This week’s good guns…

 

A. Hollis .577 Nitro Express Underlever, Hammer Double Rifle
A. Hollis .577 Nitro Express Underlever, Hammer Double Rifle

A. Hollis .577 Nitro Express SxS Double RifleUnderlever hammer rifle. Weight 13-3/4 pounds, 25″ Krupp-Steel Chopper-Lump barrels, proofed 650-90 Cordite 577 3″ Nitro Express. Barrels have great bores with crisp, sharp rifling from back to front, dolls head extension, flip-up ivory night sight and excellent blacking. 15-1/8″ pull over Silvers recoil pad, Holland-style cheekpiece, excellent wood to metal fit, and blank initial oval. Traces of case-color remain on the lever, action and rebounding hammers. Includes trunk case and accessories as pictured, as well as RCBS loading dies, and a decent supply of brass, and Woodleigh bullets. Price: $34,500

GEORGE CRAHAY 12 BORE DOUBLE RIFLE/ SHOTGUN SET 1870'S, CASED WITH TOOLS
GEORGE CRAHAY 12 BORE DOUBLE RIFLE/ SHOTGUN SET 1870’S, CASED WITH TOOLS

GEORGE CRAHAY 12 BORE DOUBLE RIFLE/ SHOTGUN SET 1870’S, CASED WITH TOOLS: Price $14,000

  • CIRCA 1870’S
  • VERY UNIQUE & RARE
  • SIDELOCK HAMMER GUN WITH REBOUNDING HAMMERS
  • 27 ½ RIFLE BARRELS WITH FULL DEEP RIFLING
  • 1 ½ CHAMBERS 8LBS 12OZS AS RIFLE
  • 8LBS 2OZS AS SHOTGUN 27 ½ INCH SHOTGUN BARRELS2 ½ CHAMBERS
  • CHOKED IC/IC
  • AS NEW CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT
  • BELGUIM PROOFED OUTSTANDING QUALITY
Parker BHE 12 Gauge SxS Shotgun, 30” Barrels Pistol Grip Stock Splinter Forearm
Parker BHE 12 Gauge SxS Shotgun, 30” Barrels Pistol Grip Stock Splinter Forearm

Parker BHE 12 Gauge SxS Shotgun, 30” Barrels Pistol Grip Stock Splinter Forearm2 ¾” chambers, chokes measure .039 right and .040 left. Barrels retain 96% original bluing with various light handling marks. The rib has dual white beads and is marked “PARKER BROS. MAKERS. MERIDEN. CONN. ACME STEEL”. Bores are clean and shiny. #2 frame has darkened and retains 40% original case coloring. Floorplate has darkened and retains 60% original color. Trigger guard retains 20% original bluing. Forend iron retains little color. Double triggers, ejectors and automatic safety. Pistol grip stock and forearm have had varnish added. Both have various light handling marks. Length of pull: 14 1/2” to the front trigger over a Pachmayr Old English recoil pad. Drop at comb: 1 3/4″. Drop at heel: 3 1/8″. Weight: 7.8 lbs. Mechanics are good. Price: $16,995 

Francotte (A&F) 28 Gauge -Side by Side – “The KnockAbout Gun” – M/IM Chokes – Single Trigger – Auto Safety – Ejectors – Straight Grip – BLE: 26” Barrels – 5 lbs 2 ozs – 14 1/4” X 1 1/2” X 2 1/4” – Raised Solid Rib – Third Fastener – Sweet Sweet Sweet little Francotte in its purest configuration. Price: $9,995

Francotte (A&F) 28 Gauge - “The KnockAbout Gun” - M/IM Chokes - Single Trigger - Auto Safety - Ejectors - Straight Grip - BLE
Francotte (A&F) 28 Gauge – “The KnockAbout Gun” – M/IM Chokes – Single Trigger – Auto Safety – Ejectors – Straight Grip – BLE
MANUFRANCE COSTO SxS 16 GAUGE - HIGH CONDITION - OPEN AND FULL CHOKES
MANUFRANCE COSTO SxS 16 GAUGE – HIGH CONDITION – OPEN AND FULL CHOKES

MANUFRANCE COSTO SxS 16 GAUGE – HIGH CONDITION – OPEN AND FULL CHOKESHere is a Manufrance Costo 16 ga with special barrels. The right barrel has slight rifling designed to dramatically open the pattern on the first shot (front trigger). This was confirmed by examining a vintage copy of the product catalog. This high condition gun has all original case color and finish. Excellent bores. The famous French retractable swivel system is fully intact with the leather as supple as new. It is very rare to find these swivel devices in fully functional condition. Swamped rib. Barrels are 27 5/8″ with bore measurements of .669 right and .671 left. While the right barrel has the spreader choke, the left barrel has 45/1000 choke (extra full). Chambers are 2 3/4″. Extractors. Swamped rib. Non-auto safety. Weight is 6 LBS, 3 1/2 OZ. LOP is 14 7/16″. A rare gun in this condition. Price: $1,650

This week’s good guns: powered by Gunsinternational.com…

Pre-war Boss SxS Shotgun 20 ga., 26-1/2" Barrels
Pre-war Boss SxS Shotgun 20 ga., 26-1/2″ Barrels

