Here's one for someone who might like to try finishing the woodwork. The metal has all been cleaned & yak fat removed via Easy-off oven cleaner. I also cleaned the wood as well as removing & replacing rotten/missing stuff there. The patched in replacement wood can easily be seen in the pics.
I never got around to giving it a final sanding & stain to match. Other than that, it's pretty much done.
When you do your homework on the Francotte, you will read they should not be fired since most - but not all - the barrels were forged around a mandrel in a spiral pattern. Subsequent rust over the years has weakened the welds & forging. That and the design is not the same as a Brit Martini and is said to not be as strong.
I looked closely and don't THINK this is a spiral welded barrel. I did fire light 45-90 loads through it just to say I did. Regular 577/450 ammo uses a .468" diameter boolet - these and the Gahendras use a .457" one. Another reason not to use standard dimension ammo.
I should go on record as saying it should just be finished off and used for display.
It's a genuine antique & donated to a cancer auction.. SW
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