Hi folks,
More gold out of the gold mine: personal info about the Gastinne Renette family. Note that they were living and dying in the 39 ave Franklin Roosevelt address where the shop was until the late 1990s I believe.

Gastinne Jules Francois aka Gastinne-Renette
born on 1/29/1842 in Paris at 1, rond point des Champs-Elysees from:
Louis Julien Gastinne, gun maker age 29 and Josephine Renette age 27, married on 7/29/1835.

passed on 4/23 1921 (at 79!) at his home 39 Avenue Victor Emmanuel III (now Franklin-Roosevelt), and buried in the old Neuilly cemetery.

Nominated Knight of the L of H on 1/3/1892, by Basile Gras (the inventor of the Gras rifle).
Promoted to Officer on 8/14/1900

president of the gun makers union, recipient of many prizes in exhibits.

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Gastinne, Paul Louis aka Gastinne-Renette
Born on 3/4/1873 at 6PM in Paris 39, avenue d'Antin
from Jules Francois Gastinne age 31 and Marie Livine Jansen age 22
Married in Paris on 1/29/1901 to Anne Laure Louise Marie Champetier de Ribes

Nominated knight of the L of H on 5/27/1914
Promoted Officer on 10/21/32

Living:
39 avenue d'Antin in Paris (now avenue Franklin Roosevelt)
Profession: Gun Maker
Diploma: HEC

Was it a gunmaking family at one time that later became mainly (or perhaps solely) a gun-selling family? I know there were guns marked G-R that were not made by them. I owned a Petrik OU marked G-R, for example.

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

Does anyone have pics of a pre-WW1 Gastinne Renette sidelock? I don't know if I've ever seen one.

Any info in that database about Guyot, or the Guyots?

Thanks again,

OWD

Hi Larry,
The family started out making guns. It does seem that the more it went, the less they made, and the more they retailed, i.e. like moving from a Purdey model to a Evans/Jeffery model.
There is a rumor out there, that 20th century guns made by GR had their name in a banner on the locks. And of course, those guns should bear Paris proofmarks at least post 1899.
They did have in house workers even at the end for repair purposes.
Best regards,
WC-

OWD,
There is not one but a pair right there.
With the banner and Leopold Bernard signed Whitworth barrels, no less.
They look very very nice (at least on the web).
Best regards,
WC-

OWD
I could not find the right one in the database among 300 Guyots.
WC

They do look nice, WC--but did you note the very long wood extension on the butt? That's the only drawback I see. Interesting that they're 70MM chambers on guns of that vintage. Double Paris proof.

Interesting stuff. Back in 1990s I spent a couple of afternoons in the shop and had a great time talking about double rifles and regulating double rifles with the older gentleman in the store on Roosevelt Ave. I assume he was of the family, but not sure. Even though I was obvious a poor grad student and not in the market for a double rifle the guy generously spent his time educating me. I was sorry when the shop closed.

Hi Larry,
I did see those extensions, I am usually more interested in metal work as the stocking can always be redone (for $$$).
I have not seen those babies first hand, so the barrels could be total crap, and that's a deal breaker for me.
All the best,
WC-