Francotte Shotgun Serial Numbers

For most of the 20th century, Abercrombie & Fitch was the most famous name in American sporting goods. From a retail store on NYC’s Madison Avenue, and through catalogs sent out across North American, A&F sold everything from firearms to fishing lures.

  1. Francotte Shotgun Serial Numbers
  2. Francotte Shotguns For Sale
  3. Francotte Shotgun Serial Numbers List

In 1938, the first spread of their Rifle-Shotgun catalog opened with the following copy:

Francotte 10 ga. Shotgun, double 31 in. Barrels,Francotte 10 ga. Shotgun, double 31 in. Barrels, serial number 6695, extensive engraving with scrolls, checkered walnut stock; permit, NICS background.FRANCOTTE EAGLE GRADE SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN.FRANCOTTE EAGLE GRADE SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN 12 ga., Serial #81426. Receiver heavily engraved with fowl. I have a full ckoke 168, Liege double barrel 12 guage shotgun. The serial # is 10003 and the model is a 'Leader'. I am looking for the approximent value of it or a way to find it out.

A francotte serial number identificationFrancotte 16 ga

“In our opinion the Francotte, famous Belgian gun adapted by us to the American Sportsman and improved over a period of 50 years, represents real gun value second to none. It is, in fact, an imported hand made gun at an American price.”

Three pages of Francottes followed: From the top of the line Eagle Grade Hammerless Ejector No. 45 Quality to the Knockabout Ejector. All these guns featured Siemen-Martin ‘Special’ fluid steel barrels and could be ordered with Greener-crossbolts or doll’s head extensions. They were made made on what A&F called a “Francotte lock action”, said to be an improvement on Anson & Deeley-type boxlock action, and featured Francotte-patent ejectors.

Price wise, Francottes weren’t cheap. But they weren’t super expensive, either. At a time when a Parker Quality A-1 Special Quality with ejectors was $890, a Parker Quality B.H.E. was $375 and a Fox X.E. was $165, Francotte’s Eagle Grade Hammerless Ejector No. 45 Quality was $550. Their most affordable double — the Francotte Knockabout Ejector — was $175. In between were models like the No. 30 Quality (30E) at $400 and a No. 20 Quality (20E) at $275.

Francotte Shotgun Serial Numbers

Compared to their American competitors, all these Francotte’s were built on superior designs, featured better finishing and proper scaling, and were more aesthetically pleasing overall. If you had stopped into A&F’s Madison Avenue store and placed a Parker, Fox, and Francotte side by side, it would have been plain to you which one was superior.

Francotte (Abercrombie & Fitch) “30E” 28 gauge SXS Shotgun: Francotte Pre-war (Abercrombie & Fitch) SXS Shotgun. Side plated 28 GA. Ejectors, side clips, 26 inch BBL, Full and Full, Double triggers, 14 1/2 inch pull to horn butt plate with Abercrombie and Fitch Leather case. Bores like new. Price:$17,995

FRANCOTTE MODEL “20E” DOUBLE 20 GAUGE SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN RETAILED BY ABERCROMBIE & FITCH: 28″ barrels choked R: .009″ L: .030″. Engraved sideplate action with auto ejectors, side clips, hiddend third bite (crossbolt with rib extension), double triggers, top lever. Checkered splinter forend and semi-pistol grip buttstock. Stock measurements: Comb: 1 1/2″ Heel: 2 1/2″ LOP: 14 1/4″ to a horn buttplate. Weight 5lbs 13oz. In beautiful original condition retaining nearly all of the casehardened finish on the action and sideplates. Trigger guard and top lever have all of the high polish charcoal blue remaining. Barrels showing 98% original blue with the maker’s and A&F’s names engraved on top. “A FRANCOTTE MAKER” and patent info on the left sideplate at the bottom. Excellent wood and checkering. 1949 mfg. Price:$8,750

Francotte Shotguns For Sale

EARLY FRANCOTTE 12 GAUGE DOUBLE EJECTOR GUN: 26″ damascus steel barrels, auto ejecgtors, beautiful scroll engraved sideplates and relief engraved fences. Double triggers, top lever, double underlocking lugs with Greener type third bite. Bores measure .729″ both barrels with walls over .030″ Chokes: R: .003″ L: .033″ Weight: 6lbs 7oz. Stock measures Comb: 1 1/2″ Heel: 2″ LOP: 14 1/2″ over a thin English hardrubber pad. The barrels retain all of the beautiful damascus pattern, The action showing lovely subdued case colors. Mint bores, excellent checkering and varnish. This would make a perfect bird gun. Price:$5,950

