Belgian (Italian) Hammer Gun Value
 

I am hopping some folks on can help with more and value range for this shotgun. It belongs to a friend who apparently had it handed down from his grandfather.

I believe its Belgian-made (based on the proofs and the "Acier Cockerill" marking) and seems to be made between 1898-1924 or so. The rib is also marked "Fratelli Varriale – Naples” over “Quadruple Fermenture P. Varriale". It's in 12 gauge.

After too much time surfing to research it...I still love the rabbit hole of Gun Genealogy (as my other half calls it)!

a search shows other Belgium guns retailed by P. Varriale, Naples

Acier is steel in French, Cockeril was a barrel maker in business from 1890 to the start of WWII

nice looking gun

ps- might still be there - yelp shows a sporting goods dealer in Naples as

https://www.yelp.com/biz/f-lli-varriale-napoli

I did come across something similar in my searching. Interesting on how many places come up when one runs the "gun stores near" string for Naples, Italy!

The other two words on the barrel - "Foudres" and “Vives” translate to "Bright Thunderbolts". I like that!

Am I looking at welds along the juncture of the action flats and the breech faces?





.

Michael: the gun does carry Smokeless Powder proof.
Acier Cockerill was quality fluid steel, used by Pieper and Laurent Lochet-Habran. I don't believe Cockerill made barrels.
Please post full size images of the barrel flats and just forward of the flats and we might be able to ID the DOM (if it carries a lettre annale) and the maker.

my mistake - i should have said steel maker-

@Dean - no I don't believe so. There's a fair amount of grunge, however.

Barrel flats...

From what I did dig up, I found that the "Rampant Lion" proof was used from 1898-1924 and the "Perron" stamp from 1903-1924 - hence my date estimate. These proofs are also on the barrel flat. Seems that the "12-C" proof on the flats was also used from 1898-1924.

It was made 1910-1921 (there is no lettre annale); probably post-WWI with the 70mm chambers.
The barrels were made by Laurent Lochet-Habran
What are the 2 letters on the right barrel by the SN? J something?

Le Perron indicates inspection at Banc d’Epreuves de Liege (Liege Proofhouse)

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../285985471.jpg

If 'JF' it would be Janssen Freres which was a major Liege maker
http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge...reres%20gb.htm