doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Need Information on Francotte

I like the Poldi tube steel. Was Jean Falla active post 1968?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

In 1935 Jean Falla's son, Jean Francois Falla took over the business and was active until 1953. If the firm continued in operation past that I am not aware of it.

The gun barrels weighed 1.16kgs or 2.55lbs at time of proof. If they are not very close to that now, it is a sure sign they have been fooled with.

Here is long post from Raimey about Poldi:
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbt...true#Post146611


Pete

Bob can you contact me so you can fill me in on this gun. Gerry 513-367-6030

Ok, Falla is stamped on the barrels next to the serial number. You can see his name in the pictures provided. The barrels weighed on my digital scale are 1.15KG, 2.53 pounds, 2 pounds 8 ounces. Thanks guys all of this information really helps.

My take, which is worth what you paid for it, is no, it was not.

I called a friend with several Francottes and he said they didn't have any AF on the receiver. I didn't ask him about the barrels.

Gerry,

It is a fine, well made gun. I see no evidence that it is a "fake". But then I am not trying to sell it as a Francotte.

What I do see is that a Francotte patent was used according to the stamp on the barrels.

I have seen some top line Belgian makers, well marked, being sold as "guild guns". I chalk it up to the lack of knowledge by some.

The barrels have the all the correct Falla marks. Take a look at the images on Littlegun.

http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20e%20f/a%20falla%20gb.htm

Judge the gun, not the name.

Pete

Yeah, it looks like one that might have been sourced from the Falla facility as I don't see any Cap marks coupled. I'd guess the tubes are from around WWII but the marks are post 1968. Quite a puzzle for now. Maybe an older set of tubes knitted to a new frame and proofed in 1971?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Thanks so much for all this information. Can't tell you all how much this has helped me. Any idea on what this gun is worth?

Gerry, I'm doubting Francotte too, for several reasons. The AF we're talking about would be on the barrel flats along with the other proofmarks, not on the receiver. Under a crown. That's the Francotte maker's mark. And the SN simply does not fit into the Francotte range for either a medium or best grade gun. Best grades never got out of the 20,000 range, and medium grade would have been 1920-21, which does not fit with the proofmarks.

Nevertheless, it is a nice gun. I do wonder where Christie's got the "2IN" thing, because there's no such thing as a 2" 16ga.