A Graceful Double Gun

[pete44ru]

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An Acier (steel) Mannesman Special 20ga round action lightweight SxS hammer gun with back action locks @ 28-1/2" extractor barrels.

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[Flyfisher66048]

Beautiful shotgun!

 

[WendyZXZ]

That is a fine looking side by side!

 

[GRAMPS 51]

Very nice I have owned a few doubles but could not ever learn to shoot one

Gramps

 

[Scout943]

Lovely !

 

[don44]

Very, very nice!

 

[Mike Armstrong]

Any proof marks on that little guy? I would expect a "crown over ELG" (Belgian) but it could be French or even German, I guess.

 

[golferboy426]

I've always desired a hammer shotgun. Do you hunt with it? Do you carry it hammers fully cocked with breech open? That would seem like the only way to get flushing birds unless you had a reliable pointing dog?

 

[pete44ru]

Any proof marks on that little guy ?

I would expect a "crown over ELG" (Belgian) but it could be French or even German, I guess.

Thanks for all the kind words, folks !

Mike, the proofmarks are a crowned vertical oval like Belgian, but instead of the normal "E" over "L G", they're stamped "M" over "C M" - so I'm a little mystified by the proofmarks.

AFAIK, "ACIER" is French for steel, but I cannot find a like proofmark in all my references, for French, German, Austrian or Belgian proof's.

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[pete44ru]

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The questions I had were:

The top of the barrel rib is marked: ACIER MANNESMAN SPECIAL (Mannesmann ?)

* Was this gun made by someone named Mannesmann ?

[ Not likely - I've since found out that Mannesmann Group made steel tubes, so it looks like "Acier Mannesman" (Mannesmann steel) was used for the barrels, and so advertised on the top rib]


* Could the barrels be Damascus, even though I can find no pattern and AFAIK, "acier" is French for steel ?

- [ No (see above)]



* Might it have 2-1/2" chambers, since there's no chamber length marks ?

- [The chambers measured out @ 2-3/4" long]


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[Badger Matt]

Very nice...

 

[pete44ru]

I've always desired a hammer shotgun. Do you hunt with it? Do you carry it hammers fully cocked with breech open? That would seem like the only way to get flushing birds unless you had a reliable pointing dog?

I apologize for missing your post/question - and, yes, I intend to hunt with it, and hunt with it the same way that I hunt with my other hammer guns (lever-actions, Browning 1885, break-open single bbl shotguns, etc).

With any hammer gun, I carry the gun @ waist level with my trigger hand on the wrist and that thumb atop the hammer spur, so I can cock it smoothly in one motion as I raise the gun for the shot.

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[Del J]

Great looking Double.

 

[pete44ru]

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Thanks, Del !

As an aside, while surfing for info about Belgian gun marks today, I read that Belgian shotguns with only the word "CHOKE" and the bore size, which is what's stamped onto the barrel bottom of this example, were made after 1924 - which leads me to believe that this gun may have also been made after 1924 ?

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[Del J]

When you take your SXS afield, we will need a report and pictures.
Del J

 

[pete44ru]

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Willdo, but it's not gonna happen for at least a few more weeks, on the mandate of my cardiologist. :roll:


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[6GUNSONLY]

That is outstanding.