doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Bolt action SxS, odd Darne cousin?

A guy I work with came up with this a few years ago, and ever since then I have been begging him to sell it to me. Well the day came today and now it is mine. This thing screams Darne inside and out, but the opening/cocking mechanism is unique as far as I know. Any thoughts are appreciated, but as a huge Darne fan, and a huge 16ga fan, this thing is right up my alley.

Looks like it did time in a German museum, from the tag.

I've never seen anything quite like it. It was proofed in St. Etienne, appears to be post 1900.

Best,
Ted

Ted, have you seen the Darne design where the breech pivots? Saw a couple of those one year at the old UP Classic SxS Shoot.

Of course not everything French is that different. WWI French ace of aces Rene Fonck (75 kills) did an ad for Verney-Carron. He said that shooting his V-C, the birds fell "like Boches!" And V-C described him in the ad as a "hunter of men". A gun ad that's definitely different, even if the gun itself isn't.

Safety looks kind of like a Manufrance Ideal...Geo

It says "Weaponry museum of the town of Suhl", if I'm not mistaken. Some GI was quick enough to pick it up in the few weeks before the Thuringien was passed over to the Soviets.

Fanget was the tube source.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

Thanks for the input fellas. It was in a German museum at one time. I looked up that tag for info back when I first handled the gun 3 years ago as the guy who had it swore up and down it was German because of that tag. I say French all the way based on the Darne similarities, but I have found no makers mark of any kind anywhere, and I have had it apart down to the barest of bare pieces. Same serial number everywhere, but no marks of any kind after the number and the proof marks you see. Regardless of anything, a very cool piece in my opinion.

Everything functions well mechanically, I need to replace a few screws and put it back on face, but the design makes that pretty simple and straightforward. The wood needs some serious attention though, not quite sure what I will do about that yet, but I will get it back to a shootable condition. Be sure to keep an eye out at the big SxS shoots in the future, I will use it for a round or 2.

It is indeed "French all the way". Proofmarks leave no doubt of that.

What is A F in the oval ? Maybe not French all of the way if that relates to Francotte, but I am not sure it does.

There is a very similar gun here at the East Hartford Cabelas. The case hardening coloration on the portion of the action that slides rearward looks pristine, but the bluing on the barrels does not loom quite as good. The action opens using what I can only describe as a "toggle",instead of a bolt.
They have it tagged as a Darne Type 10 and asking $3,599.99

Funny, I'd never seen anything like it before this topic was posted. Then I walk in the store and see something very similar.

That's a heck of a price tag on that piece for sure. And a Type 10? I'd want to see some markings before I called it that, from the few I have seen those are marked, this one is not. Regardless though, just the thought of another like mine tickles me to no end!!! If they would be reasonable on pricing I would certainly love to have a pair!!!!

Unless Francotte used more than one trademark or proprietary proofmark, that isn't theirs. AF surmounted by a crown inside an oval is the Francotte mark. Oval vertical rather than horizontal.

Many years ago Gough Thomas wrote an article in the British Shooting Times titled "Echoes of the Darne" showing a similar gun.

It had a sliding breech but a revolving bolt head on each barrel instead of the Darne toggle lock. I think that the maker was Verney Carron.