Catalog Auction info Auction #122 - June 1st, 2019 (#122) 06/01/2019 9:00 AM EDT Closed Starts Ending 06/01/2019 9:00 AM EDT Auction Info Lot #45 Massive Francotte Single Barrel 4 Gauge Shotgun Click image to enlarge PreviousNext Lot closed - unsold Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000 Description Description: serial #62383, 4 ga., 38 1/4” matted top flats part octagon part round barrel with a very fine bore which is mostly bright but showing some sparsely scattered light oxidation or perhaps very light pinprick pitting. The barrel is an overall deep gray-blue faded original blue patina with remnants of the original finish sparsely scattered, the balance a plum brown and light gray patina showing scattered light oxidation and some areas of light pitting, most prominent about 5” from the muzzle. The underside shows an Auguste Francotte trademark stamping with the right diagonal flat marked “Von Lengerke & Detmold” with the left diagonal flat “U.S. Agents New York”. The barrel shows a very nice swirled matted pattern its full-length and what is likely its original silver front bead is in place. Doubtless made for the commercial market hunter, the gun clearly saw much use but also was well cared for. The frame is now a dull pewter gray and plum patina with some specklings of silvery case-hardening here and there, showing light oxidation and scattered light pitting. Its top surfaces are neatly matted and it is marked “A Francotte Maker & Patentee/Liège Belgium” on both left and right flats. The checkered walnut pistolgrip buttstock is massive and rates very good with the expected light dings and handling marks that come from the years, darkening slightly with age. Someone had begun a customization of the pistolgrip area which is very well done and very tasteful. The bottom portion of the pistolgrip shows small carved-in-relief Fleur-de-lis left and right, the checkering sanded smooth in the area of the carving, it would now be a simple matter to restore the pattern to just above the tops of the embellishment and “finish” the nice accenting at the pistolgrip. The stock cheeks as well were to be embellished similarly as the bottom portion of the pistolgrip pattern, the left cheek showing the beginnings of some very nice carving, the layout lines can still be made out, the right cheek is so far un-embellished. The length of pull to the lightly oxidized smooth steel buttplate is 14 1/8” with drops of 1 5/8” and 2 1/2”. The stock is currently a bit loose showing a bit of lateral and vertical play but no doubt could easily be tightened up without any trouble. The forend rates very good as well with very fine checkering showing only a few very minor dings or handling marks, its hardware also now a smooth plum brown patina, it is attached by a forward underside lever. The barrel is on-face for the most part and the top lever rests just left of center. Features single trigger, non-automatic safety and extractor. The old VL&D records show Francotte #62383 as a “Special Order” gun received late in 1906, it was sold in September 1907 to “Cash Sale”. It was indeed 4 gauge, Single Barrel Francotte shotgun with a 38 inch barrel, a 2 3/8 inch drop at heel, and weighing 14 pounds. In December 1916 it was received back at VL&D as a used shotgun from “David Burke” at a cost of $55.00. The description was the same as the earlier record except that the drop was written as 2 1/2”. In January 1917 it was sold to “Mr. Sanders” as a cash sale in an exchange for a Parker shotgun plus $70. A truly impressive gun of a bygone era, the overall length is 56” and the gun weighs in at just over 13 1/2 pounds. (3D9240) {C&R} Categories: Terms and conditions GENERAL STATEMENTS • All bidders must register and obtain a bidding number in order to participate in the auction; in so-doing they agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the sale. Absentee/Telephone bidders must register by filling out and signing an absentee bid sheet, online bidders must register per the online terms of registration. • The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer shall become the owner upon the fall of the hammer. The auctioneer has sole discretion in the case of a dispute among bidders. • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. has taken great care in the preparation of the descriptions in this catalog. Although we believe everything in the descriptions to be true, we do not guarantee any part of any description. We recommend that the bidders view the items in person and form their own opinions as to condition, originality, origin, etc. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will consider all requests for refunds. If a customer is unhappy with a purchase we will be happy to discuss a remedy with them. • All requests for refunds must be made within 30 days of the sale date. Therefore, it is important that absentee bidders pay for their items in a timely fashion. All requests for refunds received after 30 days of the sale date will not be considered. • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to reject any bid in order to protect our consignors interests. • Reserves: A very few lots will be offered with reserve. In cases where items are reserved, a bid of the low estimate will always exceed the reserve. Reserves will be bid by the auctioneer as an opening bid so any bid taken from the floor or the phone is a live bid above the reserve amount. • Bidding on any item in the sale indicates the bidder’s full acceptance and understanding of all terms and conditions of sale. PAYMENT POLICY • Invoices are payable upon receipt. