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Forums10
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Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 168
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 168 |
looking at a francotte side x side made bout 1899 with vl and d markings. stock cheeks are checkered very fine checkering,and look original,but the one cheek shows a small circle where a walnut plug was inletted before checkering. walnut plug matches perfectlry and is hard to see without a magnifier glass. is this something done by frabncotte to reinforce stock or was it done prossibly afterwards? no cracks showing behind the receiver tang or any where else. I would appreciate any replies from those here that know francottees. thank you all.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553 |
I would have to say it was after market.I've had/looked @ a few of those nice #14 or 18's & never seen a plug in the side panels.
Nice gun I bet...Does it have those nice carved fences?
cheers
Franc
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,246 Likes: 4
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,246 Likes: 4 |
Franc et al., here are two pics of a 12 gauge Francotte I came across last month. It has more elaborate engraving than I've seen before. A friend here thought it might be a Model 15.... ?????? Interesting gun with V-L-D markings, ejectors, nice high stock and plugged safety slot. Very cool - the surface finish on the plug matches the finish on the frame tang. Sure didn't look like some basement gunsmith did the safety plug work. Damascus bores were perfect and right on size. "Non pour balle". Silvers  
I AM SILVERS, NOT SLIVER = two different members. I'm in the northeast, the other member is in MT.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 927 Likes: 3
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 927 Likes: 3 |
That is a very nice Francotte. The early VL&D guns are some of my favorites. In terms of Francotte models and grades, remember that Francotte changed model designations several times (I have the list Mr. Beach graciously provided stashed away somewhere). While some of the early guns may be similar to some of the later models we are more familiar with (e.g., Model 14s, 18s, 25s, etc.), they were different. I love shooting my Francotte model 3A :-)
Ken
- FWIW, my Francotte, circa-1987, does not have a wood plug in the stock cheek that I can detect. I don't remember noticing the plugs on other Francottes, but wasn't looking hard for them
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,129 Likes: 198
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,129 Likes: 198 |
Francottes are wonderful and the pictured gun looks like the earlier version of what will later be a Grade 14. I was given a Damascus gun just like this when I was about 13 years old. It was my initiation into a love affair with Francottes that extended into several visits to Abercrombie and Fitch in the early sixties to study the offerings of the time. At the time, the Knockabouts retailed at $425, a price that doomed the brand in this country forever. My collection at this time consists of Knockabouts in 12 and 28 gauge in very high condition, both provenanced in V L & D records. They are great guns, but I am anxious to find another Damascus Grade 14 like the one I had as a teenager.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 496
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 496 |
Nitro:
Getting back to your original question, it was fairly common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to "plug" flaws in an otherwise good piece of stock wood - generally knots. To hide the plug, a panel of chequering was often added, per the gun you reference. This is probably what you have seen. If so, the stock is probably fine and strong.
On the other hand, many Parkers and other US guns stocked in black walnut often split their stock heads and a cross-dowel was installed to fix the problem years ago. This does indicate a repair for a wood failure.
I'd bet the Francotte you've seen is fine, however.
Best, Kensal
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,379 Likes: 105
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,379 Likes: 105 |
Francottes are wonderful and the pictured gun looks like the earlier version of what will later be a Grade 14. I was given a Damascus gun just like this when I was about 13 years old. It was my initiation into a love affair with Francottes that extended into several visits to Abercrombie and Fitch in the early sixties to study the offerings of the time. At the time, the Knockabouts retailed at $425, a price that doomed the brand in this country forever. My collection at this time consists of Knockabouts in 12 and 28 gauge in very high condition, both provenanced in V L & D records. They are great guns, but I am anxious to find another Damascus Grade 14 like the one I had as a teenager. Eightbore, I think it was about that time when A&F started bringing in the Zoli-Rizzinis as their sxs "knockabout" offerings. Those are also nice, solid doubles--but not Francottes. The high cost of making guns in Belgium also caused Browning to give up on FN and switch to Miroku-made doubles. Again, good guns . . . but too bad.
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