The French Darne* Sliding Breech Shotgun in 12 Gauge

Happy April Fools Day! Hope y'all are staying safe out there!
Shooting my new (old) Darne clone in 12 gauge. This shotgun sports a unique action in which the breech block slides back to allow the user to chamber as well as automatically extract spent shells. This shotgun was originally chambered in 65mm (2.5") shells but the chambers have been extended to accept 70mm (2.75") shells which you can see on the barrel flat in the gallery of this video.
*This particular shotgun does not sport the Darne logo and instead is inscribed: "CANON ZF FIXE". I do know that the Darne patent expired at the turn of the century and a number of high quality clones entered the market with the design. Mine seems to be and it appears it was even used in a Grand Prix in Milan (1898) and London (1903)!

[@mattsmedley.onehandedgamin9029]

The action on this makes perfect sense, you are under cover (in a bush/tree) with barrel protruding, yet able to reload. Well done French person..

[@jameljay2183]

Designed to shoot it in a Boat

[@TactaGhoul]

This is the most awesome double barrel shotgun I have ever seen. I swear all of Darne's designs are the coolest things ever and were easily 100 years ahead of their time.

[@brendonbewersdorf986]

Yeah darne made some good stuff the machine gun they designed just before WW2 is a very unique piece as well

[@Greentangle]

toggle lever locking action

[@connorlasenby9513]

The French are Number 1 at making the best guns 💪

[@JustMelsie]

I've been trying to find this shotgun all evening! It was featured in S1E1 of Midsomer Murders. Beautiful piece, really caught my eye.

[@TontonTotoDudulle]

I have one too sale, but i'm in France....

[@JustMelsie]

@@TontonTotoDudulle If I wasn't a penniless college student in the US, I'd make you an offer in an instant!

[@TontonTotoDudulle]

@@JustMelsie Ok, may be later, easy in France too find those guns.

[@beeboop1726]

They are common enough in the UK I have seen a couple for sale, usually in 12 or 16 gauge

[@retirednavy8720]

Had a chance to buy one of these about 10 years ago. Like a damn fool I passed on it.

[@druisteen]

12 gauge Magnum look to be a little violent for that old shotgun !

[@texlee1640]

Is the top lever supposed to flop open like that each time you fire it?

[@michelt4390]

Don't think so. Probably something to do with the extra power of the 2.75" shells putting more strain on the action than the expected 2.5" shells.

[@beeboop1726]

@@michelt4390if you look at the side show at the end of the video it’s proof marks show “12 | 70” meaning 12 gauge with 70mm chambers. So it can take 2 3/4” shells

[@h2489-m2l]

Thanks. I've handled a number of these at auctions but never seen one shot. Sometimes the French just do things a bit different. Wonderful! Light guns certainly kick!

[@lozach1000]

Nice shooting ! I am french collector if you like unusal french shotgun look at shotgun "ideal" and rotary Darne ! Nice video !

[@oleskoolnizza]

Traditional shotgunning would have your left hand further forward on barrel, not squished up against the trigger guard. I love taking my darne afield. The side safety location works great for me

[@ambientvirtual]

Put this wacky thing in Hunt: Showdown, Crytek!

[@rodrigohernandezzamora6574]

Dónde se puede comprar una escopeta como esa?

[@lrs2319]

Wow, beautiful!!

[@บังพีทประมาณนี้]

Yes

[@obsidianblackhorse5589]

Your action is unlocking as you fire there, Bud! Better have a gunsmith fix that since it's not safe that way.

[@Cuccos19]

I just love this gun but I also noticed that "jumpy bolt handle" (or what its name). Is it usual with this Darne shotguns/double rifles, or is it an individual issue?

[@obsidianblackhorse5589]

@@Cuccos19 Issue with that gun. No action on any gun is supposed to unlock while the shot charge projectile, etc is still in the barrel. If it unlocks a dab sooner the shooter could get hurt, or even killed. Time to see a shotgunsmith.

[@Cuccos19]

@@obsidianblackhorse5589 Something must gone loose or wear out on this gun. As far as I could see it correctly it is maybe a Halifax model. Single arm bolthandle is typical for Model R and Halifax and other lower/entry level Darnes. The safety button looks like located on the "frame" and not on the "bolt". Maybe they used different expressions for these parts of these specific French shotguns. Anyway the safety button tells it's rather a Halifax, because Model Rs have safety levers on the bolt and have different shape. Maybe a Model P or a Model V with its stronger (and I think more complicated) two part hinge lever wouldn't do this anomaly? Although everything can brake after a while.

