General Specs: Francotte, Year 1927, 28 Gauge, 5lbs. 11oz., Chokes M/F, LOP 14 5/16", DAH 2 3/8", DAC 1 1/2"
Serial Number: 39963
Auguste Francotte is world famous as a high-quality firearms maker from the gun making center of Leige, Belgium dating back as far as 1805. Making fine shotguns until a few years ago with price tags starting at $18,000 and topping out at over $100,000, Francotte is a brand recognized and used by heads of state, business tycoons, and in some cases, the fortunate “Average Joe”. Search long and hard, you will not find another Auguste Francotte like this one. There are so few high-quality 28-gauge vintage side x side guns from the fine makers of Europe or Great Britain, that any nice condition specimen is a rare find. This Francotte is a grade I cannot identify, but it is a higher grade of gun than their “Knock About” entry level gun. There is some border engraving, nicely mineral streaked English walnut, superb checkering with a mullered border…a really nice, elegant small bore doublegun. Built in 1927 on a scaled 28ga. boxlock action, this is a delightful little bird gun weighing in at 5 pounds 11 ounces and balanced to perfection 1/8” ahead of the hinge pin. The 27” barrels have 99% of a quality rust blue with excellent bores, tight ribs, barrels tight on the hinge pin and breech face, ready for your next upland adventure. The gun is proofed for 2 ½” shells (we have a lot and they are available in the marketplace), but we have carefully measured the barrel wall thicknesses just ahead of the chambers and forcing cones and this set of barrels is robust and can safely have the chambers extended to 2 ¾” and forcing cones tapered to 1 ½” in length so you can shoot modern, available, 2 ¾” ammo in the field or at the clays course. Our gunsmiths can do this for the next owner within 10 days of purchase at a cost of $360. We have thoroughly inspected this gun, and all is in excellent mechanical condition, with excellent screws, superb wood to metal fit, auto safety functioning properly, and crisp trigger pulls. What a great little gun, just in time for the upcoming bird season. See the specifications below. Our gunsmiths can change chokes to your preferences, bend stock to your dimensions, add a pad of your choice to add LOP…all without waiting in any long line. Opportunities for a fine 28ga. doublegun don’t appear often, and we have priced this gun to sell, so don’t hesitate or she’ll be gone! Thanks for looking.
Barrels Length: 27"
Chokes: .023/.032 M/F
Bores: excellent
Bore Diameter: .554/.554
Wall Thickness: .030/.035
% Blue: 99%
Chambers: 2 1/2"
Ribs: tight
Sights: Front brass
Action: tight
Extractors
Receiver Condition: mostly pleasant silver/grey
Screws: excellent
Engraving: border engraving
Trigger Type: double-crisp
Trigger Guard Color: 98% blue
Stock: Straight/splinter; lightly figured English walnut; linear grain
LOP: 14 5/16"
LOP To End Of Wood: 14 1/16"
DAH: 2 3/8"
DAC: 1 1/2"
Cast: Toe 1/8" off
Checkering Condition: excellent with mullered border
Butt Treatment: horn buttplate
INQUIRIES
There is a 30 day mechanical warranty on long guns. If it is a “VFI Certified” gun there is a 90 day mechanical warranty. Call or email us for more details or questions. Thanks! Vintage Firearms Inc
Other
Terms of Purchase: Check your local and state laws before purchasing. It is the buyer’s responsibility to confirm his/her right to own the firearm or any item before purchasing.
PLEASE SEE OUR OTHER FINE VINTAGE FIREARMS. View all listings and our full inventory of fine sporting and collectible arms will appear. Thanks for looking! We employ full time gunsmiths on premises and can perform alterations to suit your needs within a few weeks of purchase.
