Coolest shotgun design ..ever!

targa911S · 10-13-2009, 09:06 AM

French Darne Halifax sliding breech 16 ga. Found it at a gun show last weekend. Actually, it found me.

Talewinds · Talewinds's Garage

You're right, that is cool!

m21sniper · 10-13-2009, 09:18 AM

Yep. very cool!

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Cool! Safe to assume its yours now?

Btw we need to get you a Camera with White balance adjustment...

targa911S · 10-13-2009, 09:24 AM

Oh yes it was mine in a heart beat. I have only seen one in my life and this one just walked in the door. I admit to stealing it also.

Yes my camera sucks and it is on it's last leg.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

How much $$?

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

What's the year of manufacture? I see it has steel barrels, has this design ever been featured in DGJ?

HardDrive · 10-13-2009, 09:33 AM

Coolest shotgun? Pfffffftttt!!!!

targa911S · 10-13-2009, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

How much $$?

I STOLE it for $500.

Hugh R · 10-13-2009, 09:42 AM

That is cool, never seen a shotgun that loaded that way. $500 sounds really, really cheap. Nice score!

targa911S · 10-13-2009, 09:42 AM

Made around 1910-11. Nitro proofed. DGJ has done features I'm sure. They are still being made but start at around $900 Euro. Must be shot with 2.50" low pressure shells though as the chambers are 2 9/16".

Seahawk · 09:48 AM

I'll give you $550.00, out the door, no PPI.

I'm a giver, Dave.

RPKESQ · 10-13-2009, 09:50 AM

A Darne is a superb design that allows for a very light weight gun. I have seen several 12 bores that weigh 5 to 5.3 lbs. Most people would think the recoil would be high, but the action (if properly setup and adjusted) compresses the brass cases when camming closed. This in turn reduces head-space to about zero.

With out a head-space gap there is no cartridge setback on firing and the end result is lower recoil.

For those who doubt this, remember the original Colt Ace .22 1911. It used a "floating chamber" to increase the recoil of a .22 LR to reproduce the recoil of a .45 ACP round. Also think of the gas operated pistons that move a very short distance (and do not weigh much) to operate the bolt (uncamming, extraction and ejection) sequence.

This is not to say that heavy loads are going to be pleasant in a Darne, but that is not what it is made for. As a upland bird gun for fast breaking quail, chukkar, grouse, woodcock, snipe and such, it is magic with 1 oz. or 1 1/8 oz. loads.

Most Darnes were made with swamped top ribs and no bottom rib. Most are extractor, but I have a high grade with ejectors. Most have double triggers, but I have seen single trigger guns (I prefer double trigger). Most will have approx. 27 1/2" barrels (since they are made to a metric length). Stocking these is very interesting, as the action has extremely large bearing surfaces.

A wonderful gun!

tabs · 10-13-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Coolest shotgun? Pfffffftttt!!!!

A I will rasie you... an SR 25..so take your piece of plastic home...and let the real spoon guys talk about REAL spoons mad of wood and metal.

targa911S · 10-13-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I'll give you $550.00, out the door, no PPI.

I'm a giver, Dave.

You make it so hard to resist....

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Ever shot a Saiga 12 Snipe? Pretty friggen awesome...

m21sniper · 10-13-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Ever shot a Saiga 12 Snipe? Pretty friggen awesome...

No, my brother had one at his gun shop a few weeks ago though, i did handle it and field strip it, but i didn't fire it.

He has a badass 10+1 benelli semi auto that i love to death though.

Drdogface · Drdogface's Garage

I sent the pics to an antique gun dealer/collector this AM. He told me that he considers the design unsafe in that a hot load could put that breech block into your mouth. You might really wanna have it checked out by a competent gun smith to be sure the catch/latch on that is in good shape and strong. He added that he would not shoot smokeless loads thru it....black powder only is what he advised...short case only. There are some smokeless powders which try to duplicate pressure curves of Black. You may seek those out if you want to reload.

Personally, I have no idea but just thought I'd pass this along...

Seahawk · 10-13-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by targa911S

You make it so hard to resist....

Ok: Six hungh, my final offer.

Nice shotgun.

RPKESQ · 10-13-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drdogface

I sent the pics to an antique gun dealer/collector this AM. He told me that he considers the design unsafe in that a hot load could put that breech block into your mouth. You might really wanna have it checked out by a competent gun smith to be sure the catch/latch on that is in good shape and strong. He added that he would not shoot smokeless loads thru it....black powder only is what he advised...short case only. There are some smokeless powders which try to duplicate pressure curves of Black. You may seek those out if you want to reload.

Personally, I have no idea but just thought I'd pass this along...

No offense intended, but your gun dealer/collector is full of BS.

It is virtually impossible for a Darne to allow the breech block loose into the shooters face. The design locks the breech with a solid high grade steel piece approx. 1" x 1/2" . Which is far larger (in mass, sectional density and bearing area) than any high-powered bolt action rifles. Is your collector worried about M70s, M700, M77s, 98s, 1903s, etc. and recommending blackpowder for them too?

It is proofed for nitro powder, as long as the barrels are in good shape, there is no need for blackpowder loads. Cartridge length is a concern, but not smokeless powder. It is not difficult to obtain (or make) the correct cartridge length.