Ok I need help. I have a Pirotte Et Fils stamped shotgun which is also stamped Liege and made in Belgium. It is a 12 gauge sxs sidelock ejector and has a Triumph stamp underneath. It is in very good condition about 90% and seems to be of a higher grade then the Pirotte I have located on the net. The receiver is a silver and has 3 ducks flying over a marsh. The closest I see to it on the net is a Centaure royal crown grade sxs. The side plate is identical. Serial number is 29xx on the Pirotte. If anyone can help I would be grateful.
Pirotte Et Fils value
- Thread starter Ksquirrell
- Start date
Welcome to the black hole that is comprised of Belgian gunmaking history questions. Fortunately, in your case some small amount of history is known. See the following link:
http://www.littlegun.be/arme belge/artisans identifies p/a pirotte gb.htm
In cases such as this, the value of the gun can only be appraised by a competent double-gun 'smith. There are some Belgian sidelocks that you would be hard pressed to sell for $150, while others can command $5,000 or more. The worth can be assessed only by the quality of the individual gun as the brand name has no inherent value. Quality of materials and construction are the determinants here.
An engraved sidelock with ejectors would indicate that your gun is not bottom of the line, but how far up the scale it sits is not determinable from the information given. The fact that it is stamped "Made in Belgium" indicates that it was built for the export market, and export guns were almost always built to a price point. Pictures would help.
Sharptail
http://www.littlegun.be/arme belge/artisans identifies p/a pirotte gb.htm
In cases such as this, the value of the gun can only be appraised by a competent double-gun 'smith. There are some Belgian sidelocks that you would be hard pressed to sell for $150, while others can command $5,000 or more. The worth can be assessed only by the quality of the individual gun as the brand name has no inherent value. Quality of materials and construction are the determinants here.
An engraved sidelock with ejectors would indicate that your gun is not bottom of the line, but how far up the scale it sits is not determinable from the information given. The fact that it is stamped "Made in Belgium" indicates that it was built for the export market, and export guns were almost always built to a price point. Pictures would help.
Sharptail
