doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Dating early 20th Century French Shotguns

With the Canon Marsot, they are NO, NONE, ZIP external markings

Clever devils at work. I was about to comment that the VC catalog (1922) lists "Helice Grip" as one of their registered trademarks. But now I see that the maker of the above gun simply added another P to Grip.

Couple of Didier-Drevet barrels to add to the list. . .including a clearer picture of one of the guns forwarded by FAB500:


https://www.naturabuy.fr/DIDIER-DREVET-LUXE-PLUME-16-65-item-10456388.html
1908 - 12707; 6.5 cm; 18.4; Gun Maker: ??; gun sn: ?? Decorative boxlock - two buttons under the forearm to eject one or two shells.




https://www.naturabuy.fr/Fusil-juxt...evet-Grand-Prix-1900--item-9374215.html.
xxxx - xxxxx; 6.5 cm; 6.5 cm; 18.4, 70 cm barrels; highly engraved boxlock. Action or gun made bu "Boxberger"? (I will attempt to get date and SN from the seller)

Salut Argo,

Ne t'embête pas trop avec ce fusil. Les canons ont été coupés après les chambres et ont été remplacés avec des nouveaux par frettage.

Gene,
‘Coupla years past, I warned you this would be daunting. That mono bloc, mated to a set of barrels produced by someone else, is something that hadn’t even occurred to me, sleeving not being as acceptable on the continent as in Olde Blighty.

One more factor to factor in.

Good luck.

Best,
Ted

Merci FAB, je ne me suis pas rendu compte.

Ted, I thought we had it nailed down but then took a look at the "1912" gun and found it questionable and Skeetz's 1918 turned out to chambered CM not mm.

It's easy solution though - we just take this gun out of the list. Still looking for the first reliable dated Didier Drevet barrel chambered in mm since I don't trust the photo of the "1912 or 1918" gun above.

Here is the latest chart of guns with dated Didier-Drevet barrels confirmed by photos:

1852 - DD begins to serial number and date his barrels
1855 - Gold Medal for Barrels - Exposition Universelle des produits de l'Agriculture, de l'Industrie et des Beaux-Arts de Paris
1878 - . XXXX;. . 65 . mm; 18.6; Gun maker: Didier Fusil; Sn: ?? (damas underlever hammergun)
1879 - . 3675;. . ??? . . ??; 18.3; Gun maker; ??. . . . . .; Sn: ??
1885 - ..4922;. . ??? . mm; 17.0. Gun maker: Pondevaux et Jussy; gun sn: ??
1887 - ..5275;. . 75. .mm; 18.4. Gun maker: L.Chalet; gun sn: ??
1889 - shift from mm to cm in Saint Etienne per Wildcattle
189X -. .6652;. .6.5. .cm; 18.4; Gun maker: ??; Gun SN: ? SxS Steel.
1896 -. .7572;. .6.5. .cm; 18.4; Gun maker: Darne R grade; Gun SN: ? SxS Damascus.
1896 -. .7653;. .6.5. .cm; 15.6; Gun maker: Darne; Gun SN: 657 SxS Steel
1898 -. .8357;. .7 . . .cm; 16.8; Gun maker; ?? Gun SN: ?
1899 - ..8532;. .7 . . .cm; 19.6; Gun maker: Cizeron-Gabion; Gun SN:
1899 -. .8855;. .6.5. .cm; 17.0; Gun maker: Moulard; gun sn: ??
1900 - Grand Prix for Barrels - Paris Universelle
1900 - ..8975;. .6.5. .cm; 18.4; Gun maker: Darne; gun sn??
1901 - ..9451;. .6.5. .cm; 18.4; Gun maker: Darne V series; gun sn: 1508
1903 - ???????? . .6.5. .cm; 18.4; Gun maker: Buford Armurier SN 5397
1904 - 11412; . .6.5. .cm; 18.4; Gun maker: ?? gun sn: ??
1905 - 11604; . . ??? . . ??; 18.4? Gun maker: ?? gun sn: ??
1906 - 11985; . .7 . . .cm; 17.0; Gun maker: Gerest Berthon; gun sn: ??
1906 - 12075; . .7 . . .cm; 18.4; Gun maker: ??; gun sn: ??
1907 - 12455; . .6.5. .cm; 18.4; Gun maker: ??; gun sn: ??
1907 - 12537: . .7 . . .cm; 18.4; Gun maker: ??; gun sn: ??
1907 - 12613? . .7 . . .cm; 18.4; Gun maker: Geneaux; gun sn: ??
1907 - ???????? . .7.5. .cm; 19.6; Gun maker; ??; gun sn: ??
1908 - 12707;. . 6.5. .cm; 18.4; Gun maker: ??; gun sn: ?? Decorative boxlock
1908 - 12740; . .6.5. .cm; 17.0; Gun maker: ??; gun sn: ??
1910 - 13184; . .6.5. .cm; 18.4: Gun maker: ??; gun sn: ??
1918?- 13986? . . 65. .mm; 18.4: ??????? 1st mm chamber??
1918 - 14204; . .6.5. .cm; 18.4: Gun maker: ?? gun sn: 19488; (Skeetz's gun)
1919 - 14340; . .6.5. .cm; 18.4; Gun maker: ?? gun sn: ?? La bascule jaspée avec son axe d'origine porte la signature en lettres cursives « Didier Fusil 1919.09.23 » . Une inscription en majuscules vient la compléter sur la table : « MARQUES DÉPOSÉES D.D-1919-23 ».
1919 - 14341; . .6.5. .cm; 18.4; Gun maker; ?? gun sn: ??
1921 - 15034; . .6.5? .cm; 18.4; Photo is unclear but 6.5 is the best guess
1924 - shift from cm to mm in Saint Etienne?
1924 - 16571?;. . 75. .mm; 19.6; Gun maker: Didier Drevet (SIFARM) "Excelsior." gun sn: 1080

