doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Francotte

Drew's supposition that the gun may be stolen is sort of a downer, but not out of the realm of possibility. Many of us take the for-end off our nicest guns and store them securely somewhere else to discourage theft. Mine are in a safety deposit box at the bank.

Be a shame to spend big money on a new fore-end and then suffer a claim. Good faith would be shown by requesting a police department search of serial number records. Just my own opinion...Geo

At one time I stored my guns in safes with the fore ends or trigger groups in another location. At one time a had a separate safe in a storage room in my office with shelves with about fifty fore ends and trigger groups. Then I built a separate gun room at home with a large safe door and reinforced concrete walls. A pro will get in, given time and tools, but the local punks will never bother me with my setup.

that said the more likely story is just a case of fore end and gun getting separated by accident. Often the owner forgets where one or the other is or he dies and the heirs can not locate items to make the complete again. I have bought more than one gun missing a stock, or set of barrels or other parts after the owner died and the heirs can not find parts complete the set.

I hope it just got lost...well I wish it hadn't,of course, but I wouldn't of thought of a stolen gun as the reason it was missing....
Who knows ?, but what price for a new well made forend iron n wood fitted to a gun?
franc

Thank you all for your feed back. First the serial number on the barrel and the trigger is the same 33750. I never thought it maybe stolen, I collect 30-40 Krags and I never keep bolts or pieces separate. I have all my serial numbers and pictures in a safety deposit box.
On the right barrel is written in script "Von Lengerke & Detmold" (very hard to read, I am old and cant see it too well)
On the left barrel is written in script "U.S.Agents New York"

I will look up the site research that Drew mentioned. I will fire you off an email James after I look to see if in fact it was stolen. If It was I need to return it to its rightful owner. Thank you James for your generous offer, please wait tho.

God Bless!

Great advice thank you

I saw a Charles Daly hammer gun that someone fit a Parker Bros forend to. Don't just try Francotte maybe one of those cheap clunkers would fit with some tuning up???

bill

As to the original question, the Francotte was received in inventory at Von Lengerke & Detmold on January 26, 1901. The model was the Grade 'BB', a sideplated boxlock with ejectors and "Quadruple Wedge Fastening". The Grade 'BB" sold for $200 until the models names were changed and the number of models were reduced in 1910. The Grade 'BB' then became the grade No. 20 and in 1923 it became the grade No.25 as the models were further reduced. Francotte 33750 was transferred to VL&A in 1901.

The same shotgun was consigned for sale at A&F in 1956 and was sold in 1957. Further information is available if Geb will contact me.

For what it is worth I checked the serial on the forend I have, it is 33716. It was with a set of barrels I bought to fit a mod 25 I had about 20 years ago, it has been sitting in my forend drawer since.

Serial numbers are really close. I bet the mentioned forend will fit with a little effort.

$200 was ALOT of money in 1901. The price is comparable to a Parker BH, Smith No.5, or E grade Remington 1894.

Bob is a wonderful resource and graciously shares information here frequently.