doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Darne V20

Serban,

Saw your post on the French gun board and Geoffroy's recommendation to just go for a few thou polish. As I recall you've done a lot of work with the Darne.

I'm frankly surprised and a little curious that no one has done anything to fix this problem before. Did you ask the seller or the dealer where you found it?

Regards, Tim

Tim,

This is another Darne that I have acquired. What you probably remember is an R13 that I cleaned up. The R is very smooth and still tight.
I read somewhere on the Darne forum that some people prefer the R action to the V action just because the former is smoother.
This is a V20 that I found without a fitting stock. I just cut a stock for it and put it together.
This evening I polished a few thou from the breech end of the chambers to bring them to .812. THis seems to have eased the action closing and opening a little, but there is still quite a bit of increased resistance. If I close and open the action a few times with same rounds in the chambers, the operation becomes smoother as if the rounds are being reshaped. Once I go to new rounds the resistance grows back to where I know it.
I would be curious to know what Mr. Merrington found about yours.

Another note,

When one opens the V action before or without pulling the triggers, there is more resistance provided by the firing pin springs that decock.
If you pulled the triggers, you don't have to operate these springs, therefore the action opens with more ease.
I am still puzzled about the increased resistance of the action opening and closing when there are rounds in the chambers.

Conclusion to the inquiry for whatever it's worth:

Thanks to Darnation who mentioned the idea of a spacer behind the discs!
After measuring the depth of the disc faces comparative to the breech face I found out that they were 5-7 thou proud. Moreso, the ring on the R disc was of a slightly smaller diameter than the L disc ring so that it made pushing a shell base more difficult on the R than on the L. Adding a tighter chamber, everything contributed to a tight closing action.
What I did was to slightly polish the inside ring on the R disc to accept the base of the shell easier. Most of the relief came from filing about 4-5 thou off the back of the discs, at the bottom of the R disc where thickness was 7 thou more comparative to the thinnest part of the discs. It was mainly the R barrel that made the action so tight.
Now, the action is still tight, but much easier to close and open with new rounds...

Sort OT, but do we have many Darne lovers in the group. By coincidence, my brother called a couple hours ago and said he's going to go look at three sxs that a individual has for sale. One is a DArne 20ga. Don't know anything about it, but if we don't want it maybe can find a home on DGS. Randy

Serban,

Yes, I saw Geoffroy's post on the spacer/obturators and am glad to hear that you seem to have sorted it out. Still wonder how the previous owner managed to use the gun...

Regards, Tim

I bought the gun with a broken stock. Maybe it broke when the guy was trying to close or open it!

If it is the gun I think it is, I sold it to Silver.When I bought the gun, the stock had been cut to 13 inches. I had glued an extender piece on, but never got around to finishing it. Too many projects and a Charlin was calling. I bought the gun primarily for its condition and engraving. It dates to 1931. The wierd demensions are typically French. Sort of like a Citroen, the only car that you have to call a plumber rather than a mechanic. The V20 is a stunning gun and am glad that Silver is doing justice to it.

John,

That's the gun. I will post pics once the stock is finished to a certain degree...
Well, I couldn't resist. John, especially for you...

John and Serban,

Agree that DARNE V-20 is a fine gun. Lost out on one in South Africa in August.

Nice looking piece of wood being fitted there. Look forward to a photo of the finished product.

Regards, Tim