Watch: An inside look at Darne and Charlin shotguns

[Big Bad]

I guess I'm turning into a chronic "Dogs and Doubles" re-poster (from the Facebook page of that name), but I've always been interested in the alternate-action double guns that were being invented and tried out in the years when the best way to build breechloader shotguns was being explored, and here we have some slide action French shotguns that I don't think I'd even read about before (and I do have books on the subject).

 

[canvasback]

BB, on another forum that I am active on, there is a fellow regular poster who spent 15 years as the Darne distributor for NA. He is the acknowledged NA expert and go to guy for any and all things Darne. One thing I ahve learned from him.....never buy a Darne (or any slide action) that doesn't not fit you well already. There is no changing fit.

 

[gunsaholic]

I have an R10 in 12 gauge from 1931. The lightest 12 gauge I own and it fits me well. A great gun to carry in the field. Regarding Darne shotguns, there was Regis Darne and then there was also his son eldest son Francisque Darne who made a sliding breech shotgun. They aren't regarded quite as highly as a Regis Darne gun and people often confuse the two thinking they are maybe buying a Regis Darne when they are not.

 

[Ashcroft]

I've used Darnes and owned and used a Charlin for a few years. They are similar and both very well made, the Charlin is noticably smoother in operation. Light, well balanced, great to shoot, lousy for general handling. An open empty break action shotgun carries much easier and is obviously safe to all in proximity. The sliding action guns are slower and more awkward to load and more awkward to clean from the breech. Maybe these guns appeal more to users of pumps and autoloaders and also rifle shooters but they don't seem to gather many friends among double gun shooters. A well regarded Washington State author named Francis Sell loved these guns and championed them tirelessly but his was a lone voice. Basically another dead end design of hundreds, this one just lasted longer than most - in France only.

 

[Pinfire]

"Fixed barrels, moveable breech" was the first cartridge-fed double-gun design (around 1812), pre-dating the hinge action by several decades. I had a Darne 16 for a while, and quite liked it. I also once had a Darne rotating breech in 12, now that was a peculiar design... Regrettably I sold both, to fund an all-consuming obsession.

 

[gunsaholic]

"Fixed barrels, moveable breech" was the first cartridge-fed double-gun design (around 1812), pre-dating the hinge action by several decades. I had a Darne 16 for a while, and quite liked it. I also once had a Darne rotating breech in 12, now that was a peculiar design... Regrettably I sold both, to fund an all-consuming obsession.

Now that would have been cool. I've only seen them in pics.