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The Knockabout guns were made as a high quality boxlock, mostly for the American market, and many were distributed by large gun retailers such as Von Lengerke and Detmold, and Abercrombie and Fitch. This example sold through Von Lengerke & Detmold as marked on left barrel tube top. Barrels have matted game rib with white mid bead and white/brass front bead. Francotte Shotguns for sale and auction. Buy a Francotte Shotgun online. Sell your Francotte Shotgun for FREE today! Login Register Menu. CONDITION 96%. SERIAL NUMBER 16880. AUGUSTE FRANCOTTE (BELGIUM) OVER/UNDER IMPORTED BY AB. Gun #: 962210287. Seller: Guardian Arms Guardian Arms. Full Details.
A few years ago I purchased a small rifle in a remote central Afghan village, not at the tourist trap bazaars of Bagram, Khandahar & Kabul. It is similar to a Martini-Henry but much shorter (37 1/2') with a 21' barrel. However, it has the Francotte single pin takedown, is clearly marked on the left rear side of the receiver and on the inner trigger working with 'Francotte Patents'. Additionally the serial number on the receiver matches the inner trigger workings.
It does not have the Francotte Leige markings, but the markings on the upper receiver match the inner trigger workings as well, but I do not know what they mean. There does not appear to be any caliber markings or any markings on the underside of the barrel. There was about 100 yrs of dirt & grime on the gun, but I have only cleaned it with baby wipes, and the gun still smells like stale sweat and smoke. At first I thought the barrell was shortened, but now I'm not so sure. The front end cap has a bayonet lug and appears original to the rifle. The front hand guard, though short is well fitted to the barrel and does not appear to have been altered.
What makes the gun so remarkable is the intricate engraved scroll work on the left and right sides of the receiver, and on the trigger guard and cocking lever. I have seen photos of a Martini Francotte Persian (the scrolled engravings are very similar with the exception that in place of the lion, 'La Francotte' is engraved on the left side of the receiver and the center scroll work on the right side of the receiver is different. My rifle has a military style front handguard w/bayonent lug, while the Persian has a 'sporterized' front hand guard and butt stock.
So what is it? And out of curiosity what is it worth? Seems like a commercial action - but the barrel definitely has been shortened, only from the wrong end: just look at the wood proportions of the forend (the middle band is extremely close to the receiver) and the place of the rear sight just in front of the receiver. The barrel has been lopped off at the chamber end, and then probably rethreaded and rechambered (by whatever way).
![Francotte Francotte](/uploads/1/2/7/6/127646696/160558179.jpg)
This way all the hardware will still fit, of course - just chop off the protruding bit.Could be (some of the) engraving was added at a later date. I believe it originally was a full-sized rifle, from what I can see from the sights (which isn't all that much.), and definitely a Francotte-made action. Now I'm going to take a longer look at your pics, trying to make some more details out.Looks like another buttstock has been fitted too, and the takedown system is one of the Francotte variants, different from the simple pin used in the ZAR. I'm afraid the rifle itself would only have value as a curiosity (well, to me at least), due to the extensive alterations (What calibre is it?
577-450 or 303?). I do have my doubts about the chambering work, looking at the stock and barrel work - probably also local. The action would be the part having most value, if only for building a nice custom rifle. But total value wouldn't be all that high, I'm afraid. If it had been complete, in good condition and unaltered, it would easily have been worth 1000+ USD, but as is?
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To me, the value of that rifle is the value of the action.Soory about the kinda 'down-to earth' type of post, but I believe I'm not all that far off the mark here - it might not be what you want to read, and others might have a different opinion. You're probably right about the barrel, if it was shortened they did a good job, the backside of the handguard doesn't appear altered. Any chance it is an actual carbine, I've never seen a photo of a M-H carbine.
I do not know the caliber, it's smaller than my M-H, I need to have a gunsmith check it out. I believe the buttstock is original, it is the same size as a standard M-H, the brass piece is an Afghan decoration, nothing more, there may be a crack under it - I haven't removed it. When I got the rifle the front handguard and buttstock were wrapped in plastic lacing. The Afghans do that to all their weapons, I 've seen AK's and PKM's tricked out with the plastic lacing as well, it's a fashion statement. Any idea what the proof marks on the upper receiver and trigger action represent? The scroll work is too similar to the Persian Francotte to be a coincidence, click on the URL in the original post.
I'll try to take some better pictures and post them. I'm not worried about the value, I was only interested for insurance reasons. I wish I had the near mint condition Romanian Peabody-Martini (Steyr) one of my comrades came across! I looked at the Westley Richards website (outwardly similar, it appears that Westley Richards take down pin is on the top rear of the receiver, and the Francotte take down pin is on the bottom front of the receiver. Plus the fact that both the receiver and inner action is clearly marked Francotte Patent and the serial number matches the receiver and action. I believe the identity of the manufacturer lies in the proof marks on the upper receiver and action. I have found where the Lion over PV mark is the mark of the Liege Factory since 1924 for 'Nitro proof for rifled barrel and parabellum pistols'.
The mark below it that looks like a post with a diamond at the bottom is a Liege 'View stamp and inspectors mark for firearms 'Perron' since 1853. Click on this URL (to see the proof marks. I haven't been able to determine the mark above the 'Lion over P.V' on the receiver, so I'll keep looking. From what I can surmise it is definately a Leige manufactured Francotte rifle action made sometime after 1924. So this may explain the 'La Francotte' scroll work as well, it may be factory original and someone fitted a cut down military barrel to a 'sporterized' gun. I suspect everything about this rifle is European and most likely English. II would help if we pictures of about 576 pixels wide instead of thumb nails.Looking at teh mini pictures I see what is a ME Front end or maybe an LLE.
Not all that up LLE. The back of barrel has indeed been cut off as there is no Nocks form. The section between rear barrel band and action face is to short to be anything but cut down. True this sectionis slightly shorter in carbines buit not that short.
The rear sight is a rifle sight.In the middle is a very nice loocking Francotte patent Martini, most likely a large commercial action in very nich shape.The butt stock is obviously not original to the action. The would just stands to high abouve the metal.What I think you have is the work of field expediancy or the special request of some one in the field combining a MH MK IV or ME onto a Francotte frame. And, that is just not any Francotte, take a closer look at the action.what is that protrubance on the front of the trigger guard?What caliber is this rifle? My guess is.303.There is something special about this rifle, and I wish it were mine, I would not change one single thing on it!This is no Khyber Pass special! I'll take some better pictures of the buttstock. It's hard to see with the Aghan brass band around the upper part of the buttstock, but the stock does fit flush.
It is loose right now (I can't find my long screwdriver to tighten it). Anyway, the cocking lever matches up perfectly to a recess in the buttstock and there is a 'sporterized' stenciling on the buttstock as well which is in line with the engravings on the reciever.
Do you know if Francotte is still in existence? How would I contact them? With the serial number they may be able to tell me exactly when the gun was manufactured and maybe show a picture of what it originally looked like.
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