doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Hoping you can help with this.

My grandfather was given this gun and told that it was one of only 3 made. I have been trying to gather information about the piece for my father (who is in his 70's now) and am hoping some of you may have seen a similar gun. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Well, it's a Darne but "one of three".... hmmm

More like a Darne clone of some sort. Try this site:

http://www.gournetusa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=488

Nice looking gun...Geo

Hello DAM,

Beg to differ, it is not a Darne, it is a Darne clone, so it is possible only three were made.

It has St. Etienne proofs. Crown over PT épreuve superieur (superior proof to 1200 bars).

JC

P.S.: Geo beat me to it.jc

Thank you JC. This supports the old adage "we learn something new every day" and even at my age I've learned several new things today.

Dean

choke rectifie - finished choke
portee garantie - the maker is guaranteeing the gun will shoot a certain distance
garantie canon de surete double epreuve - barrels are safe at double proof - A marketing gimmick
cinq grand prix hors concour lyon 19??- 5th grand prize Lyon 19??

As has been stated, it is not a Darne.

Pete

Could be a Zavattero. The proof with powder T is modern, as are the 70mm chamber markings. The action itself looks to be a copy of the earlier, 1894 patent R model. I didn't see any indication of a monobloc barrel.
I had a tough time trying to read the proof marks on the flats.
I think Zavaterro was in business until 1968 or so. Not a bad looking gun, by the way.
Better pictures would help.

Best,
Ted

If Ted is correct about Zavattero:

Societe Zavattero Feres was founded 1880.

They won a gold medal in 1901.

They participated in an exhibit in Milan, circa 1904 along with:

Chambre de Commerce de Saint-Etienne, Ecole régionale des Arts industriels, Ecole pratique d'Industrie, Manufacture française, Société manufacturière, MM. Gaucher, Darne, Zavattero, Bergeron et Giraudet, Delage, Delhorme, Berthon frères. Les armuriers parisiens : MM. Chobert, Chevalier, Rieger, Lacroix et la Cartoucherie française, sont, comme on le voit, en nombre beaucoup plus petit.

They got patent 367895 on 7 July 1906 for ejectors.

Zavaterro registered 3 makers marks May 10, 1913.

During WWI they were among many who held a contract for the Berthier Carbine. I believe they were many ammunition.

They closed their doors in 1968.

http://wordsdomination.com/darnation.html

Pete