Can you ID this shotgun

[Northman999]

Fellows,

I just purchased this shotgun from a CGNer and I can't ID it. Help me out here.

Description I got when I bought it was:

English-style Double barrel
Side by side break-action shotgun
12 gauge x 2 ¾, 29 1/2 inch barrels
External hammers, double triggers

The gun has only makers marks, no actual writing. What I found;

On reciever (inside when open):
"G5"

and a symbol that looks like an :"F" with a star above it

On barrels: "18.2" on each - I measured and this is the choke

"TLH" on each

"G5"

"2804" part way down the barrels in between them (serial#?)

a makers mark (?) that looks like a "*" on top, then an "F" under
that and then a crown under that and a circle under that with
an "E" in the circle and an "LG" also in the circle under the "E"

I have taken pics to assist. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[oldstarfire]

Shotgun ID

From the pictures and description - here is my take - Oval with ELG is a Belgian proof mark - star F is inspectors mark -
My guess is you have a Belgian made "Hardware store" shotgun, usually not marked by the maker - probably 1920's era.

 

[doubleman]

Northman999
Your shotgun is not english it is belgian,the crown with the leg is the proof mark from liege belgium. The 18.2 signifies the metric choke measurement
(18.2=full)the TLH is probably the bbl maker, the''2804''is the serial #. The *F and G5 are likely actioners marks are unimportant info. The 29 1\2'' bbls are actually 750mm bbls they used metric way back, the gun should also be marked 12-70 for 12ga, 70mm for 2 3/4'' shell length unless it was altered to 2 3/4'' from 2 1/2''. I hope this helps a bit, belgian gun makers often did not label lower grade guns meant for export. Good luck

 

[Northman999]

The gun is marked with 12-65 on each barrel, not 12-70. Is this the older 2 1/2" chamber length? Can 2 3/4 be shot out of it?

 

[BEARMAN]

Is there anything written on the rib on the top of the barrels? Something like BEST LAMINATED STEEL or DAMASCUS FINISH. The first usually means it is a damascus or laminated barrel and should be really checked out and the second means it is a solid steel barrel that was finished to look like a damscus barrel which were considered the best in their day. But the chambers should be checked by a gunsmith to see if they are 2 1/2 in chambers . A 2 3/4 in cartridge will fit in a 2 1/2 in chamber but there is no place for the crimp to expand to, and this can raise the pressures to dangerous levels.

 

[Northman999]

Okay, I'll take it to my gunsmith. Nothing at all written on the top rib. It's wierd because most of the rib is...ribbed, but there is a bevel area about two inches long that looks like it was meant to have something on it, but it is blank.

 

[dilly]

I have one that looks exactly the same and it faintly says "W.Richards" on the side plates...its a Belgian wallhanger.

 

[Northman999]

Thanks for all the help guys. I had it checked by my gunsmith. Apparenly the chamber was lengthened at some point and it is actually 2 3/4", so I'm happy.

 

[Northman999]

Just got some info from CFC on this gun. They told me tha manufacturer is Jannsen. I got this from the web;

Janssen & Co, Leige, Belgium became Janssen Fils & Co., c. 1892.
Sometime between 1895 and 1914 the company became part of
Simonis, Janssen, Dumoulin & Co. They would have marked guns
intended for export to the United States "Sons" instead of "Fils".

Markings on this gun indicate Pre 1924 manufacture.

This seems to fit all the info gathered so far. So, I'm pretty set for info on this mystery gun now. Thanks everyone.