Thanks Mike! When I was 12 or 13 years old my buddy had a 1971 Shooters Bible we used to pour over in the catalog section and one of the strange ones was the Darne...very exotic! Your video is the nearest to a live example I've ever seen and that's just cool!
Thanks for doing this video on the Darne shotgun. I have wanted a Darne ever since I saw them in the Shooters’ Bible in the 1960’s, and read articles by Roger Barlow about grouse hunting with a Darne in Gun Digest during that same time period. I was never able to find one, but I sure enjoyed your video. Thanks.
Darne was specialised into guns for goose hunting in the Loire valley. A hunter lay flat in a flat boat, slowly approaching between the reeds. With the large bore guns, they could load a lot of shot, hitting as much birds as possible .
Years ago, my wifes uncle had one in 16 ga. with a broken firing pin. I tried to buy it, he didn't want to sell it. Very well made shotgun. Thanks for the video.
St Etienne is more in the south of France near Lyon, but apparently there was a trade in barrels and parts with Liege in Belgium. Congratulations on your super nice shotgun.
They were around in the 60’s. I remember seeing a picture of part of their workshop. They still had belt drive machines. It did not seem to impair their quality. Thanks for the video. Take care.
First learned about them 50+ years ago in a British book on shotguns. I have only seen one in my travels all over the lower 48. A gun show in Spokane, WA back in the mid 90's. Didn't get to handle it as it was in mint condition .
Thank you for yet another great future! The Darne company died, was revived under the Bruchet name and it seems to have died again. Apart from the sliding breech side by side, the company also made a more traditional O/U and of course, they made double rifles on both their actions. can't remember which authority it was who described Darnes and their handling as "greased lightning," but that description was definitely apt. While Darnes were boxlocks, there was a sidelock gun called the Charlin on the same sliding breech mechanism but that firm did not survive the Nazi occupation. Please do check out the other great French gunmaking names: Georges Granger for shotguns and double rifles on their own Aiglon side by side action, Dorleac and Dorleac Mauser actioned and single shot rifles (among the very finest makers of these guns in the world in my - and many other experts' opinion), the recently deceased Alain Vaussenat and his improved Heeren actioned single shot that deserves to be remade by someone, Verney-Carron, Chapuis, and several others. They are not well known in the US and Canada, but that is not because their products are wanting in any way. Good hunting!
Such an excellent post - thank you. I did not know about Grainger and Vaussenat and only a little about the others; although I did own a Verney-Carron double and a Dorleac & Dorleac for a short time: highest level gunmaking. Over 3 million hunters in France and excellent hunting and shooting opportunities. There are many things special about France. I'll get to work learning more. All the best to you.
The Darne challenge: when I was at a Belgian collector, I was offered a Darne single shot , goose boat gun. ( 20 mm?): if I could open it , I won. I won but… I really had to look close. The fitting was so neat! It was different than this one with the winged lever
The sliding breech action enables duck hunters to reload the shotgun while lying on their back in the bottom of a small boat, hidden from their prey (according to comments found elsewhere on the Internet).
Remember, when these shotguns were being made, the predominant shells were paper, with a few brass, and plastic just beginning to make inroads. More people reloaded then,and the Darne action would handle the shells well. Take care.
Very interesting. I had seen a few examples in the past, but never in this detail. You are correct about the engineering "viewpoint". The design is simple, logical, and straightforward. One wonders why it was so uncommon. The only reason I can think of is the ease of changing barrels on a break-open? However, watching you and your wife fire the shotgun, it certainly seems to provide more than a bit of recoil - even with 2 1/2 inch shells.
love your content and I am always surprised at the low number of views. Your enthusiasm for all types of shooting disciplines and rifle styles is infectious. Thank you for sharing your passion with us.
Hi Mike really nice side by side especially so different in placing and lock up for the shell. I never seen one. Thank you so much for sharing Mike . Nice to see you again!! Thank you
The purpose of the sliding breach action was to lever in paper shells swollen from tropical humidity in the colonies. There are other French makers that produced them as well.
On some level this design beats the English double gun in simplicity. I think the English double is ergonomically easier to load/unload but this action has no hinge pin, lumps, ejectors, crossbolt… pretty amazing.
I once saw a young man shoot one of these 38 years ago, always struck me as a beautiful gun, with elegant lines. May I suggest a lighter load, maybe they prefer a 67mm case over a 70? Certainly made for a lighter load, no more than an 1oz. Regards from over the pond.
