hendersons Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 I've been given the opportunity to buy an unusual French shotgun but I'm a bit unsure. It breaks in an unusual manner it has a lever on the side that you push round and then you push the fore end away from the butt section so it slides rather that breaks. A bit like opening a matchbox if that makes sense. It also has no rib on top of the barrels. The only marks I can find say: Bretton, France, brevete and also etranger. Does anybody have any ideas what this gun may be worth or perhaps any of the history of it or even an approximate value Many thanks Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRDS Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 I've been given the opportunity to buy an unusual French shotgun but I'm a bit unsure. It breaks in an unusual manner it has a lever on the side that you push round and then you push the fore end away from the butt section so it slides rather that breaks. A bit like opening a matchbox if that makes sense. It also has no rib on top of the barrels. The only marks I can find say: Bretton, France, brevete and also etranger. Does anybody have any ideas what this gun may be worth or perhaps any of the history of it or even an approximate value Many thanks Nick Sounds like a Darne, very well made guns if unusual. Prices vary quite a bit dpending on model and condition, last one I saw was £800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 No, Darnes have a top lever. That sounds like a Baby Bretton to me. Does it look like this?: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendersons Posted May 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 No, Darnes have a top lever. That sounds like a Baby Bretton to me. Does it look like this?: That's very similar but with silver scrolled side plates. I have just been told it has aluminium barrels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 There are lots of different versions. Have a look HERE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendersons Posted May 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 Spot on its a baby luxe. Any idea of value? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 Not sure, the ones on Gunstar were £300-£400ish. Unusual guns. I hear they kick like an absolute mule due to their lightness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendersons Posted May 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 That's what I thought it would be like. I am thinking about getting it for my quite petit other half to use with light loads on clays. Thanks for the help I'm amazed you managed to find it so quick Thanks again Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 No worries. If its for clays, stick to 21 gram shells and it will probably be pretty good fun to shoot. Puta 32g through at least once though, just for a chuckle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendersons Posted May 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 (edited) No worries. If its for clays, stick to 21 gram shells and it will probably be pretty good fun to shoot. Puta 32g through at least once though, just for a chuckle. I've got some old mini mags somewhere I'll give them and the gun to somebody to try next time I'm out and with company. Edited May 29, 2012 by hendersons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 I've got some Sellier and Bellot Orange Tiger shells loaded with LG shot at home. Sneak a couple of those into the gun but dont tell her.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter.123 Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 Zapp your cruel!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xav Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 Nice example of a "Babby Bretton". I hadn't seen any for a long time, and never in the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 A lass at Rishton has one. Very, very nicely machined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drone Posted June 4, 2012 Report Share Posted June 4, 2012 I had one once, used to sling it over my back to take on the foreshore with my 10, good for widgeon etc. You don't notice the recoil too much when you've about 6 layers of clothing on, iirc it weighed about 2 kg and had screw in chokes. Mate of mine with arthritis bought it off me for what I gave for it, £200 new from Greenfields in the early 80s. I used to use maonchi 35 gm(?) nickel 5 shot (they were v cheap in a calais supermarket back then), the barrels heated up very quickly and became uncomfortable, but they also cooled pdq too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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