doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Darne gun

See, I told you that you needed to talk to Ted.

They aren't really Xs, they are crossed sheaths of wheat, a St. Etienne proofhouse mark. They signify triple proof. It is the highest level of proof in Europe.
Afraid you will have to pattern the gun to know about what you have. The French use points of choke, which, will depend also on how the barrel is bored.

Thanks, Treb, but, I am just the messenger boy.

Best,
Ted

Well, I did give it to JJ to see if he can figure out what's going on. I'd shot 2 or 3 rounds of skeet with it when it started to double on me. Thought it might have been the Herter's loads. Switched to RST 3/4 oz, still doubled. And it's certainly not due to light trigger pulls. In fact, I asked JJ to lighten them up a bit--they're currently at 5+ and 7+ on a sub-6# gun--once he's determined why it's doubling. He said that's very unusual for a Darne. Leave it to me to find the unusual one--when it's one that fits, is in nice shape, and might have convinced me that I can live with a Darne.

Thanks for all the help here. I cannot get the barrels off without significant pressure downward on the barrels (or upward, depending on which way you're holding it.)

Took the breech block off with help from the link posted here. It's a wonderfully simple design with a few Gallic quirks.

Gene,
The barrels on a Darne are what is referred to as an interference fit. And, yes, it should take a significant grunt to break the fit.

The breechblock appears very simple, and, in use, it actually is. But, there is a lot going on in that little chunk of hardened steel. I'd suggest not attempting to take it down. The lubrication needs of the sliding breech itself are almost nill.

Larry,
A Darne that doubles is a new one on me. I can confess to trying to think too hard on a round of skeet, and having two quick shots in too short an amount of time, but, that is it.
You have it with the right guy. Let us know what happens.

Geoffroy will be home with my 28 gauge Bretelle in a few days, and I am looking forward to it. That is another right guy to have work on a Darne, by the way.

Best,
Ted

The extractors don't seem to be all that strong on my gun. A shame really.

Not exactly right, Genelang. The first Saturday in September is the traditional, and current, opening day for dove season. Some years we get to shoot on Labor Day, some we don't. In '14 and '15 we could not, but this year we can. Actual date for us this year is Sept. 3.

All my best, SRH

Gene, the extractors on my R-10 just drop the fired shells on the floor-plate for easy pick up and transfer to my game pouch. Saves all kinds of back-bending for pickup after a dove shoot. I rather like the system...Geo

For years in Tennessee opening day of Dove season was Sept 1. So many "Blue Collar" workers who were most often unable to get off from work during the workweek kept complaining that it was moved to the First Sat of Sept. This has been in effect for a number of years now. Squirrel season here also traditionally opened on Sept 1, it has now been moved up to a Sat in late Aug. Quail & Rabbit seasons have also been changed from their long traditional Thanksgiving Day opener to earlier in Nov.
Some of these changes have been in effect long enough that many younger hunters consider them "Traditional". The older dates however stood for a long period of time & all were "Traditional" back when I began hunting in the 1950's & continued on for a number of years after that. Some of these dates of course varied according to the State you were from.

Gene,
Unlike a typical double that has a single piece doing either extraction or ejection, there are two different mechanisms that handle those tasks on your R model Darne. The extractor is a spring loaded plate that politely raises a shell you haven't fired out of the barrel, so you can grasp it, and remove it. The ejectors don't really eject in the traditional sense, they drag the spent shell out of the chamber and leave it loose in the open space between the breech and the chambers. You can keep the gun level, and grab it, or tip the gun either way and it will fall at your feet.
On either side of the breechblock itself are two ejector hooks, and it is not uncommon for them to have some gunk built up on them from years of use. It is simple work to pull them, if you have a decent set of screwdrivers, the screws go right into the side of the breechblock near the front. Remove the breech, remove a screw, remove the ejector hook itself, clean the parts, and the spot they came out of with a soft brush with some CLP, and put it all back together, with a little lube. Optional is a drop of nail polish on the threads when you put the screws back in, I typically don't, as I clean and examine them after every use, but, it isn't a bad idea. Then do the same to the other side. There is also a slot in the metalwork on the gun that the hooks ride in, clean the gunk out of that, too.
The plate on the end of the barrels that is spring loaded can be hosed down with the spray cleaner of choice, brushed with something on the order of a tooth brush, and blown dry with compressed air.
It would be unusual for a gun that has been cleaned like I described to have issues with extractors, or the Darne version of ejectors.


Best,
Ted