Can anyone tell me how to contact A Francotte? Do they have a website? I'd like to ask them some questions about one of their guns.
Thanks,
Chris

They've been out of business for years. I'd suggest posting your questions here.

Randall is correct. Francotte went under in 2001 when a venture with Dutch gunmaker Tom Derksen failed. Sad -- they were one of the greats.

The Francotte name now owned by a Dutch investor and is, so far as I know, still dormant.

Thanks for the info. I thought they had been resurrected. I met Tom a number of years ago at a Vintage Cup.
Would the Dutch investor have the records? Does anyone know who has the records?

Thanks,
Chris

Chris:

If they have been resurrected it would be very very recently. Maybe some of our Belgian correspondents can offer more?

The investor/owner is apparently a prominent lawyer in Holland but I do not know if records are available nor the contact details.

If your gun was a US import Griffin & Howe would be your best bet for obtaining info. Bob Beach has done lots of research on the VL&D and A&F guns and has their records. Contact Bob at: research@griffinhowe.com

Good luck.

This is from LittleGun:



To the best of my knowledge, even the building in Liege is gone.

Here is the last contact info for Derksen that I can find:
Auguste Francotte & Cie
Rue du Trois Juin, 109
Herstal
Fax: 011-32-42-40-46
Francotte@cybernet.be

The email, address and fax are Belgian.

Pete

Vic, I should have been clearer in my sentence. When I thought Francotte was resurrected was a few years back. I thought they were still in business. They made some great guns.

Pete, Thanks for the info, I'll try to contact Tom.

Chris

If I am not mistaken, it seems that not too long ago, the Galazan website was suggesting it was a source for new Francottes.

http://www.doublegunshop.com/fran1.htm
note date on page - 1996

http://www.doublegunshop.com/dgsnos2.htm
if you're interested in manufacturing dates

FWIW, I've heard nothing of any connection between CSMC/Galazan and any 'new' Francottes...

Chris,

I sent you a pm.

Pete

Chris, have you checked your serial number against Bob Beach's list? It's available on the website.

Francotte are still making guns in NL. They have loads of orders and they are not looking for any more at this time. I understand that they will not give any info from the records. I know them very well.

John:
Please provide us w/ some more information on the new 'Auguste Francotte', Netherlands manufactured, SxS shotguns you refer to.
Website? Order forms? Factory address? Pictures of recent guns? Prices?
Thanks in advance.

Randall you just ask the question (s) what I wanted to ask John. I am very curious like you and many of us.
Marc.

The Francotte makers have so many orders that they don't want to take any more. They have no web site and just want to make guns full time. They are making mainly 28g shot guns and double rifles. I call and see them for a coffee every time I am passing through NL to get to Liege. When Tom Derksen went under the lawyer bought the Francotte name and the gunsmith bought the tooling and machinery and he is making the Francotte guns.

Hi, if this was an early import, Bob Beach maybe be able to help out as Vic stated earlier. Here's some more info:

http://www.griffinhowe.com/research-main.cfm

Good Luck to you!

Greg

Have you seen/held one of these new guns?

Until I see a picture of, or hold, a brand new 'Auguste Francotte' gun manufactured & proofed in the NL, or information regarding purchasing one, I'll remain skeptical such guns exist.

Randall
I have seen them, shot them, bought one and sold one and there is not a proof house in NL they are proofed in Liege. What is your interest in Francotte?? Do you want to buy one?? If so let me know what you want and I can find out when you can order it.

Randall
Steve Barnett has a very high grade .410" side lock. You may want to look it up. Steve had it at the Tulsa gun show.

John, I look Steve's web and the sidelock you mention is absoluut not a new made Francotte gun. True that the Netherlands not have a proof house. I am familiar with the Liége proof house records and as far as I know there are under the name Francotte NO guns prooved in 2008 and 2009.
If you can give an example of 1 gun registred in the Liége proof house register under the name A.Francotte please show us and if you can I excuse myself for all members.

Gettemans
I did not say that the gun Steve has was made in NL. I just said he had one on his tables at the Tulsa gun show. I thought that Randall may be interested in buying it.

Mr Foster,

I believe this is very simple. How does one contact Francotte? What is the name of the current owner? Where in the NL are they being produced?

Pete

John,
Thanks for joining in. I thought I had heard something about new Francotte production, but couldn't quite remember for sure.
I would really like to study the records for a few guns if the records exist and access given to them. I would appreciate any help on your end.
I would like to know how to contact them.
The guns I want to research most likely were not imported into the USA, so the Francotte ledger books would be needed.

Thanks,
Chris

Chris & Pete
I understand that they do not want to be contacted with regards to giving out information from the Francotte records. The lawyer is busy working on his multi million £ wind farm in Scotland and the gunmaker is busy making guns. I will call him this after noon and ask if he will take calls with regards to the records.

I have just had a conversation with the Francotte gunmaker and it is as I said. They do not want to be contacted to search the records of Francotte. They are far to busy to do that. He has confirmed that he does not want any orders at this time. He is finishing a pair of side lock 28 bores for a Dutch customer that already has a pair of 12's and a pair of 20's. He is also finishing a double rifle that he collected form the engraver yesterday.

My friend said that he would search the records for me as a favour on one or two guns but this could take some time as they are at the lawyer's home and he is in Scotland most of the time.

I am sorry that I can't be more helpful but my friend has asked me not to give out his contact details. I will be visiting him in March

John Foster:
Your last entry is most intriguing. I have a Francotte that MAY be the most historically significant Francotte in America. Perhaps anywhere. If you PM me I will explain what I mean... and humbly ask that you include this gun in your limited availability to search the Francotte records. Thank you in advance.

Best, Kensal

John:
I assume you took some pictures of the gun(s) you saw, shot, bought, & sold?
If so, please post them.
If not, please ask your busy friend if it would be possible for you take to take some pics when you visit him in March, to be posted here, w/o any contact info whatsoever, so he won't be bothered w/ any inquiries about possible new business.
Thanks.

OK Randall
I will do my best and see what I can photograph in the shop. I am not to good at PC work so if I can get some photographs I may just email them to you and let you post them. Is that OK?? If so send me your email address. to info@johnfostergunmaker.co.uk

I should call and see my Friend about March 8th. on the way to IWA2011 or March 29th. on the way to the French Rame Fair at Rambouillet.
John.

Kensal
My friend has searched the Francotte records for your gun and I have emailed you the findings.