns. The book was published a number of years ago and it is in French. There is a chapter in the book about Guyots. Anyone know where I can find this book?

Thanks

OWD

OWD, ABEbooks.com has a great search function and lots of older books about guns and hunting that are impossible to find anywhere. Yes it does seem strange that with a European proofing house operating when that gun was built that the barrels have English proof marks, that is if an English maker didn't build it.
I'll bet the real clue is sitting under those locks or hammers someplace.

Treb-

Good idea.

What are some possible titles in French for a book like this?

Le Arquebus Grande a Francais? Just kidding.

Anyone know some titles/terms I could search?

OWD

guyot of paris made very good guns. it's too bad lowell glenthorne got rid of his.... my sincere condolences.

Another Guyot, a hammer gun, not nearly the same quality, damascus barrels.
http://www.naturabuy.fr/N-Guyot-cal-16-item-102201.html



Pete

Brownie, what do you suspect it would be?

tim