doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Need help with Francotte I.D.

I've come into some inheritance from my bachelor uncle, included is this Francotte double. What I've been able to determine is it has a 1943 serial # and proof mark which would place its manufacture during German occupation. My uncle was in the engineers in 44-45 in Europe but he never told me about this gun.
It has quite a bit of intact case color, 27 1/2" barrels and weighs 6 lbs. 4 oz (2.834 kg), light for a 12 gauge. It shoots well but I do not hunt much. I understand that a lot of what Francotte made was to order and pegging it to a model can be difficult.Can someone tell me what it is and an approximate value as I will probably not keep it. Thanks. [img][IMG]http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/HansliCharpent/DSCF1022.jpg[/img][/img] [img][IMG]http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/HansliCharpent/DSCF1025.jpg[/img][/img] [img][IMG]http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/HansliCharpent/DSCF1026.jpg[/img][/img] [img][IMG]http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/HansliCharpent/DSCF1027.jpg[/img][/img] [img][IMG]http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/HansliCharpent/DSCF1029.jpg[/img][/img] [img][IMG]http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/HansliCharpent/DSCF1024.jpg[/img][/img] [img][IMG]http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/HansliCharpent/DSCF1020.jpg[/img][/img]

Albrecht Kind at either his Berlin, Nümberg or Hunstig retail outlet peddled it in 1943?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

email sent to hotmail.

It's actually a 'Francottes Arms, Liege' gun.

'Auguste Francotte & Cie, Liege' is well known to be the manufacturer of all guns legitimately considered Francottes.

I don't see 'Francotte Choke Bore' stamped anywhere on the water table - or the weight of the barrels in KGs. Are either of these there but simply out of view in the photographs?

I understand the "Francotte Arms" guns to be genuine Auguste Francotte & Cie produced guns, just a low end or "leader priced" model, a lessor quality than other guns produced by Francotte, but nonetheless a well made and decent gun. This example seems to clearly exhibit the Crowned AF proof mark of Auguste Francotte & Cie.

Randall,
Here is a better photo of that part of the barrel/flats. The info is there. [img][IMG]http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/HansliCharpent/DSCF1034.jpg[/img][/img]

Thanks to all for your insight.

Thanks Hansli. I see the barrel weight now, but not 'Francotte Choke Bore'?

While Chief may well be correct, the question about the 'Francottes Arms' brand has come up on this board before, w/ no definitive conclusion, as I recall.

I personally don't consider a 'Francottes Arms' gun to be a legit Francotte. The bottom grade Francotte model for many many years was the Knockabout. Around 1950 a model called the 'High Gun' began to occasionaly appear; it was clearly below the Knockabout.

Bob Beach - can you resolve this 'Francottes Arms' issue for us once and for all?

The gun was proofed in Belgium in 1943. The controller of proof was Théodore Degobert. It is nitro proofed for 2 3/4" 12ga. The barrels weighed 1.277 kg or 2.81 lbs.
http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html

The receiver bears the mark of Francotte. The barrels bear the trade mark of Joseph Cap. I have seen that AKAH trade mark before, it is the mark of Albrecht Kind.

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbt...=true#Post82613

http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20c/a%20cap%20joseph%20gb.htm

http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20francotte/a%20francotte%20gb.htm

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

It is very unusual to find a sporting weapon that bears Belgian proofs during WWII German occupation.

Pete

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

Hansli - see bottom left pic on above webpage for an example of the 'Francotte Choke Bore' stamp.

PM,
I'd read some of these links before when you had them posted, but couldn't remember where to look. Thank you.




Yeah, now I see what you meant. Mine lacks them for some reason.

What if any value does this gun have on the open market? I'm pretty set for my doubles needs although it is nice and I will keep it if just another Belgian field gun.