I am the proud owner of an antique Belgian SXS shotgun with Damascus Steel barrels. I saw this one while prepping it for auction sale. It caught my attention and I ended up buying it from the boss.

I've been on numerous websites and am learning a few words of French in the process. This baby is unique. It has a very ornate barrel release located in front of the trigger guard.




So far, I've determined it was manufactured between 1878 and 1897 and the barrels are choked. It is marked, "NON POUR BALLE" which literally means, "Not for ball." That stamp was only used between 1878 and 1897. After that, things drop off rapidly.

Any suggestions?

Nouvelle page 0

This site has alot of info on Belgian mfg'rs. If there is a name on the shotgun, try finding it on the 'Identified Craftsman' link.
Sometimes makers marks are only small initials stamped on some guns w/retailers markings being boldly imprinted.

The action type is sometimes called an 'underlever snap action'.
There were variations using a side lever and others.
Generally the lever motion unlocked the action only on a hammer gun but occasionally some patents made for the hammers to be retracted to half cock also.
On a hammerless design, the lever motion moved the internal hammers to full cock of course.
Most all of the English 'name' shotguns can be found with variations of the design at some point.

Careful study of the proof marks can give you a time frame of mfr. You probably have that already. Sometimes the mfg'rs mark is not prominetly made depending on the grade of the gun or it's intended market.

Like some German and Austrian makers, it may only be a simple set of initials sometimes in an oval on the action flats or bbl flat and a name on the rib or barrels may be a retailer of the gun.

Thanks for the information. I was aware of the littlegun web site and have spent several hours there. It is a wealth of information.

So far, I've been unable to find photos of a shotgun with the same ornate barrel release.

There is a set of initials located on the under side of the barrel rib, "JHJ." Those initials may stand for J.H.Jamar.

For me, half the fun of owning a gun like this is doing the research. I've learned so much about these guns already and seem to learn a little more every day.