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Posted By: WesF .405 double rifle questions - 02/26/10 11:46 PM
I'm doing some research on my family's gun collection, This is a .405 double rifle. The action is tight and the bores are in excellent condition. There is a name A. Thonon Namur on the barrels. I don't know if this is the maker or not. I'd like to find out who name this gun, where they made it, approximate value, and any other fun bits of information you guys might have on the gun. Thanks for reading.

~Wes[IMG]

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a225/rumblemn/guns/405%20double/remington721fandmod8013.jpg[/IMG]

















Posted By: Mal Mac Gregor Re: .405 double rifle questions - 02/27/10 12:10 AM
Not half the rifle as the Rigby. belgian boxlock ejector. barrels look to be refinished as is the stock with pad. Some people like American caliber doubles and will pay a bit more. Value 6-8K, maybe a bit more to the "right guy".

Mal
Posted By: WesF Re: .405 double rifle questions - 02/27/10 12:26 AM
The butt pad is a replacement. The gun wasn't refinished, but it was cleaned and given a new coat of oil on the stock. If the barrels were refinished, it was more than 60 years ago. My grandpa bought the rifle in the 1940s and no one in my family has had the barrels reblued. From what I and my gunsmith can tell, the barrels are in the original condition.
Posted By: Mal Mac Gregor Re: .405 double rifle questions - 02/27/10 12:30 AM
The engraving on the barrels looks a bit washed from polishing, which is why I believe they have been reblued, still a neat rifle.

Mal
Posted By: WesF Re: .405 double rifle questions - 02/27/10 12:32 AM
you could be right Mal. it may have been reblued before my grandpa bought it.

~Wes
Posted By: ellenbr Re: .405 double rifle questions - 02/27/10 12:38 AM
I think Jean Falla made the tubes and what's the spelling on the top of the tubes: "A. Thonon"??? You might find some info on Littlegun's site: http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20t%20w/a%20thonon%20famille%20gb.htm . Any chance of a clear pic of the marks just ahead of the flats adjacent to the intertwined script "EL"??

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse
Posted By: WesF Re: .405 double rifle questions - 02/27/10 12:42 AM
yes, it says A. Thonon on the right tube and Namur on the left. Thanks for all the help on this information treasure hunt Raimey! Any idea of when it was made?

~Wes
Posted By: ellenbr Re: .405 double rifle questions - 02/27/10 12:44 AM
Sorry Wes, I missed it in the verbiage in your 1st post. I'm consumed with these weapon's puzzle. Don't dig too deep or you'll develop a habit also. Without looking I think "f" was 1927. It's a linear progression date code via the alphabet beginning in 1922 with "a". The date code is the "f" right below the "Crown" over "R" denoting proof of a rifled tube.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse
Posted By: BLASER R93 Re: .405 double rifle questions - 05/31/10 02:10 PM
I have some interest in your rifle
Posted By: WesF Re: .405 double rifle questions - 06/01/10 10:56 AM
Hi Blaser, I replied to your email. But I figured it wouldn't hurt to reply here either. The rifle isn't for sale. I asked about value for curiosity sake and insurance purposes. Thanks for the interest however.

All the best,
Wes
Posted By: bavarianbrit Re: .405 double rifle questions - 06/01/10 11:29 PM
Hi,
Namur is a town very near Liege in Belgium so I would guess that Thonon traded out of that town and possibly learnt his trade down the road in Liege.
Just adding to the picture.
Martin
Posted By: mkbenenson Re: .405 double rifle questions - 06/02/10 01:54 PM
.405 WCF was a fairly popular calibre for Belgian double rifles, they tend to be much lighter than Brits of equivalent power and kick like the dickens.
Posted By: WesF Re: .405 double rifle questions - 06/02/10 11:26 PM
I've shot it plenty and it doesn't seem to be too bad on the recoil to me. But I'm not very sensitive to recoil. Worst gun for recoil I've ever owned was a feather weight 270. Gun was less than 5 Lbs and slapped you silly.
Posted By: PeteM Re: .405 double rifle questions - 06/03/10 08:22 PM
It was proofed in 1927.

I see marks from 2 makers.

Jean Falla, 35 rue Bonne Nouvelle, Liege. He was around until 1935 at which time his son took over the business.
http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20e%20f/a%20falla%20gb.htm

André-Joseph-Alexandre Thonon, 65 Rue St Laurent Liège
Trade mark consisting of a four-leaf clover over the initials EL.

Andre was part of the very large and famous Thonon family. At least of member of the family owned a patent on a damascus pattern that was known as Thonon Damascus. The family was around from over 100 years.

Namur is about 50 miles SW of Liege. No idea if Thonon had a shop there.

As for value... Teddy Roosevelt hunted Africa with the .405. A double in this condition, I would guess is worth at least $15,000. But you need to check around to be sure.

Pete
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