A double barrel of I don't know

carlie · January 23, 2012, 09:07 AM

I can't find any markings on this gun. Please help.

hogdogs · January 23, 2012, 09:17 AM

WOW!!! That is a neat gun and design... Never seen one with that action even discussed before...

Brent

jaguarxk120 · January 23, 2012, 09:23 AM

It's a Darne, S. A. St. Etienne, France. Made from 1881 to 1979. Worth about $350 to $600 depending on condition. There were five different grades of the sliding breach shotgun. The value I quoted is for the base model poor to fair condition.
As the grades go up so does the value to about $4500 in exc. condition.

Goatwhiskers · January 23, 2012, 09:27 AM

Got to be a European design, probably a GI bringback. Should be something under the barrels if you remove the stock. Can't say I'd enjoy shooting that thing with that horizontal breech if something let go. Goat

Jim Watson · January 23, 2012, 09:30 AM

It appears to be a French made Darne shotgun, for which there is a lot of information on the WWW, including a board at:
http://www.gournetusa.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=4

There will be some trademarked Bruchet made between 1981 and 1986 when Mseu Bruchet owned the tooling but not the brand name.

There is also the similar sliding breech Charlin and I think others.

carlie · January 23, 2012, 10:40 AM

I know the gun has been in our collection since 1960.

oneounceload · January 23, 2012, 12:19 PM

It IS a Darne, markings should be on the barrel flats or water table of the action.

The values, depending on condition, can be worth much more than previously stated. A look at Gunsinternational.com, shows 19 for sale with prices in the 4 and 5 figure range.

The lack of embellishment on yours will lower the value compared to the others.

Is it a 12, 16, or???? That will also affect any value

St. Etienne is the french gun making region and they have several excellent companies there.

Nice heirloom

carlie · January 23, 2012, 12:32 PM

I honestly think it is 20, but haven't tried a shell?

Technosavant · January 23, 2012, 12:47 PM

When I'd seen the pics, I knew what it was, but couldn't remember the name (just thought "Oh, it's that one funky French thing").

A friend of mine is really into shotguns and had one of these at the skeet range one day just for kicks. It's a neat design- no surprises as to why it didn't catch on, but it definitely is different from the regular break actions.

oneounceload · January 23, 2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

I honestly think it is 20, but haven't tried a shell?

On the water table or barrel flats will be the cartridge designation - 12, 16, 20, whatever. Then there will be a chamber length in mm's - 65, 70, etc.

65 is for 2-1/2" ammo, while 70 is the current more common 2-3/4

Remember, shell length is the FIRED length, so an unfired 2-3/4 will easily fir into the chamber of a 2-1/2 gun - but is not safe to fire on a regular basis. Puttnig a 20 into a 12 or 16 will cause even more issues.

zippy13 · January 23, 2012, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Remember, shell length is the FIRED length, so an unfired 2-3/4 will easily fir into the chamber of a 2-1/2 gun - but is not safe to fire on a regular basis. Putting a 20 into a 12 or 16 will cause even more issues.

Amen!
This can not be repeated enough!!!
With old guns, a little bit of knowledge can get you in a lot of trouble.

oneounceload · January 23, 2012, 03:18 PM

One more possibility is that instead of 12, 16 or 20, you may have the bore size in mm's as well - such as 18.3 for 12 gauge.

If you have ANY doubt, a gunsmith can tell you with his bore gauge in about 3 seconds - then you can have him give the gun a good once-over to check for any hidden damages or issues that might affect safety while firing

Bill DeShivs · January 23, 2012, 06:50 PM

It took them almost a hundred years to "not catch on!"
They are darned good (pun) guns.

January 23, 2012, 06:50 PM	#13
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	It took them almost a hundred years to "not catch on!" They are darned good (pun) guns. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

January 23, 2012, 09:17 AM	#2
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	WOW!!! That is a neat gun and design... Never seen one with that action even discussed before... Brent

January 23, 2012, 09:23 AM	#3
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	It's a Darne, S. A. St. Etienne, France. Made from 1881 to 1979. Worth about $350 to $600 depending on condition. There were five different grades of the sliding breach shotgun. The value I quoted is for the base model poor to fair condition. As the grades go up so does the value to about $4500 in exc. condition.

January 23, 2012, 09:27 AM	#4
Goatwhiskers Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2009 Location: Batchelor, La. Posts: 579	Got to be a European design, probably a GI bringback. Should be something under the barrels if you remove the stock. Can't say I'd enjoy shooting that thing with that horizontal breech if something let go. Goat

January 23, 2012, 09:30 AM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	It appears to be a French made Darne shotgun, for which there is a lot of information on the WWW, including a board at: http://www.gournetusa.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=4 There will be some trademarked Bruchet made between 1981 and 1986 when Mseu Bruchet owned the tooling but not the brand name. There is also the similar sliding breech Charlin and I think others.

January 23, 2012, 10:40 AM	#6
carlie Member Join Date: November 3, 2011 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 35	I know the gun has been in our collection since 1960.

January 23, 2012, 12:19 PM	#7
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	It IS a Darne, markings should be on the barrel flats or water table of the action. The values, depending on condition, can be worth much more than previously stated. A look at Gunsinternational.com, shows 19 for sale with prices in the 4 and 5 figure range. The lack of embellishment on yours will lower the value compared to the others. Is it a 12, 16, or???? That will also affect any value St. Etienne is the french gun making region and they have several excellent companies there. Nice heirloom

January 23, 2012, 12:32 PM	#8
carlie Member Join Date: November 3, 2011 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 35	I honestly think it is 20, but haven't tried a shell?

January 23, 2012, 12:47 PM	#9
Technosavant Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO area Posts: 4,040	When I'd seen the pics, I knew what it was, but couldn't remember the name (just thought "Oh, it's that one funky French thing"). A friend of mine is really into shotguns and had one of these at the skeet range one day just for kicks. It's a neat design- no surprises as to why it didn't catch on, but it definitely is different from the regular break actions.

January 23, 2012, 03:18 PM	#12
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	One more possibility is that instead of 12, 16 or 20, you may have the bore size in mm's as well - such as 18.3 for 12 gauge. If you have ANY doubt, a gunsmith can tell you with his bore gauge in about 3 seconds - then you can have him give the gun a good once-over to check for any hidden damages or issues that might affect safety while firing