Ce fusil est sans doute l'un des derniers fabriqués par les établissements Didier-Drevet.
En 1924, cette entreprise cesse activité.
En 1934, Laspoussas-Driol rachète les marques Didier-Drevet, Didier fusil et Didier étui.

https://www.naturabuy.fr/DIDIER-FUSIL-modele-Excelsior-canons-plume-EUREKA--item-8947087.html

Fusil fabriqué dans la période Laspoussas-Driol. L'arme est signée Berthon frères. Les canons sont de Jean Breuil.

FAB, I become more and more cynical about the gun trade, which starts to resemble the carpet merchants I used to buy from 50 years ago in Pakistan.

Je deviens de plus en plus cynique à propos du commerce des armes à feu, qui commence à ressembler aux marchands de tapis que j'achetais il y a 50 ans au Pakistan.

This gun was advertised as having 75mm chambers. However, after blowing up the only photograph, trying to enhance it, I cannot identify the chamber markings and therefore don't trust it.

Ce fusil était annoncé comme ayant des chambres de 75 mm. Cependant, après avoir agrandi la seule photographie, en essayant de l'améliorer, je ne peux pas identifier les marques de la chambre et donc je ne lui fais pas confiance.

1). Didier Drevet barrel dated 1924; 1924 - 16571??; gun number 1080 for gun labeled "Excelsior." (per other ads for Excelsior's in the period which are chronologically serial numbered apparently). 10 gauge ( 19.2); chamber: 75mm (chambered in mm)(3"). mod�le EXCELSIOR .
http://www.naturabuy.fr/Fusil-juxtapose-Artisanal-Francais-occasion-Calibre-10-item-2824879.html



Trying to figure out the Didier Drevet barrel SN of this barrel is also proving quite difficult. I've finally settled on "16571"?? This would be close to the Didier-Drevet average of 300-400 barrels made per year factoring in the other guns on the graph. Any higher SN would mean the company ramped up production in these post WWI years.

