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

VL&A is referred to as a Chicago branch of VL&D, according what I have read.

Does this gun have (now) 2-3/4" chambers? I certainly would not call it a kid's gun. And, at 1K it is a bargain if the barrels are good and stock hasn't been shortened.

Little Creek: It's clearly marked with 2 1/2 chambers but they aren't that now. Other than the aesthetics, everything seems to be proper on it (26-inch tubes, 14 3/8 LOP to a horn plate). It's been shamelessly abused by somebody in it's past. For a gun as obviously well-made as this Francotte, it just boggles my mind that some idiot would do that to the screws on the bottom of the action. They've been repaired and filed (too-wide), but they no-longer index. The toe of the stock has been somewhat in-artfully repaired as well. But, as mentioned earlier, the wood is fairly plain (I confess... I am spoiled). It has the period-correct shallow POW grip and the checkering is absolutely first rate. I measured it at the shop (but don't have that info at the moment). I'd guess about 5 1/2 lbs and fairly open chokes. With a cinch-on pad I shoot it passably well.

Miller, included in Bob Beach's information on a Francotte I own (it's a 1930's A&F import)is the following note: "VL&A was purchased along with VL&D in 1929." Which makes it sound like they were separate entities. But given the "VL" part of the name, it certainly seems logical there was some relationship.

Scroll down on the home page to "other useful information". Click on this and then click on "dates of manufacture", then to Francotte. Your gun has an unusual stock with no checkering on the cheeks. Show us a picture of the stock. It looks like it could be a restock.

eightbore: thank you for that! Photobucket is being a pain. I'll keep trying. Wood matches quite well with forend, and checkering is also a match. It is odd that the panels aren't checkered. Using the "other useful information" section here, it would appear that this mid-grade gun was made in 1910.

Finally.





I wish the rest of the gun looked this good.

@ LLoyd3
Those are most definitely dovetailed lumps.
Siemens has nothing to do with chopper/ dove tails lumps.
As a matter of fact, I can't quite recall seeing a chopper lump Siemens Steel barrel set ( not to say that does not exist)...
Have you measured the wall thickness?
I would highly recommend you do that.
Best regards,
WC-

I have a 14E from 1935. Fences fully engraved, but not deep chiseled like on that gun. Floor plate also fully engraved, but different pattern. Panels are checkered on my gun.

To me the gun looks either restocked or the the side panels where sanded of, does the checkering match the forend? also chopper lump barrels where only on francotte eagle grades which where also where siemens martin

Also is there initials right below the pistol grip? if it does then its the original stock and not refinished