casts_by_fly Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 I'll hazard a guess that it is a Belgian guild gun. Lots were built with no manufacturer's names. Then a seller would stamp their own name on it. I have a 16 bore 'Rasetti' that is that. Rasetti were an argentinian firm that sourced guns from france and belgium. Kinda like the Orvis of their day. Looks like it was brought into the UK and resleved, thus the British proof marks. Value? Probably not much. Belgian guild guns in 12 ga are fairly common. I'd say you got a good price, but not a steal, for a workable rough gun. Thanks, Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 An interesting puzzle. The stock is a nice piece of walnut but the fore end has obviously been replaced with wood not of the same quality. The action has side clips which, on an English gun, was usually reserved for the top end models but is quite common on continental guns of lesser quality. The shape of the action is very reminiscent of a Greener but the engraving is very simple. I`d go with every one else in that its a mid range Belgian gun that the original owner got on well with and wanted to keep in commission despite the barrels and fore end being badly damaged, otherwise I`d expect to see the original fore end wood re-used. I can`t remember the exact date that the sleeving process was invented but, between then and say,the mid 1980`s, it was a relatively cheap option, certainly far cheaper than having new barrels made. The quality of the workmanship would have been reflected in the cost. At the cheaper end I`ve seen some pretty rough jobs, whilst at the top end you , quite literally, can`t see the join. Today, good quality sleeving is fairly expensive, but the further you go back in time, the cheaper it was. A fact that is more a reflection of the number of capable gunsmiths that then existed rather than anything to do with the complexities of the task. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Hi, I may be mistaken, but my immediate thought on seeing the picture of the action face and judging by the apparently large size of the striker holes was that the gun has been well used . Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattslaptop247 Posted November 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Hi,I may be mistaken, but my immediate thought on seeing the picture of the action face and judging by the apparently large size of the striker holes was that the gun has been well used . Cheers It's not as bad as the picture makes it look. On the pic it looks pitted on the face, but itsnot, its just tanished! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy H Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 on the original barrel proof marks you have a stamp " e" which is 1926 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dax Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Hi guys i have a similar question,Just bought a o/u shotgun on left side it has simon suhl on right side it has spezial laufstahl it has light engraving on it also a logo on the underside and logo on the butt pad walnut stock it`s in great condition been well looked after,The logo is a man standing by a anvil,Was told it could be a Merkel and is likely to be 20 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattslaptop247 Posted November 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 on the original barrel proof marks you have a stamp " e" which is 1926 makes it 83 years old! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy H Posted November 21, 2009 Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 The e is above the star over X on the barrels , 83 candles to blow out for the old girl , She was originally a 70mm 2 3/4 chamber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattslaptop247 Posted November 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 The e is above the star over X on the barrels ,83 candles to blow out for the old girl , She was originally a 70mm 2 3/4 chamber. Does that mean she still is 2 3/4's as when they resleeve t they keep the chambers and forcing cones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy H Posted November 21, 2009 Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 (edited) No she is 2 1/2" as per the british proof marks when the resleeve they cut the barrels off flat and then bore/ream towards the breech to insert the new tubes which destroys the original chamber and the forcing cone is left on the floor with the old cut off barrels. Edited November 21, 2009 by Andy H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted November 21, 2009 Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 'PV' with a lion above is Belgian 'Nitro Proof' 'The Shotgun and its Development' W.W. Greener, page 309. FC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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