These are still made AFAIK, but it's a custom order gun, I remember finding a YT video on this couple of years ago. Saint Etienne is in the south estern part of the pentagon. The french love "outside the box" thinking, and often does it very well. Russians who are the biggest odd-balls of them all. loves to copy French things.
Have seen the Darne shotgun before in "Shooter's Bibles" and "Gun Digests", etc. back when. I find it odd that a French made gun is called the "Halifax".... after a place in England. 🤔 {I'm surprised that your German (Austrian?) guest had not heard of Darne shotguns.} Looking in my copy of "Gun Trader's Guide", thirty-fourth edition, 2012 A.D., It says "Darne S.A." Saint-Etienne, France. They were from 1889 to 1979. 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge. Standard barrel length was 27.5 inches; they also had 25.5 inch and a 31.5-inch barrels. Any standard choke selection. Straight or pistol grip stock. "Gun Digest's Book of Modern Gun Values", 13th Edition, says a Darne shotgun can cost from $1,100 to $5,750. depending on model and condition.
Saw one in a gun shop in the early 70s. I found it intriguing but was concerned with durability. Bought a beautiful Ugartechea 20 bore SXS instead. Wore that one out because the lower priced Spanish doubles were infamous for that. They use soft metals in the sears triggers because they can be shaped to fit more easily. Gunsmith recommended if I wanted a reliable SXS I should get a Browning BSS. Thousands of rounds later it still works flawlessly. Still wish I had bought the Darne though.
Sir, First the family Darne is the creator of this model of shotgun, Halifax copy the model ! If you want to see one in 16 gauge look at my vidéo : ruclips.net/video/9_jFttXKMNk/видео.html For your information Saint Etienne isn't at the belgian border, this is the heart of french gunsmith many great names of french shotgun was localised in this town ! Another great french shotgun is the "Ronchard & cizeron " a great smith of saint étienne look at this beauty : ruclips.net/video/IH79G6dOWIQ/видео.html I hope that help you about french shotgun. Best regards !
@@wizardofahhhs759 Franchi is italian but the franchi 48 al was made by verney caron too in luxus version ! I am collector i buy shotgun for part and i restore then this is my lobby ! I hope that help you a few.
There was a French family in our neighborhood when I was growing up in the 1960s. I was fascinated by cars so when I discovered the Citroen was French, I asked M. Appert I asked why he didn’t drive one. “Oh - the French cars are the best engineered in the world. Only 1 problem … the doors fall off.”
My father in law owned a a Darne similar to this but with no engraving and plain wood. It wa given to him by his local parish priest in Breville Charante South West France. The priest was given the gun by thhe head of the Darne family because he had helped to hide a Darne son from the germans when he was calld up for STO.(obligitory work in germany) M.Darne would have given him a very fancy model but he said that a plain gun was enough for a priest And no i didnt inherite it but i got the muzzle loaders
You, sir, are the Bob Ross of guns!! Thank you!
Mr. Rogers of guns
Wow! Thank you for showing that to us. Ive never seen such a thing. How Sleek and beautiful it is.
Best Wishes from Montana! M.H
Thanks Mike! When I was 12 or 13 years old my buddy had a 1971 Shooters Bible we used to pour over in the catalog section and one of the strange ones was the Darne...very exotic! Your video is the nearest to a live example I've ever seen and that's just cool!
Thanks for doing this video on the Darne shotgun. I have wanted a Darne ever since I saw them in the Shooters’ Bible in the 1960’s, and read articles by Roger Barlow about grouse hunting with a Darne in Gun Digest during that same time period. I was never able to find one, but I sure enjoyed your video. Thanks.
Thank you so much! All the best to you.
Darne was specialised into guns for goose hunting in the Loire valley. A hunter lay flat in a flat boat, slowly approaching between the reeds. With the large bore guns, they could load a lot of shot, hitting as much birds as possible .
Always lusted for one when I was in the market. Awesome double. Thanks for showing us a nice one. Darn it !
always wanted one of those saw one in a gander mtn many years ago read a article about them in a old gun digest thanks for sharing it with us
Years ago, my wifes uncle had one in 16 ga. with a broken firing pin. I tried to buy it, he didn't want to sell it. Very well made shotgun. Thanks for the video.
That's a very fine gauge in the Darne - even lighter and more dynamic. Hope the shotgun is around somewhere.
St Etienne is more in the south of France near Lyon, but apparently there was a trade in barrels and parts with Liege in Belgium. Congratulations on your super nice shotgun.
Thank you - I should have looked at the map better. I'll learn. All the best! 👍
Look for them in Québec.
