I stopped into a local Anchorage gun shop on Easter Sunday this year and was handed a beautiful Francotte 16 gauge that I just could not put down. I was in the next day and bought it for $4,400. I'm thinking it's worth a bit more, but to be perfectly honest for all the research I've done I just can't put my finger on an exact worth. I'm guessing $5,000-7,000. I'm leaning towards $6,000ish. So here's the scoop:

A Francotte Anson patent detachable sidelock ejector in 16 gauge. It has a splinter fore end and straight English style stock (sans pistol grip). Automatic safety and ejectors. 15" LOP with a leather covered recoil pad. Anson push button release on fore end. No doll's head. ~80% scroll engraving and 20ish% retention of case coloring. Wood is average/good quality. The barrel flats show a script M which is correlated to the year made. I believe it was made in 1934. The bores are in excellent shape. The tang is extended on the bottom. S on safety is gold inlaid. Locks are gold plated. Although a Belgian gun in appearance it reeks of England and could just as easily have the name Holland & Holland.

The only knock against it is one it doesn't have the original case. I have a case that came with it, but it's worse the wear and not the original. Two it was originally chambered for 2.5" 16 gauge. It was somewhere along the line bored out to 2.75" 16 gauge.

I'd appreciate any feedback on the shotgun's value. Thanks.

Brett

Here she is:













Brett

I wouldn't go so far as to call it a "collection" but I have a small assembly of Francottes but mine are all boxlocks, from memory (not sure about the Eagle grade as I write this). Their better grades are really fine shotguns and beginning to get a little more recognition for their quality over the last few years. All that said, considering 16 ga, non-original case, stock has had recoil pad added, barrels probably re-blacked (very difficult to tell from pics, may or may not be accurate) and lengthened chambers, I'd say you made a decent buy and have a very fine gun but I doubt you could make much if any money re-selling it today. Personally I'd value it in the $3500-$4500 range, so you are well within parameters because my "values" are what I call real numbers, not what it might sell for to someone who falls in love with it.

I've seen the eagle grades before online. Do they always have the eagle on the bottom of the action? I'm not even sure if this gun has a model name or number like Royal, Eagle, or no2. Anybody have an idea? I don't think the barrels have been reblackened. I hear you on the other stuff. I was seeing a lot of BLEs for the 3,000-4,500 range, so I was guessing a bit more, but perhaps the recoil pad, lack of original case, and rechambering knock it down a bit. I'm not sure it would knock it down as much for a user like me, but for a collector????? Probably. Anyway I'm not planning on selling her as I'm in love. Just curious. Thanks for the info Gatogordo.

Brett

AFA as I know all the Eagle grades have the gold eagle on the bottom. The Eagle grade, later the model 45, was the top of the line in the early 1900s, selling for $450 which was a lot of money back then.

Back to your gun's value, I might have been a bit low, I claim no real expertise, it just depends on how bad someone wants something because they sure aren't going to find a duplicate of your gun down at the next corner sporting goods store. It could easily be worth a couple grand more than I said, it just depends. I mean decent Eagle grades are selling in the $5-6000 range and, while the engraving on your gun isn't as good, with the sidelocks, yours should be at least in that area, I'd think. At any rate, a very fine shotgun.

What does it weigh?

I certainly wouldn't take less than $6000 for it.

I've no idea about value but I've gotta say it looks helluva nice buddy....... and ain't those older guns just soooo nice.

It's certainly a nicer gun than that clunker you just got! When are you going to sell that to me anyways?

quote:

Originally posted by StormsGSP:
It's certainly a nicer gun than that clunker you just got! When are you going to sell that to me anyways?

Funny you should mention that.... I took it to Uganda recently and it gave us as much fun as we got from the buff hunting.

I thought it was a bit off the face and sent it off to a gunsmith a couple of weeks ago.. turned out to be the top lever spring.

I called Dicksons in Scotland and asked them to send me one and bill me........... the spring arrived in the post with a 'with compliments' slip and the message that they apologise for the failure after just 84 years!

Ya gotta love their sense of humour!

Joking aside. I was astounded they didn't send me a bill and I reckon that has to be about the best customer service in the world!

quote:

Originally posted by StormsGSP:
What does it weigh?

I certainly wouldn't take less than $6000 for it.

5-6lbs. I'm thinking 5.25-5.5lbs. It's extremely light!!! It's an absolute pleasure to shoot, handle, or oogle for that matter. As far as me handling it the birds might as well commit suicide before they leave the ground.........but it's a lot more fun when they don't!!!!!!!!

Brett

PS What's the new gun Steve?

Brett,

It's a 1926 John Dickson & Son sidelock ejector. I bought it from a friend who was about to hand it into the cops for destruction because it had sat in his cupboard for 30 years and he wasn't interested in it.

I bought the motor case separately and deliberately bought the most stuffed up one I could find because I wanted something that matched the age of the gun.As it happened, I got it dead right bacause when I Googled the name on the case, it turned out he was a botanist for the Nat History museum in London and in the 1920s had travelled all over east and ecentral Africa researching the fungi..... his pspers are still all over the internet.

quote:

Originally posted by Brett Adam 5-6lbs. I'm thinking 5.25-5.5lbs. It's extremely light!!!

PS. It's built on a 20 gauge frame hence the weight........or lack there of.

That is very light, I don't think I would want to shoot over an ounce+ shot in a gun that light. That gun has a lot going for it, people love light game guns, so much the better if it is old,has a hand detachable locks, a long LOP, an english stock and in good condition. Guns that can't be identified as being a certain grade are a difficult to value accurately. Francotte made some fantastic guns, that one is no exception!

Man, that's one bad-assed little gun!

I love those 16/20 framed guns...They just reek of performance, especially on the quick stuff!!!

Imagine busting Sand Grouse over a desert water hole just before dark!!!

BTW, that's as good a gun as any H&H / Purdey that was ever made.

The Francotte 28 & .410s bring serious money...As we say in the collector's circles - "They have arrived"!

Not to be rude, but I try not to speculate as to the value of other people's guns...Nothing good ever comes from that!!!

Wonderful little gun...You won't see another anytime soon!


BTW, RST Shotshell stocks a great variety of 16 x 2.5" loadings - Excellent shells and great customer service...Ask for Alex Papp!
JW

Thanks Jeff. I agree that Holland & Purdey never made one better. More ornate?....Sure...Better?....Nope! I have a feeling it will see Africa for some wing shooting sooner or later!

Brett