Some of the most beautiful work of this craftsman are in this book “The Francotte Dynasty”.

For more detail see: The Francotte Dynasty

Auguste FRANCOTTE

Here is a nice set, a beautiful percussion rifle in good condition, damask cannons of very good quality (damask fine on the band), rear locks, beautiful checked English butt, in its box with its accessories.

The only thing missing is the loading rod, it seems. The presence of the ball mold surprises me, unless it is a rifled barrel(s).

Markings

ELG on star in crowned oval: accepted since 1818

17.8 : barrel diameter

JP: probably the gunner, unidentified;

Crowned AF: brand of the famous house Auguste FRANCOTTE.

GP

Auguste FRANCOTTE

Voici un beau fusil juxtaposé à platines fabriqué par la firme Auguste FRANCOTTE pour l’armurier hongrois Josz. Kirner à Budapest, repris en 1905 par Johan Pirk. Jolies gravures.

Les marquages

Perron : inspection depuis 1853

EL : épreuve provisoire depuis 1852

12 sur C dans losange : calibre de 1898 à 1924

ELG sur astérisque dans ovale couronné : acceptation entre 1893 et 1968

Un marquage mal frappé d’un arbre entouré par les lettres A et F : une des nombreuses marques de la maison Auguste FRANCOTTE.

AB sous astérisque : contremarque du contrôleur de 1877 à 1968

Choke 17.6 ( ?) sur 18.0 : canons chokés, d’usage entre 1910 et 1924

Je ne vois pas de marquage pour la longueur de la chambre et le diamètre en mm. En principe en usage de 1892 à 1924.

Budapesten Kirner Josz : voir plus bas

Utoda Pirk J : successeur Pirk J.

Il y a aussi un marquage pour le type d’acier utilisé pour les canons, mais je ne peux déchiffrer que Martin Steel. Peut-être est ce "Siemens Martin Steel". Il entoure les lettres AF couronnées : une des nombreuses marques de la maison Auguste FRANCOTTE.

La dynastie armurière hongroise Kirner remonte à Georg Kirner (1781-1847), originaire de Bavière, établi à Ofen puis à Pest (une des deux villes ayant constitué Budapest).

Lui a succédé son fils Josef (1809-1869), actif entre 1832 et 1861.

Le fils de ce dernier s’appelait aussi Josef (1838-1916). Il fut arquebusier de la Cour.  Il a vendu sa société en 1905 à Johann Pirk(o).

Il existe de nombreuses publicités de cette maison Kirner, de même que des fusils de chasse de haute qualité.

GP avec l’aide efficace et appréciée de PHL.

Auguste FRANCOTTE

Here is a classic shotgun with two juxtaposed barrel perhaps in damask, exterior hammers, rear locks and key Lefaucheux attributable to the house Auguste FRANCOTTE.

Markings

EL: provisional event since 1852

R under asterisk: countermark of a controller since 1877

Peron: inspection since 1853

ELG on star in oval : acceptance between 1846 and 1893

HM next to it: it’s almost not Hubert Marchand, who specializes in the production of revolvers, but who is it then? Mystery.

AF crowned : one of the brands of the house Auguste FRANCOTTE.

Since there is no caliber marking, this rifle can be considered to be pre-1892.

GP

Auguste FRANCOTTE

Here a beautiful shotgun juxtaposed to key top lever, stick semi-pistol with cheek, forearm with push rod and indicators of armament of the strikers, marked on the engraving of the rocker “FRANCOTTE Original”.

Markings

HJA: undoubtedly the initial ones of a preceding owner.

Fluss Stahl: type of steel.

Lion on PV: test with the smoke-free powder, of 1898 to 1968

12-70 in an omega: gauge nominal and length of the casing, 1924 to our days

JF:  initial of the manufacturer of barrels Jean Falla

18.5 choke 18.4: chokes barrels, between 1924 and 1968

Crowned AF: one of the marks of the house Auguste Francotte

1kg 278: weight of the barrel, since 1924 until our days

P: undoubtedly the yearly letter of 1937

U under star: countermark of the controller between 1877 and 1968

ELG on star in crowned oval: acceptance between 1893 and 1968.

The weapon was thus manufactured between 1924 and 1968 and more than probably in 1937.

We did not find until now which is the inventor of the indicators of armament of the strikers.

It is not Auguste FRANCOTTE or one of his descendants/successors, according to the analysis of the patents of this famous house of Liège in our possession (but we do not certainly have them all).

Research continues.

GP

Auguste Francotte

Francotte .475 caliber rifle.

The letter "l lower case underlined" gives us the year of manufacture 1963.

Francotte

Shotgun to unrifled bores and juxtaposed, gauges 12.

The lock is with central percussion, the hammers external and the key of opening between those.

The stock "pistol" is “with cheek”

The manufacturer

The mark MONOPOLE in Liege was deposited the 12.10.1894 per Auguste FRANCOTTE street Mont St Martin in Liege. You will be able to learn some more on this manufacturer on our site.

Period of manufacture 

According to various markings, we locate the period of manufacture between 1910 and 1924.

 GG

Hunting riffle Francotte

Shotgun to central percussion, with external hammers and key between the hammers.

The barrels in English Damas are smooth, juxtaposed and of gauge 16. The stick in drowning is of pistol type.

The punches

They are the punches of the proof test of Liege is:

Spangled ELG in a crowned oval: acceptance - 1893 to 1968.

Perron: inspection - 1853 until today.

T spangled: countermark of the controller - 1877 to 1968

EL in cursive letters: provisional test - 1852 until todays.

16 in a rhombus on point: gauge weapon - 1898 to 1924.

Choke 16,8/16,2: chokés guns: cal in mm to 22 cm of the breech and the mouth - 1910 to 1924.

Mark of manufacturer

AF crowned in a circle is the mark of Auguste FRANCOTTE street Mont St Martin, 66 in Liege (trade mark the 25.O4.1902).

Spangled JL on the barrels: probably manufacturer of gun (not identified)

LD crowned: manufacturer of the rocker (subcontractor?) could be Lambert DEMOULIN, 2 street of Bassenge in Liege or DEMARTEAU Jeanne street of the Minors, 64 in Herstal.

29826: job number.

Time of manufacture (between 1910 and 1924).

GG

Many thank to the sympathetic nerve exposing of the purse of Wavre which let me take these photographs.

Auguste Francotte

Francotte make por the great austrian manufacture Johan's Springers Herben Antik (always exist)

Many thanks to Geno Charcot (Saint Petersburg) for the pictures.

Francotte

Cal 12

Photogrpahs friendly authorized by "HALLOWELLCO"

Francotte

Cal 22

Photos "HALLOWELLCO"

Francotte "Spécial"

Autorisation "Capitol Arms"

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