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Joined: Jan 2008
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 112 |
Hello to all. My name is Burch and I thank you for letting me enjoy this forum with you. I`ve just recently started enjoying the vintage world of double guns. I`ve had a couple before but never worked with an antique. I recently bought a St. Etienne 12Ga. and hope to learn a few things about it here. The research i`ve done on it has very little to offer. If anyone can point me in the right direction i`d be trully thankful. I`d like to use it for hunting upland but can find no info on proof marks or even a safe load for it.
Burch
Last edited by burch; 01/13/08 06:14 PM.
God bless the fine men and women in the U.S. military
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Hi Burch. If your gun is a no-namer with no barrel address but "St. Etienne" on the barrel flats, it probably also has at least the "crown over T" proofmark at the same location. I think there's some info on poudre T and other French proofmarks in the Darne article on the home page this site. I'd be interested to know the going rate on this sort of Frenchie. My local dealer has a 12 gauge marked as above with rib extension and an "L" shaped top fastener actuated by the toplever. Also has a very attenuated pistol grip which sort of gives the game away. Asking $650. Others more knowledgable than myself may be able to provide further info.
jack
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Some of the proof marks are a PT witn an arc and crown over the PT, Choke Bored Perfectionne PF, GRAND PRIX incased in a circle, PORTEE GARANTIE, 18.2, 6.5 and what looks like a partridge with a long tail. There`s also what looks like a barbell emblem. I`d love to get a serial number list. The numbers are all consistent.
Burch
God bless the fine men and women in the U.S. military
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Posts: 999 Likes: 9
Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Burch,
Welcome to the board. We have a number of folks knowledgeable about French (and Belgian) guns.
Ideally you can post a photo from your digital camera. Instructions on how to do so are part of the FAQs. The barrel flats and action flats carry information that can help sort out your shotgun. The PT shows the gun uses modern poweder rather than black powder. The 18.2 makes it a 12 gauge shotgun with that barrel (presumably the left) choked, as the cylinder size of a 12 gauge is 18.5mm. The 6.5 is the length of the cartridge in centimeters. Usually given in millimeters, 65 mm is 2-1/2inches. More knowledgeable folks will be along shortly.
Regards, Tim
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Last edited by burch; 01/13/08 07:26 PM.
God bless the fine men and women in the U.S. military
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 112
Sidelock
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Sidelock
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I ran a search for the info on the Darne post and came up with nothing. Maybe deleted ?
God bless the fine men and women in the U.S. military
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2002
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Burch, scroll down homepage to "Looking for Conributing Authors". Click on and go to "The Darne Shtogun [sic] by Yves Butel. Within are some indications about the levels of French proof and the marks. I've lost the link for more exhaustive lists of proofmarks.
jack
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2008
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Mine does have the PT with one crown. So I guess it`s Nitro Proofed at 960 kg/cm2. O.K. so what`s that mean as far as pressures go.
God bless the fine men and women in the U.S. military
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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850kg/cm2 Euro proof pressure would allow a ceiling on service pressure of roughly 8900 psi so you're good for that level contingent on current condition of gun. I'm not certain if 960kg per cm2 proof allows 3 1/4 ton service pressure. If so, the gun's proofed for in-service loads producing around 9600 psi tops.
jack
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