Last week while idly browsing Guns International and having no plan whatever to buy anything, I saw a little 16-gauge I couldn't pass up. It's a Manufrance Robust Model 202, a plain working gun probably found on any number of French farms propped up in a corner or hanging over the fire.
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I've seen many of these listed, but this one seems in remarkable shape and I like everything about it--stock configuration & dimensions, barrel length & chokes etc. What really pushed me over the edge, though was the weight of 5.75 pounds with 70-cm barrels and 70-mm chambers.
The serial # is 148xxx, so about 150,000 out of nearly 900,000 Fusils Robust made between 1913 and 1982. I emailed customer service at the new Manufrance.fr to see if they could date the manufacture of this gun; they replied within 2 hours with an email adress for the Departmental archives of St. Etienne (archives@cg42.fr). I promptly emailed them but haven't heard back. I'm guessing 1930s or possibly 50s? Anyone have firm dates on serial numbers for fusils Robust?
My first attempt to post pics here. Hope they work!
Bill
