help identifying Belgium shotgun

[Stratman_69]

Hello forum,

I need some help identifying an old double-barrel gun that was my grandfathers. It shows 'Belgium' and 'Reliance' on the sides and has a mold of a deer and a shield with 'FN' on the end of the gun stock. I cannot seem to find any other markings although I might be missing some somewhere. I do not know much about guns so any help would be appreciated (make, model, year, value, etc.) Thank you for the help. Pics are attached.

 

[Jim K]

If you remove the barrels and look on the bottoms of the barrels and on the frame, you should see the Belgian proof marks, notably the letters E L G in an oval. That will confirm that the gun is Belgian. In the era from roughly 1880 to 1920, wild game was available in huge numbers in the U.S., and there were few game laws. Thousands of tons of shotguns were imported from Belgium, England and Germany, as well as more thousands of tons made here. Belgian guns ranged from extremely high quality to guns that were, at best, utilitarian, made cheaply and sold cheaply. Yours looks to be in the middle range, but it would require better pictures of the lockplates and barrels to tell for sure. (The fact that the maker did not put his name on it indicates it is not of a high grade.)

In that era, the barrels would have almost certainly been Damascus, made by winding steel and iron strips around an iron rod (mandrel). That was the most common way to make shotgun barrels before development of deep hole drilling. But it does not result in a very strong barrel and I strongly urge you not to fire the gun or let anyone else fire it.

In any case, and assuming the gun is in average condition, its value would probably not be high. Unless it is engraved or otherwise embellished, the value would likely be around $100 or so, purely as a collectors item.

Since it is an heirloom, though, its value is not monetary, but sentimental. I suggest you give it an honorable retirement as a decorator or "wall hanger."

Jim

 

[Stratman_69]

Thank you Jim! I opened the barrels and there is definitely the oval you spoke of, with the letters E L G inside. Although it was my Grandfather's I will still probably sell it. Do you know a good place to so? Thanks again.

 

[44-henry]

List it on Gunbroker with the photos that you have taken, it will probably sell if you keep the starting bid at a low price without a reserve. I wouldn't say anything about it being your grandfather's, a lot of potential bidders would probably be turned off by that.