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express as payment for items purchased. Online payment will now be available for buyers directly through the online invoicing process. • Credit card purchases are limited to $50,000.00 per customer, per auction. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to demand cash or hold merchandise until funds are collected in full. There will be a $35.00 charge for all returned checks. • A 17.5% Buyer’s Premium will be added to all purchases regardless of price with a 2.5% discount when paying with check or cash . This premium is to be paid as part of the purchase price. • Customers without prior credit approval who intend on making purchases in excess of $10,000 must provide credit information such as a bank letter of credit prior to bidding. GUIDELINES FOR FIREARM PURCHASES • All Federal, State and Local firearms laws will be observed. FFL holders may take possession of any firearm on day of sale when they present a signed copy of their Federal Firearms License. New Hampshire residents over the age of 21 may take possession of any firearm on day of sale providing the proper paperwork is filled out and the transfer has been approved either through the NH State Police or the FBI NICS System. While most NICS and State approvals are immediate, approvals could take up to 3 days. Most non-residents may take possession of long guns on day of sale after completing the proper forms and successfully completing a NICS check; modern handguns will need to be shipped to an FFL holder in the buyer’s home state. Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges and all items must be paid for on day of sale. Bidders should be familiar with their local and state laws as Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. will not be responsible for any parties purchasing items which may not be possessed in, or shipped, to their state of residence. CLASS III WEAPONS • Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. is a licensed Class III S.O.T. and handles transfers of Machineguns, Suppressors, A.O.W.’s and short barreled rifles and shotguns in-house. Class III invoices are expected to be paid upon receipt, no transfer paperwork will be executed until the invoice is paid. Know that class III transfers take a good deal of time for Federal approval and we are at their mercy. Firearms are marked as follows: ANTIQUE - no paperwork required C&R - for firearms that fall under the ATF Curio & Relics licensing and if purchased by a person with a “C&R License” no paperwork is required. NOTE: Items that meet the age requirements but have been altered from their original configuration may NOT be delivered on a C&R License. Firearms that are not marked with one of these notations are considered to be “MODERN” and all proper paperwork is required unless you are an FFL Dealer. ABSENTEE/TELEPHONE/ON-LINE BIDDING • As a service to our buyers, Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept absentee bids from bidders who cannot attend the sale. Bidders without prior credit approval are required to submit a 20% deposit prior to bids being accepted (credit cards may be used for absentee deposits). Absentee bids will be bid in a competitive manner and an absentee bidder needs only to outbid another buyer i.e. bidding will not be opened at the maximum bid unless that is the next competitive bid. Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges. Properly registered Amoskeag On-line bidders may use this service free of additional charges as an alternative to telephone or absentee bidding, at their election. On-line bidders should be aware that the sale proceeds at a very rapid pace and should plan their bidding strategies accordingly. • Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. will not be held responsible for errors or omissions of any type that may occur during these services. • All absentee bids must be received by 8:00pm on the day prior to the auction. If you plan to attend the sale but will not be staying until the end and want to leave a bid on an item that will be sold after you leave, we must have those bids in by 8:00am on the morning of the sale. No bids will be accepted after that time. Please do not call the gallery once the auction has started (after 9:00am) as we will not be able to accept bids or make changes to bids. • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will also accept telephone bids on a limited basis. Telephone bidding is reserved for seriously interested bidders. In order to bid by telephone, the bidder must be willing to pay at least the low estimate of the item being bid on. NOTE: Phone bids MUST be arranged by 5:00pm ON THURSDAY prior to the sale. • All absentee/telephone bidder invoices are mailed within a few days of the sale, on-line invoices are issued by end of business on the Tuesday following the sale; all invoices are due upon receipt. Invoices are to be paid either by cash or check, or by credit cards listed above. All items not paid for within 20 business days from sale date shall be considered abandoned as well as any deposit that was made on those items and Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. shall have sole discretion as to their disposal. WARNING Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. does not warranty the safety of any article it sells. Therefore, we recommend that, before you use any firearm, purchased here or anywhere else, you have it examined by a qualified gunsmith to determine whether or not it is safe to use.
