Opinions on this Francotte

Timothy Salgado · 01-17-2019, 02:02 PM

I'm looking for opinions on this Francotte double as to whether it is a more recently produced gun or if it looks like a restoration/refinish? The reason I ask is because around the time this came on the market, I saw a similar Francotte 16 gauge double for sale at Quality Arms in Texas that was listed as being new and has since been sold. This gun and the one that was on the Quality Arms website both are marked with the same "Made in Belgium" mark on the left barrel near the breech. In looking at older guns online and those I've handled, I've not seen the barrels marked like that. The last photo is the 16 gauge that was sold by Quality Arms. I did question the seller about this gun a few months ago when I looked at it and all they would tell me was that it was a Francotte. Any information is appreciated.
Thanks
Tim

Opening Day · 01-17-2019, 02:24 PM

Tim I'm not sure what you consider newer, but that gun was probably made in the 90's or later. Just my guess looking at the workmanship

Dean Romig · 01-17-2019, 02:34 PM

Picture no. 5 is not the same gun.

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edgarspencer · 01-17-2019, 05:27 PM

Eric, I think it's even newer than that.
There is a post-war series of Francottes that are superb, begining with the Knockabout, then 20, 30, 40 and 45. All were box lock guns, though the 45 looked like a side lock, but with false sideplates. These guns don't bring huge money are are vastly superior to any they are turning out now.

Timothy Salgado · 01-17-2019, 07:37 PM

Dean, picture no. 5 is the other gun that Quality Arms sold, I just posted the photo because of the similarity as it appeared to be of the same era and has the same barrel markings.

Bill Murphy · 01-18-2019, 03:01 PM

Doublegunshop.com has a subsection of the website that has a chart of fine gun serial numbers, versus dates of manufacture. Francottes are included in that list.