doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Dating Manufrance Robusts

The gun in the link has a crossover stock. They are built with extreme cast to permit a shooter to use the opposite eye as the shoulder they prefer. So it appears that Ted is probably correct about the French word meaning something like that... indicating it is stocked for a visually impaired shooter. They are an unusual alternative for a right handed shooter who loses vision in his dominant right eye, and vice versa. If you really love shooting, you do what you gotta do to stay in the game.

I think I recall KY Jon recently telling us that he has been putting together a little collection of crossover stocked guns.

SN 5219. . . .Nr. 3. . . . Oldest Robust so far found. Probably just after WWI - the above chart would put it late 1919/early 1920; However, it could even be pre-war. What we really need is an early Robust "bis" model which would give a marker for pre-WWI guns.

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/manufrance-robust-no3-12-ga-double-shotgun-969-c-bd04795913
SERIAL NUMBER 5219 BARREL 27 1/2" CALIBER 12 GAUGE MANUFACTURED CIRCA 1930';S. Produced in France by Manufrance with box lock action and double triggers. Lifter extractors. Varnished pistol grip stocks with splinter forearm. Smooth steel butt plate. CONDITION. Good with bright bores and properly operating action. Barrel finish is mottled. Stocks remain full sized . Both barrels have small bulges at muzzle. TDW /. C&R

argo44;

the button that you are evidently referencing in the photo is the fingertip contact point for the sliding safety switch on ideals - and robust-ideals. it's a very simply sheet metal "gate" that slides into notches in the reverse face of the triggers, and keeps them from moving. it's sole function is to prevent trigger(s) movement, and has no effect on other cause of accidental discharges....it's other shortcoming is the fact that it works in the opposite direction from pretty well 100% of other safeties - moves forward to the safe position, and rearward to fire. in my opinion, it's the one and only design feature on an ideal where la manu collaborated with mickey mouse...

best regards,
tom

Merci Tom, I thought that might be the case but for the life of me I can't figure out how one would break that gun. I can't see a lever anywhere. I've assumed that these 4 digit SN's were somehow associated with the Ideal trigger-plate under-lever but can't see it on that gun.

Gene,
The lever appears to be tied up with the string with the paper tag on it. You can see the track for the lever, in the back of the trigger guard.

Best,
Ted

Yet another Robust-Ideal. . .model 292P an Ideal type trigger-plate U-L. It has a 4 digit SN 6114 on the barrel but 1300 on barrel flats and Action flats. Surely there's an explanation:
https://www.galeriedemars.fr/chasse...16-70-manufacture-saint-etienne-xxe.html


Per FAB500 on the Ideal line, each distinct Manufrance model had its own SN. Robust-Ideal's had their own characteristics and must have been numbered separately. Why the two different numbers, on barrel tubes and on barrel and action flats is still not explained.

J'ai contacté le vendeur pour vérification du numéro de série. C'est 819273, qui situe ce fusil vers 1981 / 1982.

Argo44, je ne pense pas que Naturabuy obligera ses clients à marquer les numéros de série de leurs armes dans leurs annonces. C'est peine perdue !
Le mieux, c'est de pouvoir consulter les archives de Manufrance à Saint-Etienne.
J'y suis allé il y a quelques temps, mais pour le moment ce n'est pas prévu que j'y retourne.

Ah, merci beaucoup Fab. Je pense aller à Saint-Chamon peut-être en Avril. Je visiterai Saint-Etienne bien sûr.

Ok . . . .back to an estimated 880,000 Robusts once again.

Salut Ted,

Le banc d'épreuve de Saint-Etienne n'a jamais daté ses épreuves, car entre l'épreuve et la vente du fusil il pouvait s'écouler un temps important (5 ans et même plus).
Un client risquait d'être mécontent car il pouvait penser avoir acheter un fusil d'occasion, alors qu'il était neuf.

Bonjour, Fab

C'est logique, mais cela rend beaucoup plus difficile pour nous de dater avec précision l'arme !

Merci bien,

Sinceres salutations,

Ted