In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options
When was this Shotgun made?
XeBeast
Member Posts: 4 ✭✭
I just inherited a 12 gauge double barrel that my grandfather got from his uncle.
It was made by FAL - Fabrique D'Armes de Liege,
and imported by Decatur Bull & Co., Montreal, Quebec importer.
It was made by FAL - Fabrique D'Armes de Liege,
and imported by Decatur Bull & Co., Montreal, Quebec importer.
Comments
If it just has the top one without the crown, it was made before 1892.
The middle one with the crown, means it was made after 1892.
Looks like they were in operation 1903-1912 but I don't know how to pin it down any closer than that decade.
Agreed, but I would increase it to about 1920.
Imitation twist barrels were popular about 1902 to 1915.
Back then the Damascus barrel was the "better" barrel. So makers
offered the new steel tube barrel with iron strips wound around them to look like Damascus.
The 1902 Sears Catalog offers the shotguns with choice of "fluid steel", Damascus, Imitation. Some times even in the same model of gun.
quote:Originally posted by Hawk Carse
Looks like they were in operation 1903-1912 but I don't know how to pin it down any closer than that decade.
Agreed, but I would increase it to about 1920.
Imitation twist barrels were popular about 1902 to 1915.
Back then the Damascus barrel was the "better" barrel. So makers
offered the new steel tube barrel with iron strips wound around them to look like Damascus.
The 1902 Sears Catalog offers the shotguns with choice of "fluid steel", Damascus, Imitation. Some times even in the same model of gun.
Do to the German invasion and occupation of Belgium. During the First World War,( 1914-1918 ). All commercial firearms production, was terminated. Don't know if this affected the post war production of Damascus barrels?
I have to get some of the braising removed so I can see the punch underneath.
I am taking to a master gunsmith tomorrow, to see what he says about the shotgun.
Not one to restore and use.
I filed off enough of the braising to see the crown above the ELG
Now here is the confusing part.
ELG* with crown 1893 - 1968
12 C in a diamond 1898 - 1924
H* inspectors punch 1938 - 1968
Woit Christophe
Question is the inspectors punch added when it is inspected for import or after it was made?
Is it normal for the inspectors punch to be after the date range of the inspectors punch?
Update:
I filed off enough of the braising to see the crown above the ELG
Now here is the confusing part.
ELG* with crown 1893 - 1968
12 C in a diamond 1898 - 1924
H* inspectors punch 1938 - 1968
Woit Christophe
Question is the inspectors punch added when it is inspected for import or after it was made?
Is it normal for the inspectors punch to be after the date range of the inspectors punch?
There was more than 1 inspector, that used "*H" as a marking. Your was marked by a earlier 19th/20th Century inspector. From the external hammers. "FAL" marking, and being sold by Decatur Bull & Co. Of Montreal. To my way of thinking. There's 99.9% probability, that your shotgun was imported and sold prior to the German invasion in 1914.