Francotte, sn89894, 1949, 20GA, 6lbs. 2oz., Chokes LM/F
Auguste Francotte is world famous as a high-quality firearms maker from the gun making center of Leige, Belgium dating back as far as 1805. Still making fine shotguns with price tags starting at $18,000 and topping out at over $100,000, Francotte is a brand recognized and used by heads of state, business tycoons, and in some cases, the fortunate "Average Joe". Search long and hard, you will not find another Auguste Francotte like this one. There are very, very few A. Francotte shotguns made in an over/under configuration. When you do see a Francotte over/under, it is usually a workman’s gun, with little engraving and plain wood. The gun we have here is a fantastic, high-grade gun with detailed and profuse engraving, including deeply chiseled fences with leaf and scroll, hand cut and signed by Master Engraver L. Smeet. The action has a scalloped back, sculpted frame, 5 locking mechanisms, and beaded fences…all BEST GUN features. The buttstock and forend are carved from genuine French walnut, a type of wood that has all but vanished from the fine gun market and rarely encountered…a very elegantly figured stock with grain running straight and strong through the wrist…perfection! This Francotte, sn89894 built in 1949, remains in superb mechanical condition as well, with super-strong and well-timed ejectors, crisp trigger pulls, perfect screws, barrels tight on hinge pin and breech face, perfect bores, and a classy solid rib still fit tight to the barrels. The engraving is sharp and clear, fully covering the action and most of the trigger guard. The border work is stunning, with a graceful flow about the receiver. Study the photos and you will be impressed. The wood-to-metal fit is superb, the fine 26 line per inch checkering clean and sharp, even the butt pad is nicely finished. IF YOU WANT TO UPGRADE THE PAD TO A FINE PURDEY STYLE LEATHER COVERED PAD, WE DO THAT HERE FOR A SMALL EXTRA COST. This Francotte is an extraordinary classic upland gun, weighing 6lbs. 2oz., balanced on the hinge pin, choked light modified and full (we can make the chokes what you want), and very rarely seen double triggers (front trigger is hinged, or “articulated”) so you can choose your choke while mounting the gun. It takes one afternoon at the skeet range to master double triggers, and from then on choke choice is instantaneous…if you have a long shot presented, choose your rear trigger first. If a bird is coming at you, rear trigger first, and if you miss, the bird is now closer, and you have the front trigger with the more open choke. Upland hunters in the know prefer double triggers. This is an investment quality gun that will gain value as you enjoy its use. Don’t hesitate, as you will not likely ever see another as nice as this.
Barrels: 26"
Chokes: .013/.030
Bores: mirror
Bore Diameter: .629/.629
Wall Thickness: .027/.024
% Blue: 99% factory
Chambers: 2 3/4"
Ribs: tight
Sights: dbl ivory beads
Action: tight, slight left of center
Ejectors-timed
Receiver: traces of CC
Screws: perfect
Engraving: L. Smeet; full coverage rose and scroll
Trigger: double-crisp; front articulated
Trigger Guard Color: engraved long tang
Stock: English/slender 3 piece forend; figured French walnut
LOP: 14 7/16"
LOP To End Of Wood: 13 5/8"
DAH: 2 3/4"
DAC: 1 5/8"
Cast: Heel 1/8" off, Toe 1/4" off
Checkering: excellent 28lpi
Butt: Pachmayr pad
