Help ID This Gun

[J. A. EARLY]

Both barrels are stamped 65. This is 2.5" chambers, but they are now 2.75"

Both barrels are stamped 18.3. This is .720 bore. R=.719, L=.717 by my gauge. A lot tighter than what we see in our bores of .729 in 12 ga.

Left barrel has GRAND over PRIX in a circle.

Right barrel has MEDAILLE over DCR or DOR under it in a circle.

On both barrels is +STETIENNE under the Crown and branches which I found on a chart that says circa 1897 "standard proof for finished guns"

I can't find a reference to the crown with PT under it for a shotgun, but the NRA site says smokeless powder proof for rifles?

So does anyone know the manufacturer?

I will post a picture when it gets into my e-mail from my phone.

Thanks.

[J. A. EARLY]

Barrel flats.

[J. A. EARLY]

Here is my late uncle's bird gun. He was a 5th Army, II Corps, 34th Infantry veteran and saw lots of combat in the Italy campaign. Upon returning to the States he paid a visit to his best friend's parents in Ohio, a pledge they had made should one survive and the other did not. He never ever mentioned the war to me and I was too dumb to ask about it.

The gun began to double on him so in the mid 70s he quit using it and bought a Beretta AL2 which was what I was using. The French double was in bad shape. To get it back together it took new forend wood, welding up of the barrel hook, recutting the sears, pinning the stock, two new engraved screws for the trigger guard, a refinish and recheckering of the wood, new pad, and finally a rust bluing of the barrels and trigger guard.

The French gun is choked .006 and .027 and weighs 6 pounds even. It has a swamped top rib which for me is hard to get used to, and I would certainly call this a POW grip. It is now 14.5 lop which is just right for me. It has not been shot in forty-five years but that is about to change. Why spend the money on it? When I handle it, I remember him and our many days together chasing quail.