The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Don't really know much about it other than it's a 12 gauge with 2 3/4inch chamber and 20 inch barrels.

Made by Fabrique D Armes Liege.

Shot a half box of birdshot and it locks up tight and shoots good.

But 00 buckshot makes her kick a bit.

I don't know when it was made but it looks pretty old,early 1900's maybe?

1920's would be my guess as it looks very similar to one I have of a different maker, but of that era. Nice example, not one of the cheaper offerings Belgian gunmakers were known for in the late 19th century.

What years did the Damascus twist production cease ?

steelbuttplate wrote:What years did the Damascus twist production cease ?

Don't know... Is this a Damascus barrel?

If so then I better not shoot anymore high brass 00 buck out of it.

That looks like regular steel barrel to me, hard to miss the highly decorative wavy pattern found on twist barrels that comes from the layered lamination process. You can still get a custom made twist steel barrel today, however the cost is very high. Twist barrels had their hayday in the black powder cartridge era before, and just after 1900. The process is labor intensive and did not stand up to the pressures of the new smokeless powder cartridges. It is very rare to see one from the smokeless powder era, and after 1920 would likely only be seen on custom made very high end shotguns produced for the very wealthy traditionalists who wanted the look, and insisted smokeless was just a fad that would fade soon.

[bbvideo=560,315]https://youtu.be/-1GTc4UiEnA[/bbvideo]

Some of this video that is not made by me may apply, note the Meteor name is used on this gun, but the gun design is different from yours, and called the " Eclipse Meteor". Likely yours is a later version as it has steel barrels and the back action locks. Still, it gives some information on the company who made it, the Pieper family was involved in Liege gunmaking for generations. My rusty gun was also a product of that family, but not made by Henri.


[bbvideo=560,315]https://youtu.be/Nzt8PXs4izU[/bbvideo]

Thanks JYD I appreciate all the info you gave me.

The Siemens-Martin Steel stamp indicates it is not Damascus steel. That is a very cool SXS.

Longcolt44 wrote:The Siemens-Martin Steel stamp indicates it is not Damascus steel. That is a very cool SXS.

Thanks LC.

Should maybe take it out for chickens someday.Season is open until Jan.15th.

No problem. I love old doubles, or even newer ones. I have one coach gun made by the Crescent Firearms Company around 1895 called the New Empire hammerless. It's a side lock internal hammer gun with 12 gauge steel barrels, full choke, 20". The other is one of IGA's Brazilian imports from the 80's, that ones barrels are around 18.5", the legal limit here in the states.

Sonny wrote:

steelbuttplate wrote:What years did the Damascus twist production cease ?

Don't know... Is this a Damascus barrel?

If so then I better not shoot anymore high brass 00 buck out of it.

Yea I didn't mean this one, its ok. Looking just got me wondering about the dates.