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4 members (John E, SKB, Hammergun, 1 invisible),
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Forums10
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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,125 Likes: 38
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,125 Likes: 38 |
Bob, congratulations on your retirement. I hope it gives you the time to work on the things you always wanted to do.
I am working on mine and hope to be retired in a year.
Milt
So many guns, so little time!
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,409 Likes: 4
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,409 Likes: 4 |
Ah, Poldihutte from Kladno that's excellent barrel steel. 
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 87
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 87 |
Bob Beach
I have a 16 ga Francotte Box Lock O/U SN 90405 that appears to be a Model 9/40E S-33 according to an old catalog I have. The SN indicates more recent mfg. There are no import markings.
Is there any possibility that records exist for this gun?
tommcdevitt@hotmail.com
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 175 Likes: 10
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 175 Likes: 10 |
Aziz, I had a look for your serial number (89363) in the A&F records today and I am sorry but it is not there. Since it is a mid-40's gun it is possible that it was brought back from Europe by a serviceman. Francottes sold by A&F are mostly in the 886xx range in 40-41, almost none added to inventory during the war years, and then in the 898xx range in the late 40's when sales picked up again.
Tom, I'll check for 90405 when I next get a chance. Interestingly, one of the pages in the 1945-46 inventory is labeled "Sold to American Officers in 1944 by Francotte". In that list of about a dozen guns are two 16 gauge O/U's for "Gen. Patton". Their serial numbers are in the 213xx range, though. I realize that Patton died in Dec. 1945 but I wonder what happened to that pair of Francottes.
Ken, I have found no earlier VL&D inventories than 1901. Of course, guns that remained unsold one year were carried over to the next year's inventory. It is always possible that a gun received in the late 1890's may not have been sold until 1901.
Bob Beach
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 416
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 416 |
Bob:
Just caught this thread - was in S TX hunting.
Delighted to hear of the ongoing progress w/ the records, and congrats on your retirement.
I've got your old(?) email address @ G&H - we last corresponded about some of my serial #s in 11/06.
Do you have a new email address now that you're doing this on your own time?
I don't think PMs work on this site any more, but if you do have a new email, please try sending it to me anyway.
Gracias and good luck.
Always looking for small bore Francotte SxS shotguns.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 175 Likes: 10
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 175 Likes: 10 |
Randall, Thank you very much for getting in touch with me. You may find my home email address by clicking on my name in one of the above replies and looking at my profile. I thought that I might have copies of our previous correspondence but I have been unable to locate any. I look forward to hearing from you. The project has been going well but unfortunately the early A&F books are in deplorable condition and will have to be gone through very slowly and carefully to minimize further damage.
Bob Beach
Bob Beach
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 79
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 79 |
Bob, I've noted with great interest your posts in this thread, and applaud your efforts to comply a Francotte body of information. In fact I had been aware of the Griffin and Howe effort, and was disappointed it seemed not to come to fruition. Maybe with time available, you'll be able to complete the project--it would be a great benefit to many.
I saw the numbers above for the later A & F guns that you listed. Strangely, I have a Grade 45E (Eagle) grade Francotte, in pigeon/trap configuration, beavertail, vent rib, single trigger which is marked Abercrombie and Fitch, New York, but bears the serial number 1397! The gun is virtually mint and appears totally original. Can you think of how such a low 4 digit number could be on an A & F gun? Could there have been some sort of proprietary run of guns with a special set of numbers? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks, Keith
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 175 Likes: 10
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 175 Likes: 10 |
Keith, Please send an email to the email address in my profile. Almost all of the Francotte serial numbers are 5 digit numbers but there are a few 4 digit numbers scattered about in the VL&D books. There are some 14xx, 15xx and 16xx numbers for a model listed as the "1802" and others in the 2xxx range for "Specials", "1923 HE's" and even a few Knockabouts.
Bob Beach
Bob Beach
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553 |
Az' snt me some pics...it looks like a real nice SLE.I cant put em up,,,,$ am real buisy.
Could some one volenteer to put them up.
AZ...try for some better pics...plus some details on the parts where barrel flats arc down & mate with the flat part of the action.
you have a pretty fine gun mate
cheers
franc
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553 |
Someone hear sent me A PM..& like others I find no way to find them...I gen get to a screen to send...but thats it.......Post or E me kburridgek@aol.com
Az's gun appears to be a fair corker lads...I sure like it my rack
Franc
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