doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Bayard 12 Gauge by Pieper Pics

Good evening members. I have been visiting and reading your forums for some time now and want to thank everyone for the knowledge they share. I wanted to post my new find. A 12 gauge SxS Bayard by Pieper which is in an excellent condition. The barrels are about 29.75" long with mirror bores and 2.75' (70) chambers. The gun locks very tight. It weights 6.7 lbs. I understand Pieper made a lot of different models and quality type guns. I know some members have posted similar models as this in the forum, based on the search I did. Any ideas as to what model it might be, it would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome on your first post Billk. Nice looking Pieper. I was surprised to see that it did not have monobloc barrels. I'd guess that indicates a more recent gun. I think the model name is the "Bayard", and I'm not sure whether there were different grades of the model. Others more knowledgeable of Belgian guns will correct if needed...Geo

Thank you Geo. It is interesting that although this is a Belgian made gun, it has a straight stock, with no sling attachments, and is fairly light at 6.7 lbs.

I recently sold my Pieper Bayard, virtually identical to the pictured Pieper, except that mine was highly engraved in the English rose & scroll style - even the Anson/Purdey forearm release and the safety were engraved. And it had a classic Prince of Wales grip.
I bought it as a well-made shooter at a very good price because of the "thru-cheeks" cross-bolt repair. Transpires that "repair' is a factory original feature - which I found on littlegun's Belgian site. Mine had "DEMI-BLOC" printed on the left barrel at 9 o'clock, right under the name Bayard. And it was a standard "chopper-lump" barrel joint. The pictured Pieper has DEMI BLOC printed transversely across the barrel top....partially seen on two different pics. Mine also had "For Smokeless Powder" in English on the barrel rib, about eight inches forward of the standing breech. I did not recognize anything anywhere that might have indicated "grade".
I could see no letter date code on my barrel flats. However, there was a five digit number "02426" on the barrel flats, and it is NOT the serial number. I speculate it IS a date code, representing the twenty-fourth day of 1926. WWW lore has it that Belgian guns had a letter date code starting in 1924. Maybe Pieper was a big enough concern that it figured it could march to its own beat regarding the date code....or maybe this five digit "date code" was acceptable back in 1926....I don't know.

Ian, I would have liked to seen yours. I have 4 Piepers, a 12 ga. sidelock, a 12 ga boxlock and two 16 ga boxlocks.

My 12 gauge, pictured below, is a model 485E. Note no through bolt in the cheeks. Both my 16's have the through bolt.

BillK, I'll look at some of my notes and files and see if I can determine a model number for you.

Thank you Canvasback. That is a beautiful Bayard with fine engraving and checkering. Is the stock a pistol grip?

Yes it is, Bill. With a horn cap.

Ooops, double post. Coffee hasn't worked it's magic yet.

Bill, I believe your gun to be one of the model series that includes Models 470-472-475 and 477. Likely 470. I also believe it to be a later production than mine.

I'm having trouble putting my hands on my Pieper catalogs. They aren't where they are supposed to be.

BillK,
Welcome to the site on your first postings
Fun, fun, fun
Mike