*STUNNING FRANCOTTE SPECIAL QUALITY EJECTOR GAME GUN.

*STUNNING FRANCOTTE SPECIAL QUALITY EJECTOR GAME GUN. SN 64554. Cal. 12 Ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. Listed in catalogs as early as 1908, the “special quality” was an upgrade to the no. 45 grade, but is listed in the V L & D records with the 45 grades. There are only two guns in the records noted as special. Both were purchased by the same gentleman, N. Y. jeweler A, V. Frost, a year apart; purchasing his second, this gun, December 9, 1911. The “special” was listed and illustrated in V L & D catalogs until at least 1927, as their highest grade Francotte. (This gun appears to be the one illustrated.) This gun has 28″ chopper lump bbls with concave matted game rib with dolls head and crossbolt extension. Milled out portion of rib is engraved “A. Francotte Maker & Patentee Liege Belgium”. A gold line separates rib matting from extension, which has fine acanthus and scroll engraving. Tops of bbls are engraved “Von Lengerke & Detmold” and “U.S. Agents New – York”. There are 9/16″ bands of engraving around breech ends of bbls. Bbl flats are stamped “Francotte Choke Bore” and have Belgian proofs, as well as Francotte logos. Bottoms of bbls are also stamped with SN, choke information, and logo of “Siemans Martin Steel” surrounding a crowned “AF”, as well as chamber length 2-5/8. Case hardened side-plated action features non-automatic safety (Large “S” inlaid in gold), crossbolt third fastener, side clips, and nickel-plated double triggers. Action and lockplates have full coverage of artfully and meticulously executed large flowing shaded acanthus with background of very fine shallow cut open scroll. This engraving being the backdrop for detailed relief gold inlaid scenes of the chase; a pack of four hounds coursing a stag, with hind making a get away on left lockplate; Right lockplate depicts what appears to be the same hounds, but much smaller in scale, attacking fox while his mate escapes; trigger plate depicts downed stag being worried by two hounds. Blued trigger guard and top lever continue the acanthus and fine scroll motif. Exceptionally fine, nicely marbled and beautifully full flame fiddle figured Circassian or French walnut semi-pistol grip buttstock measures 14-3/8″ over coarse checkered wood butt. Stock features small rounded drop points and flat top 28 LPI checkering with single line and mullered borders. The mullering has been patterned with small lines. Matching splinter forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: left -.730, right -.727. Bore restrictions: left -.033, right -.005. Wall thickness: left -.033, right -.034. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-3/8″. Weight: 6 lbs. 11 oz, LOP 14-3/8″. PROVENANCE: Letter from Griffin & Howe with ledger pages, and census info for Mr. Frost. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain 95% plus orig lustrous blue, slightly silvered at muzzles, with a few small marks. Action and lockplates retain 90% orig case color, pleasingly silvered on fences and beads. Blue on trigger guard and top lever is flaked, ans are mostly silver. Interior of guard shows most of its blue. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their orig oil finish, but with some attention given to some old knocks, and with oil rubbed in over the years. Stock makers marks at top of toe line behind grip are sharp. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are in time. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny, with no visible imperfections. Exquisite! 4-39866 MGM52 (15,000-20,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1428	$20,700.00	STUNNING FRANCOTTE SPECIAL QUALITY EJECTOR GAME GUN. SN 64554. Cal. 12 Ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. Listed in catalogs as early as 1908, the “special quality” was an upgrade to the no. 45 grade, but is listed in the V L & D records with the 45 grades. There are only two guns in the records noted as special. Both were purchased by the same gentleman, N. Y. jeweler A, V. Frost, a year apart; purchasing his second, this gun, December 9, 1911. The “special” was listed and illustrated in V L & D catalogs until at least 1927, as their highest grade Francotte. (This gun appears to be the one illustrated.) This gun has 28″ chopper lump bbls with concave matted game rib with dolls head and crossbolt extension. Milled out portion of rib is engraved “A. Francotte Maker & Patentee Liege Belgium”. A gold line separates rib matting from extension, which has fine acanthus and scroll engraving. Tops of bbls are engraved “Von Lengerke & Detmold” and “U.S. Agents New – York”. There are 9/16″ bands of engraving around breech ends of bbls. Bbl flats are stamped “Francotte Choke Bore” and have Belgian proofs, as well as Francotte logos. Bottoms of bbls are also stamped with SN, choke information, and logo of “Siemans Martin Steel” surrounding a crowned “AF”, as well as chamber length 2-5/8. Case hardened side-plated action features non-automatic safety (Large “S” inlaid in gold), crossbolt third fastener, side clips, and nickel-plated double triggers. Action and lockplates have full coverage of artfully and meticulously executed large flowing shaded acanthus with background of very fine shallow cut open scroll. This engraving being the backdrop for detailed relief gold inlaid scenes of the chase; a pack of four hounds coursing a stag, with hind making a get away on left lockplate; Right lockplate depicts what appears to be the same hounds, but much smaller in scale, attacking fox while his mate escapes; trigger plate depicts downed stag being worried by two hounds. Blued trigger guard and top lever continue the acanthus and fine scroll motif. Exceptionally fine, nicely marbled and beautifully full flame fiddle figured Circassian or French walnut semi-pistol grip buttstock measures 14-3/8″ over coarse checkered wood butt. Stock features small rounded drop points and flat top 28 LPI checkering with single line and mullered borders. The mullering has been patterned with small lines. Matching splinter forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: left -.730, right -.727. Bore restrictions: left -.033, right -.005. Wall thickness: left -.033, right -.034. Drop at heel: 2-1/4″, drop at comb: 1-3/8″. Weight: 6 lbs. 11 oz, LOP 14-3/8″. PROVENANCE: Letter from Griffin & Howe with ledger pages, and census info for Mr. Frost. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain 95% plus orig lustrous blue, slightly silvered at muzzles, with a few small marks. Action and lockplates retain 90% orig case color, pleasingly silvered on fences and beads. Blue on trigger guard and top lever is flaked, ans are mostly silver. Interior of guard shows most of its blue. Stocks retain most of what appears to be their orig oil finish, but with some attention given to some old knocks, and with oil rubbed in over the years. Stock makers marks at top of toe line behind grip are sharp. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are in time. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny, with no visible imperfections. Exquisite! 4-39866 MGM52 (15,000-20,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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