doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Couldnt let this one walk away

Congratulations. A great deal! Even compared to the already hugely undervalued Francottes out there.

I bought an early minty Knockabout with a rare 32" barrel set and solid pad similar to the pictured gun. I sanded on the rubber of the pad until the cracks disappeared. It is that way today and it is beautiful. Don't replace the pad.

According to the serial number on my Francote knockabout it's a medium grade, so not all knockabout guns by Francote were considered lower grade guns.

I love the feel and handling of my Francote, I am sure your's is a great gun, congrats on the find!!

TM

Just looking at the photos again, nice engraving, probably the reason the checkering is so worn is the one of the previous owners couldn't help himself from fondling it!!

Mine doesn't have a recoil pad, mine has a horn insert in the forend, and a horn butt plate.

TM

I can't find where Gunmaker mentioned a price, but would like to know what one in that condition sold for.

TM

Aaron, you have made a very good purchase. Francottes , IMO, are wonderful shotguns and undervalued in the market. Once you get inside of your Francotte you will find very nicely finished parts, typical of most high end European shotguns.

I would suggest that you contact Bob Beach at Griffin & Howe and get a letter on your gun. The cost is $60 but it makes the Fox and Parker letters look poor in comparison. You can also get on the Griffin & Howe website and check your serial number to see if it is in the records.

I own two Francottes, a grade 45 (Eagle) and a sidelock. I bought the Eagle grade from a large chain store (you can guess who that might be) and beat on them for six months for a better price. The gun looked "tired" for better choice of words. The wood on the gun looked gray, the bluing was not good, the checkering was worn, and the trigger guard was a lovely shade of plum. The metal was perfect otherwise with great bores and screws etc. I planned to restock the gun but other work got in the way just as it might you. In any case I refinished the wood, recut the checkering, added a leather covered pad, and reblued the barrels and trigger guard. The gun now looks wonderful.

Doug

This gun is in the G&H records file. It is probably a VL&A gun. Get a letter and find out who ordered it.

Our own Vic Venters had, at one point, a sidelock ejector out of Belgium, that was going to be a restock project for himself. His stock dimensions, like many of us, were such that off-the-rack was mostly not possible.
Racking my brain to try to remember the name, but, coming up with nothing.
Perhaps he will chime in with what the outcome is/was.
I do remember he said the quality was top of the line.

Best,
Ted

Ted, The gun you are referring to is a Brancquaert. The gun is in line for a restock to Vic's measurements very soon. These shotguns are as fine as any sidelock you will find anywhere, absolutely stunning metal work!

Thanks, Doug. I wouldn't have remembered that name. Belguim was tough enough.
Any chance you could post a few pictures, with Vic's permission, of course, say, before, middle and end of the work? I really enjoy seeing those.

Best,
Ted