doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com My son-in-law's new toy

My son-in-law just bought this nice 20 gauge. Belgian handmade Jules Bury, anno 1946.

Andre',

Looks nice indeed, fences appear to be treated much like some Francottes that I have seen and the stock appears to have an ever so slight 'perch belly'. Is it an ejector gun or extractor? What are the guns overall specs? Also some additional photographs would be fun. Good maker, like many from Belgium, but not that well known here nor seen often here. Many, if not most of the better Belgian gunsmiths found themselves working for the Germans during the war. This gun could well be one of the first made after the war or it could possibly one that was commissioned by a German that didn't get delivered. It would be interesting to know. FWIW, the wood should clean up very nicely if your son in law is interested it having that done or doing it himself. Ballpark [means rough estimate], what does a gun like that sell for in Belgium these days? I'm not asking exactly whay he paid, rather how they are generally valued for a solid well made 20ga. field gun like this one when they are found. Do the 20's bring a premium over a 12 or 16 in Belgium? BTW, thanks for sharing, looks like your son in law has good taste in guns too!

Hello André

Thanks for sharing the nice J.Bury
I'd like to see
-barrel flats and proofs
-action flats and proofs
-underside of the action
-rib and third bite
-muzzles
-butt end of the stock


I too have a J.bury, it's an 8x60r boxlock ejector SxS double rifle from 1939(!)

--Tinker

I cry, I cry like a baby about the 16ga Bury, cased sidelock I saw at the Vintagers in 2003. I took a night to think about it and the next day it was gone, one of the guns finished by Superbritte.

The one that I let slip away.

I must go beat myself with olive branches.

Very handsome! I see class without gaudiness. Enjoy it. JL

Here are some detailed pics of the Bury.









Specs are : 26" bbls. IC/IM, weight 5.3 lbs., ejectors. Asking price was 1980 € (2514 $) and he got it for 1500 € (1905 $).
Calibers most in demand are (in same order) : 12 - 20 and rarely 16.
The stock has only a few minor dings that will easily steam out and bluing is +90%. After the ongoing hunting season, the bbls. will get a new rust blue to bring the gun back to pristine condition.

André-

Thank you very much.
Nice little gun for your son-in-law.
It resembles my double rifle in many respects.
I like the blacked casehardening on Bury's guns, like on mine and others I've seen, I can see the case colors on the action flats, but all of the exposed action metal is blacked. My rifle has a swan's neck wrist and nicely figured and very dark wood, the butt end of my stock is also hardwood, ribbed instead of checkered like on this little 20b


Wish him well!


--Tinker

Nice gun, There is a 16ga. Belgium that just went off Gunbroker unsold that has identical engraving on the fences as this one. Maybe the same company. This particular gun has floral engraving on the frame and scalloped borders. I've got some upclose photos they sent me and a phone number if anyone is interested. I think the reserve was $900. I was tempted but didn't do it. Randy

Thank you, Andre', for the additional photographs and information. I stand mistaken about the engraving treatment being similar to what I had seen on several Francottes. I thought that the first photograph showed 'feathers' or plumes and that was the treatment I was referring to. It looks to be a very nice gun and the muzzle photograph would have me believe that the bbls and ribs were brazed, making it quite suitable for a 'hot corner', should one be found.