Pre-war Boss SxS Shotgun 20 ga., 26-1/2″ Barrels: Choked improved cylinder and modified (.007/.010).  Original 2-3/4 1oz. heavy proof. Raised concave game rib marked “Boss & Co. 41 Albermarle Street Picadilly London W”.  Built with the style and grace that these “golden era” Boss guns are famous for.  The petite “easy opening” action gun weighs a mere 5lbs, 5 oz.  Fitted with the Boss patent single trigger.  Well-figured stock measures 1-3/8″ comb, 1-7/8″ heel, 14-1/4″ LOP to a checkered butt.  Balanced directly on the pin, this estate-fresh example retains 97% original blue, 80% vibrant case colors over the jewel-like engraving by the renowned Jack Sumner.  Built in 1930 to the true small bore specs, a unique opportunity to purchase a seldom-seen heavy proof vintage 20.  Cased in original violin case. Price: $59,500

SAUER & SOHN, SUHL DOUBLE BARREL RIFLE: SAUER & SOHN, SUHL DOUBLE BARREL RIFLE, CALIBER 43 MAUSER. CONDITION MINT ALL FACTORY PRE WAR ORIGINAL WOOD AND METAL FINISH.  BARRELS MARKED KRUPP-ESSEN GUSS-STAHL.  WE ALSO HAVE FACTORY AMMO, DIE SET AND EMPTY BRASS ALONG WITH PROPER DIA BULLETS ALL INCLUDED IN PRICE. Price: $14,995

SAUER & SOHN, SUHL DOUBLE BARREL RIFLE
SAUER & SOHN, SUHL DOUBLE BARREL RIFLE

PAIR PARKER REPRODUCTION 28GA/28″ BARRELS CONSECUTIVE SERIAL NUMBERS: MATCHING PAIR, CONSECUTIVE SERIAL NUMBERED WINCHESTER PARKER REPRODUCTION 28GA, 28″ BARRELS, DOUBLE TRIGGERS, PISTOL GRIP, SPLINTER FOREARM.  BOTH CHOKED Q1, & Q2.  COMES WITH ORIGINAL BOXES, DUST COVERS, AND CASE.  Price: $9850

PAIR PARKER REPRODUCTION 28GA/28" BARRELS CONSECUTIVE SERIAL NUMBERS
PAIR PARKER REPRODUCTION 28GA/28″ BARRELS CONSECUTIVE SERIAL NUMBERS
FRANCOTTE KNOCKABOUT ABERCROMBIE & FITCH SXS 28 GAUGE
FRANCOTTE KNOCKABOUT ABERCROMBIE & FITCH SXS 28 GAUGE

FRANCOTTE KNOCKABOUT ABERCROMBIE & FITCH SXS 28 GAUGE: 26″ MOD AND FULL 2 3/4 DOUBLE TRIGGER EJECTORS BEAVER TAIL FOREARM PISTOL GRIP MAKERS CASE MINTY ORIGINAL CONDITION 5LBS 8 OZ X 2″ X 1 3/8″ X 14 3/4″. Price: $8,500

VOGEL HAMMER SHOTGUN – MADE IN GERMANY – NITRO PROOF 30 3/8″ STEEL BARRELS – 16 GAUGE: Here is nice condition 16 gauge German hammer shotgun made by Vogel. This gun features 30 3/8″ nitro proofed steel barrels. Barrels are in proof. Right barrel original proof at 16 measures .668 with 18/1000 choke (Mod) while Left barrel original proof at 16/1 measures .676 with 36/1000 choke (Full). Mirror bores. No swivels or cheek piece. Prince of Wales of grip. Steel butt plate. Stock oval. Pre-war quality. Rebounding hammers. Chambers are 3″. Weight of gun is 5 LBS 14 OZ. Price: $1,150

VOGEL HAMMER SHOTGUN - MADE IN GERMANY - NITRO PROOF 30 3/8" STEEL BARRELS - 16 GAUGE
VOGEL HAMMER SHOTGUN – MADE IN GERMANY – NITRO PROOF 30 3/8″ STEEL BARRELS – 16 GAUGE

Original or redone? A 12g Francotte Knockabout side by side…

12g Francotte Knockabout Double Barrel Shotgun
12g Francotte Knockabout Double Barrel Shotgun

Old shotguns with tons of condition spook me. I love original condition, so I’m excited to see any vintage side-by-side that looks brand new. At the same time, I wonder if what I’m really looking at is an excellent restoration. Unless I have the double in my hands, it’s hard to tell.

So when I saw this 12 gauge Francotte Knockabout I was intrigued, but then put off. Part of me thinks that this side-by-side is all original. But another part says no ‘friggin way.

12g Francotte Knockabout Double Barrel Shotgun
12g Francotte Knockabout Double Barrel Shotgun

Up until they were purchased by Abercrombie & Fitch, Von Lengerke & Detmold was a major importer of Francotte shotguns. The Knockabout was the lowest grade they offered. Shotguns like this were bought by guys who wanted a quality double that they could really use. That’s why so most of the ones you see today look more like this one: decent, but definitely used.

12g Francotte Knockabout Double Barrel Shotgun
12g Francotte Knockabout Double Barrel Shotgun

The one shown here looks like it spent more time in a closet than in a marsh or field. For a shotgun that’s 85+ years old, it’s just not showing it’s age. That’s what worries me. Did the owner really buy it, shoot it for a couple years, and then put it away for a lifetime?

Or was it restored 20- 30 years ago by someone who knew what they were doing, and then used gently since then? I just can tell from these pics. I have seen brand new, honestly 100% original shotguns  that are even older. And those are the ones that keep me hoping to find more.

What do you think? Let me know.

12g Francotte Knockabout Double Barrel Shotgun
12g Francotte Knockabout Double Barrel Shotgun