Darne Shotgun

390dakota

390dakota

Regular
Rating - 100%
10   0   0
Location
Vancouver area
Anybody seen one of these slide breech action shotguns before. I have only seen one in the first Termors movie held by Burt Gummer the god of preppers. They are sweet but expensive.

Slidebreechshotty.jpg
 
While older Darnes can be had for not bad prices, new ones are very costly, the Darne is a classic gun, light, quick handling and of proven design. They are guns for people that appreciate their dynamics and don't mind paying for it.
 
I've had an unresolved itch for one of these guns for years. The price of a new one is more than I'd pay. The last used one I saw was at an Ontario gun show and it was reasonably priced but had serious issues. It would have required at least a couple thousand in gunsmithing to make it right. And when you are talking fine sxs a couple thousand doesn't go all that far.
 
The one I had needed refinishing,metal & wood. It was a good feeling gun but I didn't get the "I must keep this" feeling. It would hav been a nice upland gun, I just don't get much small bird hunting.
 
Win/64 said:
They have one like that, but it is available only in a 16ga. It also comes with a free Beret. :)
Click to expand...
The higher grades come with the complete Jerry Lewis DVD collection, a family pass to Euro Disney and a white flag. ;)
 
Last edited:
The Brits use them as "loaners" for people they don't really like ... American tourists who want to participate on a shoot on the Estate. Strictly "novelty" material.

But Griffoneur likes them ... go figure !
 
8ball said:
Nice well made shotguns! Bottom price starting at 6 800 €!:eek:
Click to expand...
Guns in that league don't come cheap but the Darne isn't unreasonable compared to the asking prices of Spanish sxs from the better markers and is a bargain compared to anything being made in the U.K.

I wonder if their entry level gun offers custom stock dimensions.:)
 
Darne

beretta boy said:
The Brits use them as "loaners" for people they don't really like ... American tourists who want to participate on a shoot on the Estate. Strictly "novelty" material.

But Griffoneur likes them ... go figure !
Click to expand...

Beretta boy is incorrect,the Brits like everybody.
If you have never shot a Darne before you certainly would not be loaned one on an Estate.The Darne is not a very popular gun in the UK due to our very stringent safety standards ( gun does not break ) However I have a Darne R15 and they are amazing well made guns.
 
alanwaterloo said:
Beretta boy is incorrect,the Brits like everybody.
If you have never shot a Darne before you certainly would not be loaned one on an Estate.The Darne is not a very popular gun in the UK due to our very stringent safety standards ( gun does not break ) However I have a Darne R15 and they are amazing well made guns.
Click to expand...

Well, one well-recognized UK shotgun authority doesn't fully concur.

Diggory Hadoke (a Brit) in a published report on the British gun auctions at Christie's, Bonham's, Gavin Gardiner's & Holt's: "...many people are familiar with the hideous Darne sliding-breech guns emenating from France " ... "weight was 6 lb 14 oz and it had to worth 300[pounds] for novelty value or to give to visitors you don't like when they come to shoot with you. It sold for 750[pounds] to someone with a sense of humour."

Seems Mr. Hadoke isn't overly enamoured with their design, and he confirms that some of your fellows don't like everybody. Over here we KNOW the Brits and French have been sniping at each other for centuries :D . The two Darnes I've examined (no desire to shoot them whatsoever) did however appear to be well made.
 
One of my favourite things about a break open Gun is the fact it is a break open Gun. It's nice to be able to carry it open over your Shoulder. That can't be done with a Darne. For that kind of Money there are better options out there.
 
beretta boy said:
Over here we KNOW the Brits and French have been sniping at each other for centuries :D . The two Darnes I've examined (no desire to shoot them whatsoever) did however appear to be well made.
Click to expand...
The English and French here have been sniping at each other for centuries too although not in the literal sense since the Plains of Abraham. ;)

Darnes have a certain novelty appeal but as well as being French they are most often found in 16 gauge. That would explain their lack of popularity in the UK. :)
 
Claybuster said:
...The English and French here have been sniping at each other for centuries too although not in the literal sense since the Plains of Abraham. ;)...
Click to expand...

We Canucks tend to think the end of the British/French thing to be concluded with Wolfe & Montcalm at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham (Sept. 13,1759) ... but not quite so. They were at it a year later at Isle aux Noix and the burning of St. Jean with the French retreat to Montreal in Sept. 1760. The hostilities didn't officially end (then) until the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Notwithstanding, the Brits and French were at it again - Wellington & Bonarparte at Waterloo,1815, and as late as 1944 when the Brits & French (the Vichy French Government as Axis collaborators) were again sniping at each other in North Africa in Syria & Algeria.

While no longer military antagonists, they still don't really like each other. ;)
 
There was one for sale in 16 gauge for a long time for $1400. It had the chambers lengthened to 2 3/4 in professionally. Looked like it was in very good condition. The British tend to be snobbish when it comes to double guns but they can afford to be as they do make the BEST shotguns in the world if your pockets are deep enough.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom