Hello again

I have inherited a Francotte damascus-barrel shotgun.

I have this gun apart. Where do i find the serial number.

All i can find is 4 digit numbers inside on the barrel and the trigger mechanism. Some other marks too. Letters, crowns, ovals with letters and star. Can somebody point me in the right direction? Thank you

the 4 digits are your SN if they are the same number.

http://www.doublegunshop.com/dgsnos2.htm

Here are some pics thank you

[img]http://s699.photobucket.com/albums/vv355/jefferson60/?action=view&current=francottedrawing.jpg[/img]

[img]http://s699.photobucket.com/albums/vv355/jefferson60/?action=view&current=DSC05123.jpg[/img]

[img]http://s699.photobucket.com/albums/vv355/jefferson60/?action=view&current=DSC05124.jpg [img]

[img]http://s699.photobucket.com/albums/vv355/jefferson60/?action=view&current=DSC05125.jpg [img]

[img]http://s699.photobucket.com/albums/vv355/jefferson60/?action=view&current=DSC05126.jpg [img]

[img]http://s699.photobucket.com/albums/vv355/jefferson60/?action=view&current=DSC05127.jpg [img]

[img]http://s699.photobucket.com/albums/vv355/jefferson60/?action=view&current=DSC05128.jpg [img]

Jeff:

It is an A. Francotte, black powder proofed double pre-1893 if it came into Germany and pre-1898 if in Belgium since it lacks the "Crown" over "ELG"(Governement Epreuve de Liege) in an oval. Crowned inspector's marks were usually seen pre-1877 if that is what the "Crown" over "V" is. Is it a star or a crown? Checking PeteM's site, http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html , might provide some insight. If that is the serial number on the left side of the watertable, a check against the serial number/date chart would also be beneficial. It has the "Perron" stamp as well as the intertwined "EL"(Epreuve de Liege) stamp.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

thanks

over the V is a crown

whats the watertable?

thanks again it has been hard to find out anything on my own

Jeff:

The watertable is the top of the portion of the frame that mates with the barrel flats, or bottom of the barrels. Here Littlegun's site on A. Francotte: http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20francotte/a%20francotte%20gb.htm

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Francotte has been around since 1810. Usually with a maker's mark it is possible it date the registration, however, they were around so long, it is pointless in this case.

Between 1853-1877 a Crown over any letter would indicate the controller of proof. The barrels were black powder proofed. The action has a perron which was the old proof of breeching of system mark.

It is an interesting side lever gun. I would imagine that it should clean up very well. I am not sure when they stopped selling side lever guns.

Pete