I found this great post below, but not sure where exactly this gun would fit in:
Trying to find a model and a date for:
VL&D Import Francotte, 12ga 2 5/8" Chamber, Number 31,XXXIC/IM, DT, highly engraved old style 'English Scroll" style, NON Ejector (oh the pity), Greener Crossbolt, Anson fore end release. Any other info I can add please ask.

https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=229207#Post229207

See if Griffin and Howe have it listed in their records.

http://secure.griffinhowe.com/research-listserial.cfm?make=2216

They do not, but appreciate the idea.

bls, Rob's suggestion to check the griffinhowe web site is a really good one. I find it hard to believe that your gun is marked VL&D but is not listed on this serial number list but is imported by VL&D, however anything is possible. I AM NOT questioning your description, it is just an anomaly that I've not seen before.

I own two Francottes one is a grade 45 that is stunning with the typical engraving theme of an Eagle grade. The other is a Francotte "mid grade" sidelock (if there is such a thing) that was originally made for the European market. It is not marked with import marks and has 27 5/8" barrels and has or had other features that point to it being made for the European market.

I don't know if Bob Beach is still doing the documentation letters for Francottes but it is well worth the cost. JMHO but his letter makes the letters available for some other makers look like a joke. The amount of detail provided is amazing!

That's true, I got Bob's research for this Francotte sidelock I have, more like a small book with the amount of info in there.

I've had similar luck. It's possible that Griffin & Howe don't have all the VL&D guns in their records, but they certainly have a lot of them. And as Recoil Rob pointed out, sometimes a search will turn up all kinds of interesting guns on which they have records. I had a 1930's Sauer 20ga. The research on that one included passenger manifests showing that the owner of the gun in question made a couple trans-Atlantic trips, etc. That's in addition to all the details on the gun.

As per Griffin and Howe, Tried Make: Francotte, A&F and VL&D.

The serial number that you entered was not found in those indexed from the Records Books to this date. Please try another serial number or review all of the serial numbers listed for that Make. As an ongoing project, it is quite possible that the serial number for which you searched will be recorded at a later date. Please check back periodically.
Make Name: FRANCOTTE

Is there another way to try to look up, or elsewhere?

ALSO< not sure how new this is, from GH Website:
PLEASE NOTE: GRIFFIN AND HOWE LONG TIME ARCHIVIST AND HISTORIAN HAS RETIRED. AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PRODUCE RESEARCH OR ARCHIVE LETTERS. WHEN A REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN FOUND, WE WILL ATTEMPT TO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ALL INQUIRIES FOR LETTERS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING DURING THIS TRANSITION.

Might you pleasure us w/ some pics?


Serbus,

Raimey
rse

[img][img]https://i.ibb.co/YpMmq62/IMG-0757.jpg[/img]


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The level of work and effort and attention to detail that would have been put into a 'mid level' gun back at the turn of the 1900s just amazes me.

[img][img]https://i.ibb.co/YpMmq62/IMG-0757.jpg[/img][/img]

[img]http://[img]https://i.ibb.co/YpMmq62/IMG-0757.jpg[/img][/img]

From the date series on the "Other useful Information" on this site, the dates given for that serial number are approximated as 1897-1900. I haven't seen a sideplated boxlock from that era though.

I have a francotte built on the 1884 WR pat.it is a very high quality gun and in great condition unfortunately they are not the bargain they once were