What did I just buy? Belgian SxS... that's all I know...

jdschwass

jdschwass

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Heyall,

I have been shooting trap and hunting grouse with an old faux damascus SxS for the past 7 or 8 years, black powder proofed. The old bore is pretty pitted and I was starting to think it's time to find something with a better bore. Worst case scenario was always in the back of my head. Hopefully I got this thread in the right spot.

Yesterday I stopped in at my local shop to make a return and spotted a SxS on the wall on consignment, labeled simply, "Belgian 12 Gauge". I took some pics of the water table to figure out what I was looking at.
It was much fancier looking than most import farmer guns, and internal hammers. The proof marks indicate that it is black powder and nitro proofed. Based on an "f" mark, I think that makes it a 1927. It's 12 gauge, with post 1924 chambers, IM/F chokes. The only thing I cant figure out is who makes it. The only marking other than the water table is serial numbers between the barrels and "Product of Belgium" or something like that on the top of the barrels. There is a marking that looks to read "DBC" with maybe a superscript D after the C on the water table and again on the receiver under the barrel.
I found a huge list of gun makers and their associated markings, but DBC did not show up.

If you didn't get the hint from the title, I bought the gun today, so would really like to learn a bit more, and if I just bought a priceless piece or a POS. (or maybe somewhere in between).
The barrels are likely re-blued, they too good to be true. The bore is perfect, just not sure if it has been back bored or not. The bore markings both state 18.2, but the chokes gauged as mentioned above, full and I/M. The wood is nice, normal handling marks, but I dont think it has been refinished.

I will try and link some pics... I would really appreciate some help ID'ing this thing, and any hint that I might have grossly over/underpaid.

Thanks!
 
gun4.jpg

gun.jpg

gun2.jpg

gun3.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6g77ptto8s6xuvs/gun4.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7q80davkcrrmruu/gun.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bo4pwvtgj3k3gte/gun2.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/084u0m9jtp30e7x/gun3.jpg?dl=0
 
The 18.2 are the size of the bores 9" from the breech when made. It is not uncommon to see Belgian guns with no maker's name. In fact, I just received a Belgian gun a couple of days ago from 1928 with no maker's name. I doubt you will ever know for sure who made it. Some say guns with no maker's name are guild guns but I wouldn't bet the farm on that. If your bore are really nice compared to the rest of the wear on the gun, then they could have been honed to remove pits. You would need to measure the bores now and see how close they are to the original 18.2 marking. The barrel walls should also be measured to see how thick they are if it has been honed. Did you pay too much? Would have to see pics of the gun and know what you paid to answer that but most of these guns don't go for very much.
 
Thanks for the reply. Thanks for clearing up the choke issue. I did try and attached some pics and links in my last post, I hope that worked. The wear on the gun is very minimal. It was listed as "Very Fine" by the shop. The blue does seem too good to be original, but maybe someone actually took care of their stuff?
I like the sound of the guild gun... let's go with that until someone can prove otherwise!
Cheers.

Edit: FYI I paid shy of $600 for the gun, which I thought I could never spend on a Belgian shotgun until I saw this one...
 
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Well, in my opinion you did OK.
I suspect the barrels have not been honed, but measure to be sure...
Externally looks like a better grade sxs with side clips, and nitro proofed, looks cared for.
Wood looks refinished , but not sanded to death.
 
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Glad to hear it. Hard to say on the stock. The checkering isnt sanded down at all that I can see, and the colouring seems the same throughout . Also I had just covered the gun in oil, and that made the stock all shiny, so that makes it look more lacquered than it should.
Just glad I might now have been took.

Any thought on maker? I'm curious about the DBC stamp...
 
The gun looks nice. Value wise you paid at the upper end of what these guns go for in Canada. But it also looks to be of decent quality so you did fine, especially if you plan on keeping it. As to maker, that's anybody's guess. If it was branded with a know maker's name of quality shotguns, value would maybe be a bit higher.

Don't know if you saw this link.
http://www.littlegun.be/arme belge/a a artisans identifies gb.htm
 
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I went through all the names on that list, nothing popped out. Nothing with the DBC initials. There is also F.H. stamped on one barrel, though I couldn't find any reference to that either.
There are also a few markings that state V8, I cant find unspecific reference to that.... possibly re-proof marking?
 
Good call! Another clue.... I'll keep digging thanks!
I have found some pictures of guns on various auctions that look almost identical, other than they are marked. It seems many of these guns were the same with a different label.
Thanks again for the suggestion.
 
So they used the name Freir Demoulin Co. If you translate that to English it is indeed Demoulin Brothers Co.... DBC.
I wonder if they would stamp it as such. So far I have only found FB with an arrow through it as their marking. Still searching! Thanks all.
 
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