doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Need Some Belgian Gun Info on F Thonon

This weekend I went to a very comprehensive show and came home with a Ferd Thonon sidelock 12ga. The address on the barrel is Rue Louvrex 50. Liege. From the marks I can decipher it seems the gun was made in 1932 but it looks older than that. It is a lovely high quality gun that has seen some poor screw handling .etc. The guy I bought it from says it is a Purdy style forend and the cocking spring is gone in the fore-end. Won't cock without it. I've done business with him enough to trust his statements. He makes an honest profit but doesn't misrepresent guns.
I'd like some insight as to the springs in the fore end and the age of the gun if any on e can help.

Here's a link to some info on Ferd:

http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20t%20w/a%20thonon%20fernand%20gb.htm

Pics of any markings on the gun,,especially the bbl and action flats will reveal a lot of information about the gun.

Thanks Kutter. I had found that. Given the date of some marks ascribed to the described gun it it is before 1919. Looks like it too. No name of steel mfg.

I count at least 18 Thonons or hyphenated Thonons. The family extended from the 1830's (or earlier) to at least the 1960's. There was even a damascus pattern called thonon.

Go to the bottom of this page:
http://www.damascus-barrels.com/Image_Barrels_2.html

Which leads me to believe that some Thonon at some time patented this pattern.

Jules was around from 1908-1925. He was in business with Duchateau.

Fernand had a large operation, that began about 1903. 51 rue Monulphe Liege. How long he continued I am not sure. I do know that some of his guns were proofed in the late 1940's. I believe he was a maker and a dealer. I know he did business in Italy and Luxemburg.

Post some pictures of the markings and perhaps the gun can be dated.

Pete

Kirby has a Jules Thonon boxlock on his website, appears to be a very nice quality gun.

http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb11/drducati750/Thonon/

If I have done it correctly this should link to the pics.

Looking at the barrels I suppose they could be damascus but the pattern is not evident. Still some finish.

From the proof marks, the barrels weighed 1.338kgs or 2.94lbs at time of proof. It was nitro proofed. It was proofed between 1910 and 1924.

The barrels are fluid steel from what I can see.

Congrats on this is a very nice gun.

Pete