Francotte Shotgun Serial Numbers List

  • SPECTACULAR FRANCOTTE ROOK RIFLE. Cal. 297/230SPECTACULAR FRANCOTTE ROOK RIFLE. Cal. 297/230 Morris. SN 39134. Built on a tiny Martini action with 27-1/2' light weight, tapered rnd bbl with square
  • *FRANCOTTE DELUXE SIDELOCK MODEL DBL BBL*FRANCOTTE DELUXE SIDELOCK MODEL DBL BBL SHOTGUN. Cal. 20 ga. SN 91480. Spectacular deluxe shotgun with 28” bbls choked MOD/IMP-CYL with tapered, concave,
  • FRANCOTTE LITTLE PET DBL BBL DAMASCUS HAMMERFRANCOTTE LITTLE PET DBL BBL DAMASCUS HAMMER SHOTGUN. Cal. 12 mm. NSN. Tiny dbl with 24' Damascus bbls, tapered matted rib with sgl bead, doll's head extension,
  • TWELVE GAUGE DOUBLE-BARREL SHOTGUN BY A.TWELVE GAUGE DOUBLE-BARREL SHOTGUN BY A. FRANCOTTE, BELGIUM. The Damascus barrels choked and engraved 'VON LENGERKE & DETMOLD, U.S. AGENTS, NEW YORK.'
  • A .410 gauge double barrel sidelock shotgunA .410 gauge double barrel sidelock shotgun by Francottecirca 1951, retailed by Abercrombie & Fitch Serial no. 89937, .410 gauge. 26 inch barrels
  • A 20 gauge Francotte over and under shotgun SerialA 20 gauge Francotte over and under shotgun Serial no. 90287, 20 gauge. 26 3/4 inch barrels marked Aug. Francotte Brevete-Liege/Made in Belgium. Solid
  • An Adams 1851 Patent percussion revolverAn Adams 1851 Patent percussion revolver by August Francotte with associated case Serial no. 12717, .44 caliber. 6 1/4 inch octagonal barrel. Topstrap
  • A 12 gauge Francotte double barrel shotgun SerialA 12 gauge Francotte double barrel shotgun Serial no. 86322, 12 gauge. 28 inch barrels marked Von Lengerke & Detmold/U.S. Agents New York. Concave,
  • A. FRANCOTTE ENGLISH DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN:A. FRANCOTTE ENGLISH DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN: Hammerless marked A. Francotte Maker & Patented London on plate. 30' Belgian damascus 12 gauge barrels marked
  • *FRANCOTTE MODEL 45 EAGLE DBL BBL SHOTGUN.*FRANCOTTE MODEL 45 EAGLE DBL BBL SHOTGUN. Cal. 12 ga. SN 84277. Fine sideplate dbl with 30' bbls choked FULL/FULL with tapered concave matted rib, single
  • *FRANCOTTE MODEL 30 DBL BBL SHOTGUN. Cal.*FRANCOTTE MODEL 30 DBL BBL SHOTGUN. Cal. 20 ga. SN 87554. Fine, lightweight little double with 26” bbls choked MOD/CYL with narrow, tapered, concave,
  • *AUGUSTE FRANCOTTE BOXLOCK DOUBLE BARREL*AUGUSTE FRANCOTTE BOXLOCK DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN. Cal. 16 ga. SN 22591. Fine high quality dbl with 26-3/4” Siemens Martin Steel bbls with tapered, concave,
  • A Francotte Military Short Rifle 69 boreA Francotte Military Short Rifle 69 bore sn: 31 42' overall with 28' BBL with bayonet lug, BBL retains original Damascene pattern with a gray/brown patina
  • CASED PAIR OF BELGIAN SNAP BAYONET FLINTLOCKCASED PAIR OF BELGIAN SNAP BAYONET FLINTLOCK PISTOLS. NSN. 3-1/2' blunderbuss bbls. Cal. 45. 2-1/4' blades on the bayonets. All encased in a walnut case
  • *ENGRAVED AUGUST FRANCOTTE DOUBLE BARREL*ENGRAVED AUGUST FRANCOTTE DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN. Cal. 16 ga. SN 82004. Fine Belgian made shotgun with 27-5/8' steel bbls, 2-5/8' chambers, choked FULL/IMP-CYL
  • *WONDERFUL FRANCOTTE DBL BBL SHOTGUN. Cal.*WONDERFUL FRANCOTTE DBL BBL SHOTGUN. Cal. 28 ga. SN 1046. Spectacular lightweight Belgian made dbl with 26-1/8' Siemens Martin steel bbls choked FULL/IMP-MOD
  • *SCARCE CASED A. FRANCOTTE 2-BBL SET RIFLE*SCARCE CASED A. FRANCOTTE 2-BBL SET RIFLE & SHOTGUN. Cal. 20 ga. and 9.3X74R. SN 21715. Beautiful Belgian made combination set with 28' shotgun bbls choked
  • Francotte 10 ga. Shotgun, double 31 in. barrels,Francotte 10 ga. Shotgun, double 31 in. barrels, serial number 6695, extensive engraving with scrolls, checkered walnut stock; permit, NICS background
  • *FRANCOTTE EAGLE GRADE SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN*FRANCOTTE EAGLE GRADE SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN 12 ga., Serial #81426. Receiver heavily engraved with fowl decoration. Blued finish. Worn to a dull brown.
  • *FRANCOTTE EAGLE GRADE SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN*FRANCOTTE EAGLE GRADE SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN 12 ga., Serial #81426. Receiver heavily engraved with fowl decoration. Blued finish. Worn to a dull brown.