Now I'm looking for dated Didier-Drevet barrels from 1918 - 1924. But still, this 1901 Darne fitted with DD barrels 1901 - 9451, Darne gun SN "1508", is interesting. Normally without a picture of the barrels and flats I wouldn't post the gun but the description has integrity.

https://www.proxibid.com/Guns-Milit...G-BREECH-SHOTGUN/lotInformation/55657580

DARNE V SERIES 12 GA SBS SLIDING BREECH SHOTGUN | Darne V Series 12 gauge side-by-side sliding breech shotgun. 2.5" chamber. 27.5" barrels. 13" & 13.75" LOP. Matching serial numbers throughout. Bottom of barrel flat reads: "Non Pour La Ball *choke* Eureka," St. Etienne," "Canons Plume," 18.4" indicating 12 GA bore and 6.5 indicating 2 1/2" chamber. Fusil Pour Poudre Pyroxylle," Medaille 1855," Didier Drevet," Cannonnien a St Etienne," "Modele Depose," "Canons De Sjrfte Garanti Double Epreuve," "1901.9451," and crown over "PS" proof mark. Highly decorative floral engraving on receiver, barrel shank, trigger guard and T lever. | Provenance: | Search: “Buie” within this auction catalog to filter & view all of the Col. Walter Buie lots included in this auction. | WWII War Trophy Collection & Military Archive of Col. Walter Buie | Only recently discovered, the extensive WWII War Trophy Firearm & Militaria Collection of Colonel Walter Buie has been stored away within the original boxes and trunks in which the items were shipped back by Buie from his WWII service in both the European and Pacific Theaters. | The Buie collection is comprised of hundreds of pieces, acquired by Buie while stationed in Germany and Japan. The war trophies were then packed into trunks and wooden crates for shipment back to the States. When found, the items were still contained within the original trunks and crates. Opening each was an exciting discovery, akin to opening a time capsule where one did now know what historical artifacts await. | Centurion Auctions, auctioneers & appraisers specializing in wartime collectibles and firearms, have been commissioned to bring the Buie collection to market. | The firearms are included in the August 2020 Firearm Auction and consist of approximately 50 pieces, many of which are quite scarce. | The military collectibles are included in the September 2020 Wartime Collectible Auction and include hundreds of items. Also included in the militaria session are personal items related to Buie and his military career. | Colonel Walter Daniel Buie (1900-1986) was born in Nashville, Georgia, and graduated from the United States Military Academy West Point in 1920. He served in various military positions in the United States and abroad for the next 24 years, and in 1941 was assigned as an instructor at Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1942 he was promoted to colonel. He became chief of staff for the 97th Infantry Division at Fort Leavenworth in 1943, and soon after was reassigned as chief of staff to the newly-activated XXIII Corps at Camp Bowie, Texas. On September 5, 1944, Buie was named regiment commanding officer of the 272d Infantry Regiment (“Battle Axe Regiment”) of the 69th Infantry Division. Shortly after, the 272d Infantry was sent overseas, first to England and then to France, Belgium and Germany. In March 1945, the 272d Infantry occupied the front line position of the Siegfried Line, pushing back the German Army, before advancing to the Rhine River. The 272d continued its path across Germany, capturing Fortress Ehrenbreitstein and clearing over 35 towns along the way, including Leipzig. The 272d Infantry eventually made contact with the Russian Army in Berlin in late April, after the Russian Army had already taken the city. The war in Europe ended with V-E Day a few days later. Colonel Buie was immediately transferred to the Pacific Theater, where he served as chief of staff for the 25th Infantry Division and was present for V-J Day. After the war ended, Buie stayed in occupied Japan at the headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur’s Far Eastern Command. He returned home to the United States and retired from the military in 1954. He held various government positions after retirement, including with the Federal Civil Defense Administration and the Office of Emergency Preparedness. Buie died in 1986. | Caliber / Gauge: 12 GA | Barrel Length: 27.5" | Serial Number: 1508 | | Condition: Very good. Very good bores. Shows some wear, age and loss to finish. Some minor oxidation marks on barrel. Functions properly. | Est. $700-1000