Help ID This Gun

[J. A. EARLY]

I'm slowly working on restoring my late uncles' guns. I've finished the Belgian gun and now have only to rust blue the barrels on this gun, which I believe to be French made, to be ready to hunt with it. As with a lot of European guns, I'm finding the chokes to be right open and left tight. Here are the proof marks if you can help. Nothing at all on the gun or barrels other than these marks.

Thanks.

[Jerry Parise]

I used an on line language identifier and the word perfectionne' was identified as French and translates to "advanced". I hope this helps somewhat.

[OH Osthaus]

yes- French - St-Etienne proofs

choke bored & perfectionne seem to be common

i searched double gun and saw several with the mark - but most also had a name on them

i can't quite read what is in the circle - may be the maker mark

i tried to pick up the letters -not much luck with this photo

[Jimmerp]

I have read the terms “medaille d’OR” meaning “gold medal” was placed on the flats of some french barrels. Cant remember the link. Could that be the stamping in circle?

[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.

[OH Osthaus]

that is a very nice tribute to your late uncle

every quail taken with it will have extra meaning

[Richard Flanders]

Good for you Jerry. I'm sure your uncle would be proud of you and your effort.

[charlie cleveland]

you may have to use spreader loads in that one barrel for quail....lots of work but worth every minute of it...your uncle may not know his own gun....charlie