bracebeemer
Member
This is going to be a rather long post so bear with me please. I was going to do an article about this pair of shotguns for the Double Gun Journal I just have not got around to it yet. I guess this will be a practice run. I purchased this pair of shotguns from my friend Dick K. about 10 years ago. He purchased the guns from Hallowell & Co. in the mid 90's. The information on these guns come from Dick K.,Morris Hallowell,and Bob Beach , the historian for Griffin and Howe in New York.
Here is the story: These two guns were ordered by a Chicago industrialist ( name unknown at this time ) sometime in 1920. They were built by the August Francotte Co. of Leige Belgium who started in business in 1802. They ceased operations in 2003. They had a London office in the late 1900's and built a lot of barrels for Purdey. Francotte offered side by sides in several grades. The Knockabout, grade 14,18,20,25,30 and 45. The man from Chi ago ordered a grade 20 and 25. He also ordered the guns with extra finish much like the English makers did. My friend Dick found this out when he was in Leige on business. He took the serial numbers of his guns and was able to look at Francotte's records, and found the serial numbers of#81296 and 81299. Both were 12 Gauge 30" barrels. The grade 25 weighed 7 lb. 3 oz. had a 141/2" lop and great stock dimention for today of 11/2" at comb and 21/4" at heel. The grade 20 had the same stock dimensions but weighed 4oz.'s more. These guns were ordered with extra finish and were engraved by Lyson Corombelle the daughter of Hyppolite Corombelle who was arguably the top engraver in
Belgium. His daughter grew up training next to her father at the engraving vice. Although only 26 when she engraved these guns she was already doing"best"work for the company. She was born in 1894 and died in 1971. Her father died in 1943. Later in her career she worked with the great Felix Funken at FN in Herstal Belgium and was put in charge of FN's engraving department.
Now, back to the 2 shotguns ordered in 1920. These guns were shipped aboard the S.S.Finland ( built in 1902 in Philadelphia and scrapped in 1928. It sailed into New York harbor in May of 1921 with a large shipment of Francotte shotguns for the retailer Von Lengerke and Detmold in New York City. Also on board was a tin lined case containing 20 shotguns bound for the retailer Von Lengerke and Antoine in Chicago. The two shotguns in this article were listed in the ships manifest as being in that box.
The ship steamed for Chicago but before it arrived the Chicago Industrialist died before he could take delivery. His family took delivery and put them in a safe for 75 years and never shot them. Sometime in the mid 1990's the family decided to sell them and Hallowell & Co. purchased them. Dick K.bought them from Morris and I purchased them from Dick. These guns remain in unfired condition and brand new 100 year old shotguns. Note the beautiful wood, the delicate scroll work. The blackened barrels look just like the finest Purdey and the translucent checkered horn buttplates are a joy to admire.
I'm very fortunate to be the caretaker of these fine shotguns and hope you enjoy the photos. It's not quite like being able to hold these beauties but I guess it's the next best thing. I'm sorry for such a long post but what else do we have to do while we shelter in place. Bill
PS first I will show the model 20 then the model 25
Here is the story: These two guns were ordered by a Chicago industrialist ( name unknown at this time ) sometime in 1920. They were built by the August Francotte Co. of Leige Belgium who started in business in 1802. They ceased operations in 2003. They had a London office in the late 1900's and built a lot of barrels for Purdey. Francotte offered side by sides in several grades. The Knockabout, grade 14,18,20,25,30 and 45. The man from Chi ago ordered a grade 20 and 25. He also ordered the guns with extra finish much like the English makers did. My friend Dick found this out when he was in Leige on business. He took the serial numbers of his guns and was able to look at Francotte's records, and found the serial numbers of#81296 and 81299. Both were 12 Gauge 30" barrels. The grade 25 weighed 7 lb. 3 oz. had a 141/2" lop and great stock dimention for today of 11/2" at comb and 21/4" at heel. The grade 20 had the same stock dimensions but weighed 4oz.'s more. These guns were ordered with extra finish and were engraved by Lyson Corombelle the daughter of Hyppolite Corombelle who was arguably the top engraver in
Belgium. His daughter grew up training next to her father at the engraving vice. Although only 26 when she engraved these guns she was already doing"best"work for the company. She was born in 1894 and died in 1971. Her father died in 1943. Later in her career she worked with the great Felix Funken at FN in Herstal Belgium and was put in charge of FN's engraving department.
Now, back to the 2 shotguns ordered in 1920. These guns were shipped aboard the S.S.Finland ( built in 1902 in Philadelphia and scrapped in 1928. It sailed into New York harbor in May of 1921 with a large shipment of Francotte shotguns for the retailer Von Lengerke and Detmold in New York City. Also on board was a tin lined case containing 20 shotguns bound for the retailer Von Lengerke and Antoine in Chicago. The two shotguns in this article were listed in the ships manifest as being in that box.
The ship steamed for Chicago but before it arrived the Chicago Industrialist died before he could take delivery. His family took delivery and put them in a safe for 75 years and never shot them. Sometime in the mid 1990's the family decided to sell them and Hallowell & Co. purchased them. Dick K.bought them from Morris and I purchased them from Dick. These guns remain in unfired condition and brand new 100 year old shotguns. Note the beautiful wood, the delicate scroll work. The blackened barrels look just like the finest Purdey and the translucent checkered horn buttplates are a joy to admire.
I'm very fortunate to be the caretaker of these fine shotguns and hope you enjoy the photos. It's not quite like being able to hold these beauties but I guess it's the next best thing. I'm sorry for such a long post but what else do we have to do while we shelter in place. Bill
PS first I will show the model 20 then the model 25
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