i'm going to add to the confusion: first, i will note the action does not have the rising bites...and i understand that the basic field models did not - all i have experience with feature the rising bites. i briefly "owned" a very basic (and badly abused) 16 gauge, at a dallas gunshow sometime around 1980 - taken on trade, and in too poor condition to help....i sold it to someone a few hours later, but i have no memory of the particulars - this was the first ideal i had ever seen (and started my interest).
i think it is obvious that this gun is a composite, engraving, restocking, refinishing (and recase coloring) have been done at some point in the more recent past.
the barrels show dual stamps of the basic st.etienne proofs (single fronds) that have been overstamped with bore diameters, expressed in mm. as james says, the action bears proofs (the double sets of arrows/targets) from between the wars era, but in that period the serial numbers should be stamped (upside down) on the breach face - and what's stamped there is illegible, but, it starts with a 6, and ends with a 7, and has three digits that might have been 3s
the profusion of numbers stamped on this gun - 1717, 7724, 347, 1x90, 63337, 11-E - do more to cloud than illuminate the questions. but, if i were a gambler i'd bet that the action was a grade 1 from the late 20's....that has been extensively engraved (which engraving does not look like lamanu work)....and mated to a set of very early damascus barrels (i figure 4472 - which would put them in the 1887-1894 sequence, as shown by argo). the #4472 has been added to the action, and the #63337 has been added to barrel set, so that they are confirmed as an assembly. the 1x90, and 70, stamped on the underrib of the barrels, look consistent with numerous french guns with assembly numbers shown in that same area. as james noted, the 347 (if it were a model number) would be post 1930 - and would have been stamped on the bottom rib of the (long gone) barrels. the 18.4 stamps could likely be the clean-up bore diameters from the rework, and the 70's stamped on the watertables would accurately mate the barrels to their new home.
all this would truly be called a "swag" - and worth every dime you have paid for it....
