I didn't even know they existed. But if you want to have something nobody else has, this has to rank right up there with the rare and exotic. Damn good looking too.

http://www.geocities.com/g_gournet/Darne.htm

darne dgood looking rifles!

Isn't the author the engraver that workes/lives about an hour and a half to the northeast of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?

The first Darne shotgun I ever saw looked stupid to me at first...they have, over the years, grown on me and I think they are one of the most elegant designs ever. Sure would be hard to get used to that toplever!

Yes, the Darne sxs rifles are really unique!

I have been waiting to see if I could get my hands on a used one in any caliber.

My main rifles are English and Belgian sxs's in various calibers.

Never too late to add another fine rifle to the collection.

Later,
Mark

ahhh....

at first I was thinking "too complicated"...

and then I looked at what it was.. it's french (even if of swiss extraction)... therefore never designed to be fired in anger or in battle...

too complicated for me
jeffe

I have a shotgun built on the DARNE patent, it's quite nice, a light 16 ga. 2.5 inch chambered bird gun.

I am told some maker in Belgium improved on this design in that he made a 1 round "magazine" under each side

of the action body. After firing the 1st two rounds you draw back the breech, the empties get pushed away,

[and fall to the ground] two live rounds pop up into the correct position and you push the breech forward, thereby

pushing the new rounds onto the chambers. The lever is pushed to the closed/locked position all in one movement

and you are reloaded!

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
I didn't even know they existed. But if you want to have something nobody else has, this has to rank right up there with the rare and exotic. Damn good looking too.

http://www.geocities.com/g_gournet/Darne.htm

They look like they'd be slow to reload. But if that is not a consideration, they are sure nice!

Are these still in production?

I got a glimpse on one of those actions in a magazine two years ago, but I never managed to find out who makes them.

I would love a 20gauge shotgun made with one of those actions.

And the rifle BigFiveJack speaks about, would be nice as a DG rifle!!

I suppose the only way to find out is to contact Bruchet Darne. Mr. Bruchet, who is an ex-Darne gunmaker, bought all the Darne tooling and still makes them as far as I know. Click on this link, scroll down to Bruchet Darne and you will find address, telephone and fax.

http://www.chasse-enligne.com/annuaire/annuaire.php?SCategorie=C2

I've always been facinated by Darnes. Never had a chance to handle one until a couple of years ago. Went pheasant hunting with a friend, he brought along another guy. This guy opens his case and I recognized the gun as a Darne. He seemed suprised that a farm boy new what it was. Anyways it was a nice gun(16 ga) but had way too much drop for me to shoot well. Still I'd love to have one.

They are a very trim little action for a shotgun, but the problem with the Darnes that I have seen is that the safety always looked like an after thought. The safety on those that I have handled is a little lever on the side of the action that seems quite flimsy.

Dave

loud-n-boomer is right, the safety looks and feels like a flimsy add-on. Still, for delicate hands, say for a woman, it might be just what is needed.

Wink,

The Darnes were sold in India (shotguns only) in the French enclaves of Pondicherry, Mahe, Karaikal, Yanam and Chandranagore and were appreciated for their handling. If I remember an American authority described them as "greased lightning." That said, a good friend in the UK who is an expert on guns and a dealer who sells fine guns to several "name" US buyers, tells me that he knows of a tragic case where a Darne 470 NE rifle had a frame failure with the sliding breech being completely wrecked. He also does not like the Darne for the reason that they do not offer selective ejection though I would, if I could afford to buy one, get one made in a medium bore calibre which I would use.

Thanks for this most informative post,

I'll be taking a Darne R-16 in 10 gauge to Southern Africa in August along with 25 each #7-1/2 and #6 for doves, sand grouse and guinea fowl. (Some chamber gauge reducers to use 12 bore ammo, too).
Regards, Tim

In a shotgun fine, but did anyone here notice when shooting the petite little gem how odd the reloading was? I also have shot a 16 gauge and it did not see like a good action for dangerous game or quick reloads to me, but then again I am only looking back at the experience.

quote:

and it did not see like a good action for dangerous game or quick reloads to me,

Exactly my point! You have to reach OVER the breechblock, then point the cartridges forward, then push the cartridges at least partially into the chambers before you can shut the breechblock. Even with practice, I believe it would take at least twice as long to refill this contraption as it would a break-action gun.

OK for bird hunting, NOT OK for dangerous game!