info / age / potential value : for two old shotguns

vpsalin

vpsalin

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I just got a hold of two family dynasty shotguns. I wanted to know more about them.

The first is a Saint-Etienne semi-auto, made in France, says ''Acier special 70mm chambre'' or special steel 70mm chamber (2 3/4''). The other side of the barrel says ''Fusil Perfex Brevete S.G.D.G. France et etranger'' which I believe translates into some patent information. Stamped into the barrel is ''CAL 12 Choke'' not very helpful in IDing the choke, all I know is that it is a fixed choke. There are two Saint-Etienne MF logos on the barrel. On the underside of the forearm there is a golden MF logo. What does MF stand for? The reciever without any stamping at all except for a serial number and some weird markings / logos. near the loading port. The trigger housing is stamped 'Perfex'. The barrel is approx 28''. Sadly, the handle is cracked and ductaped over. Is this something worth restoring? My intuition says yes. The internals look shiny and new but in all the gaps and crevasses there seems to be a dirty/gunky substance. However, the forearm looks great. What is remarkable is that is it extremely light for a 12 gauge, and it's a semi :eek:. Feels like 6.5lbs ish.

Here is a picture...
img00001201106252225.jpg


The last shotgun is less exotic so I didn't take a picture of it but it is also intriguing. Its a 870 wingmaster ''2 3/4 or shorter'' wtf??? The barrel is 30'' and says full choke (fixed). The action is butter smooth. The serial number begins with 9 and ends in V.

I appreciate your help.
 
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First gun I don't know about either but it won't be any huge amount, probably around what Struff55 suggested. On the wingmaster you really didn't give any pics or much of a discription condition wise. So it could be a $350.00 gun give or take unless in poor condition. However, as a parts gun it would probably still bring close to $150.00
 
MF = Manufrance, the maker. Peel the tape, repair the damage properly. Should be a good enough shooter.
I better start buying up 870s around here, and reselling them where they will bring $350. The "or shorter" mark suggests that it is an older 870. When was the last time you can remember 2 5/8" shells for sale.
 
Why would anyone pay $200.00 or more for a receiver that has been refinished yet you see them advertised often for that. And as far as an older 870, go onto other gunsites and it is the older models that people are told to look for. Anyhow, condition has a lot to do with the price of a gun, and yes a gun that is in below average condition won't bring a lot of money. Area also plays a part in this. So there is no definate answer as to what it would bring, unless one wants to sell low to start with. You would have to start somewhere to find out but, yes I have seen the 870 sell for $200.00 but I have also seen them sell for $400.00. That is why it is give or take on an estimate depending on condition or model. But really, how many 870's do you see sell for less than $200.00. Most any brand of old pump gun will bring $150.00 to $200.00. So an 870 that is in very good condition won't bring more than the bottom priced poor condition gun?
 
A plain BBl 2 3/4'' 870 in 50%-80% condition is worth $200 or less in today's market it can not be used as a field gun unless it has a $100 conversion for steel and even after that it is marginal as afield gun. $300 puts in the range of many new guns on today's marketplace with screw in chokes and 3'' chamber with a vent rib. As far as collectibility they really have no appeal .They make excellent zombie guns if you need such a gun.
 
Yes, my last response was more to Triaq's statement that he should start buying 870's to sell for $350.00. The 870's I am referring to for top dollar are very nice conditioned vent rib models, and later ones with screw in chokes. These don't have much of a problem bringing $350.00 and many would prefer one of them over a new 3" pump for $400.00. As to the OP's gun, as I mentioned there isn't enough of a description to give an accurate value. It could very well be a $100.00 piece of junk, or could be $200.00 or maybe closer to $300.00. It's all speculation without seeing it.
 
Well I did some research on the French Semi-auto. Its a very interesting piece. It was so gunked up that it looked like it had been through 2 tours of WWI twice...I field stripped and cleaned everything out. Upon closer inspection, unfortuneatly not only is the buttstock cracked, but so is the forend. Of the three 1960s guns my uncle recently gave me, this one was in the worst shape...but after a thorough cleaning it is the one which is now in the best shape (besides stock) and with the least ammount of rust...:eek:...I think to speaks volumes to the gun's initial build quality.

It turns out that the gun is a Manufrance brand, manufactured since 1962. It is often mistakenly called a ''Saint-Etienne'' for the town which it is built in France and which is stamped on the gun. Like calling a chevy a ''detroit''. This brand seems most popular in eastern (french speaking) canada. The model is a Perfex and the choke is 18.2 or 18.4 or something, does someone know how to interpret this?

The gun is EXTREMELY light, holy %#S% it feels like 6lbs. Since working on the gun its apparent that the feather weight of the gun comes from it using an aluminum receiver. Is this common on semis? Another neat thing about it is that the magazine only holds 2 shells without a plug! I think this has to do with France's gun restrictions which are very limiting of semi auto weapons and because the space in the magazine for the 3rd and 4th shell is occupied by the secondary spring and piston which drives the bolt back with a long metal arm that connects the two together. The gas passes through the barrel's securing ring (half way down the barrel) and into the last half of the magazine, into the piston area.

The magazine has a lever on the side of the receiver which can be set to open or closed, which allows or denies a round to be fed into the chamber when the bolt is retracted. I imagine this was useful for hunters who got the hunting grounds with two in the magazine and none in the chamber, and who wanted to load a 3rd shell into the chamber at the last instance.

If anyone needs help on how to field strip this gun just ask.

Is this how most semis are designed or is this eccentric?
 
They were also sold under the gevarm brand here in western Canada in the 60's and early 70's coop stores sold them there also was a pump action version very similar to a Remington 870.
 
tiriaq said:
MF = Manufrance, the maker. Peel the tape, repair the damage properly. Should be a good enough shooter.
I better start buying up 870s around here, and reselling them where they will bring $350. The "or shorter" mark suggests that it is an older 870. When was the last time you can remember 2 5/8" shells for sale.
Click to expand...

With a 3'' chamber barrel, would this gun handle those magnum loads?
 
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