doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A Darne waterfowler-or, close.

A lot of Darnes are built fairly light, no doubt aimed for those who will typically be involved in "rough shooting", often for more than one species, with lots of walking. My "Big" 12 to this point has been a short barreled 12 that weighs 6 lbs, 1oz wearing it's sling. The others are under 6 lbs.
This one is a bit different. It is a bit heavier than 7 lbs, with 27" barrels, proofed at 18.2mm or, about .716, and really tight chokes, .701 in the right tube, and .685 in the left. Call it, IMP MOD and EX FULL. Chambers are 2 3/4". The wall thickness seems to float between .065 and .100, depending on where you measure it. There is no export info stamped on the barrels. I'm guessing it is early 1950s, and the gun wears sling swivels, typical for a European home market gun from that era.
It feels massive compared to my other Darnes. Note the treatment to the front wood, with the rounded cheeks usually seen on graded R model guns. I'm guessing a European hunter ordered this gun, but, it doesn't seem like he got much of a chance to use it. It still has it's original horsey hoove buttplate, that time has shrunken a bit.
How it ended up here is anyone's guess. I can trace it as far back as the late Don Thompson in the mid 1980s, a dealer who used to come to the larger gun shows here in the midwest.
I own it now.
After a bit of maintenance at my workbench (it is filthy, and full of dried up grease and oil) I'm going to give it a try at trap-I don't hunt ducks.






Heavy walls, tight chokes.

Best,
Ted

It looks like off the rack gun that was produced in larger numbers like Sterlingworth or Field Grade New Ithaca Double. Many European field grade guns exibit better fit, polish and checkering than their American counterparts. That does not automatically make them special order. In USA approximate value would be $1200+/-100.

Sure has lots of case coloring left. Nice!

Well there you have it Ted. When you own a single Ithaca Model 37 pump and maybe have an N.I.D. on layaway, you too will be qualified to evaluate this Darne like Jagermeister. Since you were commenting upon the unusual weight and choke boring rather than the fit and finish, I guess we can conclude that Jag is able to read your mind too when he remarks that your new gun is probably not a special order.

Anyway, she looks like a keeper that led a sheltered life. At .716" bore diameter, it is actually closer to 13 gauge, so perhaps the chokes aren't overly tight. It will be interesting to hear how it actually patterns.

All he has there is old gun made for farmer to shoot: crows, ravens, rooks plus european hares. European hare shooting requires heaver gun and stout loads of #4s or even larger shot. Yes, as you suggest it would have been good keeper's gun. Those are people who took care of game on estates so that barons, dukes,.... could have something to shoot at.

I didn't suggest that Ted's new Darne is a keepers gun Jagermeister. I said it looks like a keeper. Oh, nevermind. I'll never be a double gun expert like you unless I'm willing to hang out at the Rent-A-Center.

I see you're still hung up with that class envy thing. Don't worry, maybe Barack Obama will move on to become dictator of Europe, and he will confiscate the estates from the Dukes and Barons and give them to the serfs and peons. All hail the socialists!

Would much like to see the barrel flats for proof and grade, Ted.

Regards, Tim

Not a bad gun better than field grade Gaucher or Manufrance Robust. I would rather have that Darne than a Trojan, Sterlinghworth or LC Smith of same grade and gauge. I'm sorry Keith is there something of value you would like to add?

I'd rather have a picture of a Sterlingworth. That is, without a doubt, the worst shaped grip I have ever seen.

SRH

Not if one has man hands with long fingers. Darne is not good choice for people with medium palm and short fingers or small hands.