I had a good conversation via email with Geoffroy Gournet this weekend, and he has told me he has thrown in the towel on the further importation of Darne shotguns.
If you actually wanted one new, it would still be possible, but, as of today, you are on your own.
Good luck with that.
I can relate clearly to the problems he had and his final decision.
He is thinking that he will get a little deeper into actual gunsmithing and repair of guns, including Darnes, rather than just engraving as he has been for the last few years. This would be very good news for those with French guns.
I think it is a sad day, and if Geoffroy couldn't do it, I wonder if anybody actually could be successful importing the Darne.
I wish Geoffroy continued success and good fortune in his other lines of work. He is an exceptional craftsman and artist.

Best,
Ted

Had not heard that, Ted, and sorry to have it confirmed.

As Darne fanciers know, Darne owner Herve Bruchet sold out last year to a French holding company that groups high end products of French craftsmen. They kept Herve who has, in my own experience, proved a doubtful heir to his late father's vision and technical expertise.

We'll see if the holding company really wants to be active in the U.S. market...

Regards, Tim

What is the current price range for "standard" Darne SxS's?

That question has become the kiss of death to more than one hand made gun company-witness the Spanish makers who have exited the "standard" market.

During my run as the importer, Paul and Hervé were trying, hard, to get away from building anything lower in grade than an R15. They were working off of inventory on parts, and building a 28 gauge Darne R13 cost them a set of tubes and a small frame R action that would have been far more profitable to use on an RHS. Second sets of barrels cost them a gun.

Sad to say, but, if you have to ask the price, good gun makers aren't interested in you.



Best,
Ted

Darn or should I say Darne?
I have purchased 4 in my life and retain one 16 gauge that Ted had Bruchet build for me.
Superb double and an R11 to boot as I didn't want to pay for an R13.
The Darne is one of the most beautiful doubles ever made to my eye, fast handling and with the trigger system that Bruchet provided where the first trigger will fire the barrels sequentially, a very very fast Darne.
The 28 gauge Mono was attractive but by the time I purchased the action and had it engraved, I would have been at least $30KUSD in the hole with no hope of ever recouping anywhere near what I put into it.
I decided the 16 gauge R11 Bruchet/Darne was good enough for the rest of my life.-Dick

That single trigger 28 V will be old enough to buy beer, soon.

I don't know if you realize this, Dick, but the man responsible for the double single trigger in your gun, the improved triggers in all Darnes from about 1998 forward, and the single V trigger, is an unassuming apprentice from northern France named Jerome. A graduate of the Leige school of firearms design, he is an absolutely brilliant young man, and I hold him in high regard for his improvements to the design.
That said, I have no idea as to the future of the Darne company.

Best,
Ted