I did have a 375 H&H just like it for moose.
Darne good guns.
Regards. Toronto.
Never seen one or heard of one before ,amazing
Wonderful! Despite the jokes, French engineering is great, as well as their esthetic. Great find!
All of your statements are debatable, though that is a very nice gun😂😂😂
I have a friend who collects Darne shotguns. Thanks for sharing.
Your friend is not the only collector. They are well kept now
They were around in the 60’s. I remember seeing a picture of part of their workshop. They still had belt drive machines. It did not seem to impair their quality. Thanks for the video. Take care.
Why are side by sides so appealing, almost timeless. People will always love doubles.
First learned about them 50+ years ago in a British book on shotguns. I have only seen one in my travels all over the lower 48. A gun show in Spokane, WA back in the mid 90's. Didn't get to handle it as it was in mint condition .
Thank you for yet another great future! The Darne company died, was revived under the Bruchet name and it seems to have died again. Apart from the sliding breech side by side, the company also made a more traditional O/U and of course, they made double rifles on both their actions. can't remember which authority it was who described Darnes and their handling as "greased lightning," but that description was definitely apt. While Darnes were boxlocks, there was a sidelock gun called the Charlin on the same sliding breech mechanism but that firm did not survive the Nazi occupation.
Please do check out the other great French gunmaking names: Georges Granger for shotguns and double rifles on their own Aiglon side by side action, Dorleac and Dorleac Mauser actioned and single shot rifles (among the very finest makers of these guns in the world in my - and many other experts' opinion), the recently deceased Alain Vaussenat and his improved Heeren actioned single shot that deserves to be remade by someone, Verney-Carron, Chapuis, and several others. They are not well known in the US and Canada, but that is not because their products are wanting in any way. Good hunting!
Such an excellent post - thank you. I did not know about Grainger and Vaussenat and only a little about the others; although I did own a Verney-Carron double and a Dorleac & Dorleac for a short time: highest level gunmaking. Over 3 million hunters in France and excellent hunting and shooting opportunities. There are many things special about France. I'll get to work learning more. All the best to you.
That is a VERY cool action!
There is a knack for taking it apart
The Darne challenge: when I was at a Belgian collector, I was offered a Darne single shot , goose boat gun. ( 20 mm?): if I could open it , I won. I won but… I really had to look close. The fitting was so neat! It was different than this one with the winged lever
Beautiful and intriguing design. Thanks!
Thank you! It's really something : )
Best review of these I have seen. Fantastic piece -thank-you for sharing.
Thanks for watching and your note : )
The sliding breech action enables duck hunters to reload the shotgun while lying on their back in the bottom of a small boat, hidden from their prey (according to comments found elsewhere on the Internet).
I had no idea. Thank you
That does make sense.
Yes that is the Darne use
Remember, when these shotguns were being made, the predominant shells were paper, with a few brass, and plastic just beginning to make inroads. More people reloaded then,and the Darne action would handle the shells well. Take care.
Thank you for this video. 👍
Beautiful, wonderful gun
Very interesting. I had seen a few examples in the past, but never in this detail. You are correct about the engineering "viewpoint". The design is simple, logical, and straightforward. One wonders why it was so uncommon. The only reason I can think of is the ease of changing barrels on a break-open?
However, watching you and your wife fire the shotgun, it certainly seems to provide more than a bit of recoil - even with 2 1/2 inch shells.
Excellent treatment of an unusual gun. So well done! Loving your channel more and more!
love your content and I am always surprised at the low number of views. Your enthusiasm for all types of shooting disciplines and rifle styles is infectious. Thank you for sharing your passion with us.
He has a very discerning group of followers?
10:57 The doggo was ready to go hunting.
Good video Mike, Darne like other classic SXS are wonderful to have and shoot.
Hi Mike really nice side by side especially so different in placing and lock up for the shell. I never seen one. Thank you so much for sharing Mike . Nice to see you again!! Thank you
The purpose of the sliding breach action was to lever in paper shells swollen from tropical humidity in the colonies. There are other French makers that produced them as well.
Wonderful mechanism. I'll look for other makers I've heard about; yet have not found. France is probably full of them : ) All the best.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Carlin of St Etienne
Nice😁 Always great to see guns i've never seen before...
The gun itself and the review itself, both was superb! It describes quite apt Mike's whole work here.
That's a very slick action.
On some level this design beats the English double gun in simplicity. I think the English double is ergonomically easier to load/unload but this action has no hinge pin, lumps, ejectors, crossbolt… pretty amazing.
