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A Remarkable Quality Double Rifle - J.Bury in 9x57R caliber.

I recently purchased this rifle at auction. The auction listing is shown with only the first 4 pictures posted.

When I received the rifle I couldn't believe my fortune. This little beauty had all the whistles and bells one would want in a High Quality Double Rifle.

Here is what I got....

Weight is 6 pounds 12 ounces
Chopper Lump Construction
Side Clip Action
Dolls Head Extension
Greener Cross Bolt
Non-Automatic Safety
25-3/4" Barrels
Bright Chambers - Great Bore
Full Matted Rib
Single Leaf Folding Rear Site
Gold Bead Front Site
Hinged Front Trigger
14-1/2" LOP
Highly Figured French Walnut
Gold Inlay Maker & Serial Number
Brass Escutcheon plate "JME"
Horn Butt Plate

I can't think of anything else I could ask for in a double rifle. I feel sorry for the seller that put this up for auction. The mediocre description of the Auction House never did justice for this fine rifle - which resulted in it selling for only $2500. And best of all, its NOT refinished.

I have brass coming from Buffalo Arms this weekend and I should have a range report soon.

As always your comments are very welcome ...

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/bury-000.jpg

Wow, what a beautiful rifle for a wonderful price. You scored on that one. I’m not familiar with the maker or some of the wording. From the reference to Liege I assume it was made in Belgium. If anyone has further insight into when and where it was made I would be interested. Thanks for sharing it with us!

Here is what AI had to say about J. Bury.

"... Jules Bury was a highly esteemed Belgian gunmaker based in Liège, celebrated for his handmade double rifles, bespoke pigeon guns, and for building the legendary Super Britte. Active from 1896 until 1947, his firearms are highly sought after by collectors for their exceptional craftsmanship and intricate. ..."


And here is a link that goes into much detail and History about Jules Bury and shows some of his work.

https://www.hunting-heritage.com/blog/index.php/2018/04/30/jules-bury-liege-best-gunmaker/

I really lucked-out with this find. I can't believe it sold so cheap. I think people shy away from Belgium made guns. Its been my experience that they made some very fine high grade double rifles. I have owned several in the past.

Wow!! You stole that!!!

If you haven't already worked with the 9 X 57R I believe you'll like it. Good cartridge, underrated IMO. I had a drilling so chambered and have an 1890 Haenel/Rasch so chambered. I don't believe you'll have any difficulty getting it regulated.

buckstix,
Before you buy bullets, be sure to "slug" the bore. Some writers have put a lot of work into finding .354-.355" rifle bullets but both of the 9x57 rifles I have owned had .358" groove barrels, plus one a good friend had was also .358". Loading data for the 9x57R is harder to find than 9x57. These two cartridges seem to be an exception to the general rule of a rimmed cartridge being loaded to less pressure than the rimless version, so you can use 9x57 data and most likely American bullets. I have heard from trusted sources of some rifles having smaller than .358" barrels (one as small as .352"), consequently the mention of slugging the bore.
It looks like a great rifle in a great caliber, enjoy.
Mike

Great find! what a beauty at a fantastic price.
I had a 9x57R x 16 gauge double rifling drilling and used .356 250 gr Hawk bullets. Could never get it to regulate, but knew the POI for each barrel at 100 yards and did well on a cow elk, 'barnyard' buffalo, antelope and perhaps a deer or two.

I noticed an interesting detail in the photos of your rifle.

The top rib is clearly marked "Masquelier Liège", which means it is actually a Masquelier-built double rifle, although it is closely connected to Jules Bury.

I recently came across some historical information showing that Charles Masquelier acquired Établissements Bury-Donckier in 1964, including the brand, workshop, tooling, unfinished actions, technical drawings and order books. Masquelier continued building fine sporting arms using Bury's designs and craftsmanship, and many rifles from that period reflect this close connection.

So your rifle appears to be a nice example of that transition from Bury-Donckier to Masquelier. A very interesting piece of Liège gunmaking history.

Wolfgang (Hunting-Heritage.com)

Here is the complete overview of the collaboration and takeover between the Liège gunmakers J. Bury and Charles Masquelier in English.
Historical Background
* Établissements Bury-Donckier (1938): The renowned Liège gunmaker Jules Bury merged with Marcel Donckier in 1938 to form Établissements Bury-Donckier. The firm was globally respected for high-grade side-by-side shotguns and double rifles (often built on Anson & Deeley or Holland & Holland sidelock mechanisms).
* 1960s Market Context: By the early 1960s, like many traditional craft workshops in Liège, Bury-Donckier faced structural pressures, succession issues, and rising operational costs in custom hand manufacturing.
The 1964 Takeover by Masquelier
* Acquisition: In 1964, Charles Masquelier (Manufacture d’armes de luxe C. Masquelier, based on Rue de la Cathédrale in Liège) acquired the Établissements Bury-Donckier.
* Assets Transferred: Masquelier acquired the brand, trade names, and rights of Jules Bury / Bury-Donckier, as well as:
* Complete sets of tools, dies, and workshop machinery.
* Remaining inventory (unfinished actions, barrels, high-grade walnut blanks).
* Technical drawings, original order books, and patents.
Post-1964 Production & Markings
* Manufacturing: Masquelier continued producing luxury firearms using Bury’s designs, components, and craftsmanship techniques.
* Markings & Engravings:
* Firearms finished shortly after 1964 using original Bury action forgings or parts are often engraved or stamped "C. Masquelier Successeur de J. Bury" or "Ets. Bury-Donckier - C. Masquelier".
* Subsequent builds carried combined trade names or Masquelier’s official Liège proof-house trademarks alongside legacy Bury styling.
Developments from 1980 Onward
* In 1980, gunmaker Roger Cremer took over the Masquelier firm.
* Under Cremer, the entity formally traded under the corporate name Masquelier & Bury-Donckier S.A., operating in Liège as both a fine gunmaker producing bespoke hunting arms and a retail establishment for hunting accoutrements.

That's a sweet double rifle you bought there Buckstix, no matter if Jules Bury built it alone or in a collaboration with Masquelier. What a lovely marble cake stock! And the price you paid is an outstanding bargain. I thought I got a good deal on the Louis Christophe double rifle built by Jules Bury that I bought several years back. The way mine was listed in the auction, there was almost no competition. But not nearly the deal you got.

Mine is stamped Jules Bury on the water table. Here's a link to the Thread with pics of it. Mine is also under 7 lbs. which is pretty light for a .450 BPE. Recoil isn't bad, but you know you're shooting something. Recoil was a bit less with Nitro for black loads, but I switched to using black powder because I was concerned about possible chamber ringing, especially with the fairly light barrels.

https://www.doublegunshop.com/forum...ds=Christophe&Search=true#Post483612

I note similarities in the frame on yours and mine, and in the pin placement. Also the presence of sideclips. Mine does not have a dolls head, but it does have a Greener cross bolt, along with double underlugs. And the barrel lumps look almost identical to yours. Not trying to hijack your thread, but I thought you might find it interesting.

I never was able to figure out exactly when it was built based on the date code charts. I think it may have been in the 1920's. If anyone has better info than I was able to find, I'd appreciate hearing it.