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Mar 28th, 2026
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Joined: Feb 2015
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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I recently picked up a 16ga Geco / Gustav Genchow. From what I have read, Gustav Genschow was a wholesaler in Germany who had guns made for the German market by various makers. I also read that he purchased a Spanish maker and manufactured his own rifles at one point. He also had an ammunition business which is still operating today. This gun is a 16ga, weighs approximately 6 1/2 pounds, LOP is 14 1/2", barrels are 28" and it has 2 3/4"/70mm chambers. From what I can tell from the marks, it was made in Belgium in 1929 and the inspectors mark is a N (Louis Couchant). I am not sure; 1) if the 16.7 is the bore diameter or choke 2)each barrel has a G with a star on top 3) there is a W stamped on one barrel 4) there is a C, O & R stamped on the barrel by the forearm latch 5) VIII is stamped on the receiver and barrels. Any additional information or comments would be appreciated. [img:center]  [/img] [img:center]  [/img] [img:center]  [/img] [img:center]  [/img] [img:center]  [/img] [img:center]  [/img] [img:center]  [/img] [img:center]  [/img] [img:center]  [/img]
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Joined: Jun 2008
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
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My GECO is very similar, but has a POW grip 65mm chambers   
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Joined: Dec 2001
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
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When there is only one size marking then it is the bore. The word choke tells you it had some amount of choke but does not say how much. If you had two marks such as 16.7 & 16.0 then you would know it had .7mm of choke when proofed. 16.7 incidentally converts to .6575" or about .0045" under nominal. Under older "British" proof this would have been marked as a 17/1.
I do not know why but early L C Smith 16 gauges guns were bored to .650" so this slight undersize will present no problems. In spite of what you may read or hear otherwise it will not cause it to "Kick" harder.
Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Do they all have the cross-bolt through the stock cheeks, or is this a repair? It seems that area is not shown on the pic of skeetx's Geco.
Voting for anti-gun Democrats is dumber than giving treats to a dog that shits on a Persian Rug
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
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The strange looking "y" on the barrel flats (watertable) is the date code when the gun was Belgian proofed. It looks like 1946 to me. If you consider that Germany was in a bad shape in 1946, the gun may have been sent to Belgium for proof.
Joe
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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The date code is a "h" (not a y) and makes the year of manufacture 1929.
The cross-bolt appears to be original and not a repair. (similar to a Bayard / Pieper which was my first thought as to who the maker was)
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
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No cross-bolt on mine Please see here on the h yes, 1929 http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.htmlBarrel lug on mine 
Last edited by skeettx; 02/06/17 09:11 PM.
USAF RET 1971-95 ![[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]](http://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/57865_80x60.jpg)
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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I have the stock off to refinish and the cross-bolt is original and not a repair. I was hoping someone would be able to help identify the maker.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Memory shaky and wouldn't apply directly to these pre-war guns but I met a Canadian firearms importer in Moscow in 1956 who I think had a distribution business in Toronto called Geco or GECO. He was bringing in low-end Baikal shotguns.
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2003
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As others have noted side-by-sides marked GECO were made over the years by a number of makers from various countries. A friend of mine has a pre-war 16 marked "S" over "S", a Sauer and Sons of that period retailed by GECO. He got this VERY nice solid shooter for about $400.
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Patrick, that gun is in fantastic condition if the date is right. What kind of finish are you thinking of for the stock?
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2015
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Nice looking gun. The safety button is almost identical to my Pieper/Bayard 12 gauge. BillK
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Derek, I am pretty sure 1929 is accurate based on the date code and corresponding inspectors stamp. It actually has some nice grain in the stock so I am thinking of a simple Tru-oil finish. A few coats will give me a better idea of how it will look.
BillK, thanks for your post. The cross-bolt looks similar to a Pieper/Bayard, but I was told the receiver does not. I have not had any luck figuring out the maker.
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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I was looking the other day and was thinking Bayard as well until I noticed the receiver is not right.
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Here is a copy of the top of my Bayard receiver with the top lever and the safety button. BillK  
Last edited by BillK; 02/08/17 09:45 PM.
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Brian, Patrick asked me a while ago if I thought it might be a Pieper/Bayard and I suggested the receiver was all wrong for a Pieper.
Bill, having had more than a couple Piepers, I would be interested in seeing some side and bottom views of that receiver. (Sorry to highjack the thread a bit Patrick).
The world cries out for such: he is needed & needed badly- the man who can carry a message to Garcia
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
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The A&D Body Action resembles a Lepage Liege( Manufacture darmes LEPAGE ), which was on & off w/ J. Kaufmann. Gustav Genschow & Cie (Socite Anonyme) Berlin(Allemagne) et 527, rue Hayeneux, Herstal, had a Berlin address as well as on in Herstal for sourcing & odd tube steel variants like GECO Stahl, M.G. Stahl, Nickel Stahl, etc. appear: http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/art...%20cie%20fr.htmMight see who else was located @ 527 rue Hayeneux, Herstal & get an idea of the manufacturer. But that spanner type retaining screw on the toplever is seen on Pieper's wears I believe. Cheers, Raimey rse
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Raimey, thank you for the information. I will do some more searching.
BillK & Skeetx, it would be great if you could share some more pictures of your Geco & Pieper.
James, always appreciate your help & more pictures might help. Would be great if you can share pictures of your Piepers.
Thanks,
Patrick
Last edited by VictoryXC; 02/09/17 03:00 PM.
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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the top lever screw might look like Pieper but nothing else does. I have a bunch of Pieper's and Bayard's and that action shape doesn't look like any of them.
Last edited by Lawrence Kotchek; 02/09/17 06:06 PM.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,504 Likes: 487 |
 Lepage w/ similar frame - Stephen Cobb http://www.stevecobbguns.com/eurosg.htm Another similar frame termed "Belgian Guild..." on Cobb's site. Cheers, Raimey rse
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Bill, very nice Pieper!!
Thanks for the additional information Raimey. I will continue my search. I have the stock off so I will look if there are any other marks.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,504 Likes: 487 |
Yeah, look on & under the buttplate & on the frame as well.
Cheers,
Raimey
rse
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,504 Likes: 487
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,504 Likes: 487 |
 Lepage given as Nr. 53097 and has ejectors. Cheers, Raimey rse
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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I found these pages from a 1927 Geco catalogue. I have not yet translated any of the content to find out if there is any relevant information. [img:center]  [/img] [img:center]  [/img] [img:center]  [/img]
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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I just refinished the wood on the Geco and thought I would post a few pictures of how it turned out. [img:center]  [/img] [img:center]  [/img] [img:center]  [/img]
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2011
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Patrick---the pics aren't coming through. They are showing now---the world of computers!!!
Last edited by gunsaholic; 05/23/17 01:15 PM.
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