I agree
Thank you so much for your video's and your experience and knowledge
It’s different, I like it.
That is darne good shape. Great buy I think
I once saw a young man shoot one of these 38 years ago, always struck me as a beautiful gun, with elegant lines. May I suggest a lighter load, maybe they prefer a 67mm case over a 70? Certainly made for a lighter load, no more than an 1oz. Regards from over the pond.
These are still made AFAIK, but it's a custom order gun, I remember finding a YT video on this couple of years ago. Saint Etienne is in the south estern part of the pentagon. The french love "outside the box" thinking, and often does it very well. Russians who are the biggest odd-balls of them all. loves to copy French things.
Shotgun! New for you
Have seen the Darne shotgun before in "Shooter's Bibles" and "Gun Digests", etc. back when. I find it odd that a French made gun is called the "Halifax".... after a place in England. 🤔 {I'm surprised that your German (Austrian?) guest had not heard of Darne shotguns.}
Looking in my copy of "Gun Trader's Guide", thirty-fourth edition, 2012 A.D., It says "Darne S.A." Saint-Etienne, France. They were from 1889 to 1979. 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge. Standard barrel length was 27.5 inches; they also had 25.5 inch and a 31.5-inch barrels. Any standard choke selection. Straight or pistol grip stock. "Gun Digest's Book of Modern Gun Values", 13th Edition, says a Darne shotgun can cost from $1,100 to $5,750. depending on model and condition.
Nice.
WOW !
I would love to have a Darne in 28, 32, or 410.
Saw one in a gun shop in the early 70s. I found it intriguing but was concerned with durability. Bought a beautiful Ugartechea 20 bore SXS instead. Wore that one out because the lower priced Spanish doubles were infamous for that. They use soft metals in the sears triggers because they can be shaped to fit more easily. Gunsmith recommended if I wanted a reliable SXS I should get a Browning BSS. Thousands of rounds later it still works flawlessly. Still wish I had bought the Darne though.
I've seen a couple of those for sale, mostly 16/65, all were imported before 1914 and look like they were almost beaten to death.
😂 I know what you mean
The stock looks to be really short, beautiful wood though.
If a small manufacturer made this design in 28 ga and .410 in the 7nited states they could sell all they made even at a premium.
I would hurt myself with that same way as I do with the Winchester 1897 hand mangler... Im clumsy.
Sir,
First the family Darne is the creator of this model of shotgun, Halifax copy the model !
If you want to see one in 16 gauge look at my vidéo :
ruclips.net/video/9_jFttXKMNk/видео.html
For your information Saint Etienne isn't at the belgian border, this is the heart of french gunsmith many great names of french shotgun was localised in this town !
Another great french shotgun is the "Ronchard & cizeron " a great smith of saint étienne look at this beauty : ruclips.net/video/IH79G6dOWIQ/видео.html
I hope that help you about french shotgun.
Best regards !
What about the Franchi?
@@wizardofahhhs759 Franchi is italian but the franchi 48 al was made by verney caron too in luxus version ! I am collector i buy shotgun for part and i restore then this is my lobby ! I hope that help you a few.
The heavy breathing 😅
it's begging for a double magazine
So you got yourself a straight pull shotgun? That is one weird looking thing. It’s beautiful in its oddness
Unusual and intricate looking 👌🏻😎 regards from 🇬🇧
The French sure like to make whacky engineering. Cars are the same thing.
It's different for sure. My Renault was a great car; yet also some unique ways of doing things in it.
French design is always weird. Guns, cars etc
There was a French family in our neighborhood when I was growing up in the 1960s. I was fascinated by cars so when I discovered the Citroen was French, I asked M. Appert I asked why he didn’t drive one. “Oh - the French cars are the best engineered in the world. Only 1 problem … the doors fall off.”
There is a saying - the French copy nobody! And nobody copies the French.
@@chipsterb4946 --- 🙂
PizzA
Dang, that's a darned weird gun, but maybe OK.
French copy no one, and nobody copies the French.
Vive la France!
I have had the chance to buy one of these twice. I guess it just wasn't the day. It will happen eventually as it is too unusual for me to pass up.
My father in law owned a a Darne similar to this but with no engraving and plain wood. It wa given to him by his local parish priest in Breville Charante South West France. The priest was given the gun by thhe head of the Darne family because he had helped to hide a Darne son from the germans when he was calld up for STO.(obligitory work in germany) M.Darne would have given him a very fancy model but he said that a plain gun was enough for a priest And no i didnt inherite it but i got the muzzle loaders