I posted this over at the firingline.com, but was curious if anyone here had any further information:
My grandfather gave me, through my dad, an old French side by side, 12 gauge shotgun he had gotten from his neighbor. This neighbor was an elderly Polish gentleman who escaped Poland with this shotgun ahead of the advancing Germans in WWII. I didn't talk to the original owner of the gun, so I don't have any information other than it is of French manufacture. Unfortunately, both this gentleman and my grandfather have passed away. I have had the shotgun for 21 years, and it has been sitting in my closet in a case. I occasionally take it out and clean, lube and oil it. It is in very good condition.
It has on the opening lever:
Helice Elite BTE SCDG
Marque Deposee
On the underside of the receiver, it has:
Hot & Prunier Valenciennes
Where the barrel assembly rests on the receiver:
A crown over the letters PT
the numbers 52 30485
On the undersides of the barrel assembly where it meet the receiver it has:
The proof mark for St. Etienne 1897 double proof finished and joined barrels
Canons Gallia
A rearing lion in front of:
Marque Deposee
Crochets Encastres
A crown over the letters PT
18.4
65
Reforage Longitudinal Cylindro
Canon Surete'
B.A.
Double (with another word I cannot make out)
A diamond shaped mark with the letter BF inside
the numbers 52 30485
The stock has an offset for a right handed shooter.
Who is the manufacturer? Does anyone have any information about this gun? What it's value might be?
http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t31/bldmaghead/Album%202/ 
