Never heard of this maker. Anybody know anything?

Are you close enough to Cabelas look at it? It's hammerless, so I imagine it was originally proofed for Cordite or Smokeless, but I'd take a look at the flats just to be sure. Cal and others are bound to add their experience, which is much more than mine. Good price if it's tight.

If it is the gun at Cabela's site
It has a Belgian look in the pics

I don't know of this maker. Where can I see pics?
Cal

Here
http://www.gunsinternational.c...cfm?gun_id=100828761

http://www.cabelas.com/product/null/2402380.uts

I have checked through all my books of UK gun and rifle makers and have not found this maker, even the most recent 3 vol set of London, Birmingham and other UK makers by Nigel Brown does not list this maker.

I can see from the photos that it is a non-ejector long action body (similar to the Greener empire grade length) with a Greener top lever works, without a visible Greener style cross bolt third fastner. Maybe it has a Holland or Purdey hidden third fastner. The action style is what is known as the cut away style in Birmingham. It has a large diameter replaceable hinge pin and extra long front lumps to support the hinge pin large size. A photo of the action flats should show what year it was proofed in as Birmingham (if it is really UK made) began using the so called "secret" year date code in 1921--the code is alpha-numeric with crossed scepters.

However, I can not imagine the amount of recoil a 7.4 pound double rifle of .450 NE caliber has. Wow!!!!!!!!!!! I hope that this is a typo and it is 9.4 pounds.

Had an M Donkier SL 12 ga. Superb quality. If this rifle is anything like the shotgun I had, it is fine quality. Appears the screws are untouched.

Just did some more international research and this DR is a Belgium made firearm, not UK made as I looked for in my books earlier.

Thank all, it looks like gun oil smells. Amazed at the number of different makers.

Have owned five different Belgian doubles that look like this one -

All with different names on them (only one major name-Francotte)

I Suspect Francotte made all the actions

Thanks for that link. That led me to a double rifle to drool over, that Searcy 450 #2.

Gotta go buy a lotto ticket and see if I can win $9k

quote:

Originally posted by Clan_Colla:
Have owned five different Belgian doubles that look like this one -

All with different names on them (only one major name-Francotte)

I Suspect Francotte made all the actions

The rifle sure looks similar to a Francotte that Champlin has on its website.

Here are the details that I have on this rifle from the store at Sidney and what I could see from the photos sent.

It is a 1927 (date code J) Marcel Donickier of Liege .450 Express with nitro proof marks, and B. Plomb barrels. From the photos the face of the action looks very good as does the lumps, barrel flats. Purdey style third fastner. No striker discs.

my guess at that weight is that it is regulated for the 365 gr light nitro loading.

The LOP on it is the other killer.

I'm confused.
A nitro proved gun for lead bullets?
Certainly not a 70/480 as we know most 450 nitros.

Need to see the proof marks, I suspect a bpe or light cordite at that weight.

A nice pad will fix the LOP problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Transvaal:
Here are the details that I have on this rifle from the store at Sidney and what I could see from the photos sent.

It is a 1927 (date code J) Marcel Donickier of Liege .450 NE with nitro proof marks, and B. Plomb barrels. From the photos the face of the action looks very good as does the lumps, barrel flats. Purdey style third fastner. No striker discs.

According to Wirnsberger's "The Standard Directory of Proof Marks", p 129, the 'B. Plomb' mark indicates that the barrels were intended for plain lead (plomb) bullets. Between this mark and the weight I believe that this double was not intended for full .450 3-1/4" Nitro loads. I think skb has it right about the 365 gr light nitro or "Nitro-for-Black" loading. The corresponding Belgian proof mark for jacketed bullet use is 'B. Blindee'

bpeSteve;

Thanks for clarifying that B. Plomb marking.

quote:

Originally posted by Transvaal:
bpeSteve;

Thanks for clarifying that B. Plomb marking.

Just like "Sans Plomb" gasoline - meaning no lead.

I was wrong guys when I wrote that the barrel stamp stated .450 NE. I went back and looked again and it is .450 Express. The nitro proof mark used since 1924 is stamped as well as rifled barrel mark, definitive black powder proof and so forth. Sorry to take us down the wrong road. Nitro for Black as you said.

Cabelas needs to change their caliber description.

If someone wants to post the photos send me your e-mail address and I will forward them to you. I have not been able to get my Photobucket account to work properly for some time now.

I'd be happy to post the photos for you, I'm curious to see the marks too. I've sent you a PM with my email address.

quote:

Originally posted by 470Evans:
Need to see the proof marks, I suspect a bpe or light cordite at that weight.

A nice pad will fix the LOP problem.

I would need a "nice" 2-1/4" pad....haha

Here are the pix:

quote:

Originally posted by PSmith:

quote:

Originally posted by Clan_Colla:
Have owned five different Belgian doubles that look like this one -

All with different names on them (only one major name-Francotte)

I Suspect Francotte made all the actions

The rifle sure looks similar to a Francotte that Champlin has on its website.

That Francotte .470 that George has is my DR that is on consignment.