doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Merkel vs DEFOURNEY/CONTINENTAL ARMS or Daly O/U?

Can some of you give me an idea of the differences between Merkel 200 series guns and some of the similar looking guns from Defourney, Charles Daly imports from the 30s, etc.

The Charles Daly Masquiler built O/U I own from the 30s has a modified Kersten Lockup, where as the Merkel has the real Kersten type.

Francotte made some Merkel look-alikes as well. As Postoak says, the Belgian look-alikes--or at least all the ones I've seen--have a slightly different bolting system from the Merkels.

The 200 series of Merkel guns included several models, ranging from essentially an entry level 200 model, to an exceptionally nice 203 and 204 model gun. Most of the Daly imports from the 30's were very nice guns as well, from several different makers, including several models from Sauer during that late period. I have not seen the upper end guns from Defourney, but I know they are out there, they were a respected maker. I would think the "typical" Merkel or the "typical" Daly import from the period you describe would be better guns than the "typical" Defourney from the period, but that is not meant to say Defourney did not have some higher grade guns during the period.

I have seen only two Defourneys of the type in question, they were both nice guns, similar to my Masquiler Daly. One of them was fitted with a Miller trigger.