[@максиванов-ъ2х]

Всё нормально, ничего не разболталось. После первого выстрела рычаг приподнимается, после второго выстрела еще немного приподнимается. Это сигнал о спущенных курках. Если на приподнятый рычаг нажать вниз, пружина его обратно приподнимет. Еще так взводить удобнее.

[@M-1996A1]

Another incredible design I’ve never seen before, thanks again for all these amazing videos.

[@marcosduran1443]

Ive never seen one of these! What a cool ahotgun!😀

[@myusername3689]

I assume it has extractor claws so that it’ll definitely pull out the casings for ejection.

[@noelkiernan482]

Wonderful and informative video. Pity there is not an english translation. I would love to get an opportunity to shoot one of these interesting shotguns sometime.

[@kokorico5416]

Nice presentation, thank you! As a new owner of a Darne mod.R11 I have a critical question: When (and only then) you take off the barrels, the extractor from the face of the barrels may come out by itself? It has that little thin hook pinned, which seems to let the extractor free if you push it in.I am asking because my extractor just felt down accidentally when taking the barrels off ! Thank you in advance!

[@Shot_Gunner]

What an amazing design! I really like that shotgun. 🤠

[@luger_Mann]

I don't know why this appeals to me, I'm not a french collector at all but I want one of these.

[@jobvidalvidal3990]

Muito linda gostei

[@luxmid7486]

I cant find many videos of the Darne 8 gauge used in Tremors by Burt to kill the Graboid it looked crazy

[@assawachaipanpon8315]

ชอบระบบการทำงานของปืน ดูปืนประสิทธิภาพในการยิงเเละโหลดกระสุนมาก

[@c.merovee8987]

Ce n'est un Darne ! Il a un défaut majeur, la clé s’entrouvre au tir, c'est une arme dangereuse !

[@максиванов-ъ2х]

It does not open, but is lifted and held by a spring. This is a signal about a shot being fired.

[@Tsudoshi09]

Beautiful SxS and the action is crazy

[@lunarpking]

Hey that's an awesome gun, lemme go look at what they run.... Oh.... well, glad to know about it anyways.

[@herrskeletal3994]

Darne I forgot to comment earlier

[@АлександрЛисов-л8у]

Хорошее ружье . Очень простая и надежная конструкция .

[@максиванов-ъ2х]

Friends! Do you have an idea about the manufacturer, about the years? I have one, it's very shabby, the inscription is almost invisible.

[@donpegar2645]

Well that's cool , I want one

[@nayelicoello2543]

Hermosa arma amigos muy buena🇪🇨🇪🇨👍

[@igorhermann4600]

Восхищаюсь, великолепное решение заряжания.

[@EnLaMatrix1]

The shell extraction is so satisfying

[@gurmitsingh3120]

Most accurate shotgun.

[@avijitsantra6329]

Which country made brother??

[@SanforSan]

بندقيه درن فرنسي وزنه خفيف وأنيق جدا.......لدي بندقيه نفسها

[@marcosassilva2144]

Show 👌🏽👍🏽🇧🇷

[@Salahbouhrizi-dm6cl]

نحب نشري قطعة.نجمو نتواصلو

[@oetam8559]

this could be a german shotgun, it is similar to the luger system for the lever

[@beeboop1726]

It’s French

[@MuhammadAli-kq3gj]

Desmond please i want buy this item

[@monsterstereos1836]

Well, that's one of the strangest shotguns I've ever seen! It looks to be very well engineered and beautifully designed. What are these worth ($$$)?

[@Rat_of_Tobruk]

for this particular model (which is the Darne modèle 1906 I believe?) There are very few websites where you can find it, but one place i found said it was 35,000€ TTC which is the french currency. You should be able to convert that to other currencies and i found it to be $2717.19 USD, though it will obviously be different for every country. hope this helps 👍

[@alefeangelo3497]

Awesome Video! 👍🏻

[@zermomia]

Almost opens when shooting

[@lazarokguatika7144]

Hermosa cuando estaba niño un señor de un pueblo q. Se llama sta. Inés en Venezuela edo Anzoátegui tenía una de esas idéntica.

[@robertrobert7924]

Is your old gun nitro-proofed for firing modern smokeless powder loads?

[@PhoenixPhart]

I make no claim on being an expert in gunpowder, but a cursory glance on the internet, the Crown over PT indicates it was proofed for "Poudre T" which is pretty much the standard since 1900. In addition, it seems like the shotgun was chambered for 2.75" shells since there's another mark: 12/70 meaning 12 bore in a 70mm chamber. My chamber length gauge agrees with this, too

[@robertrobert7924]

@@PhoenixPhart Than you for your response. I just bought online a French ManuFrance 14mm Buffalo Garden Shotgun. Can't wait to check the proof marks in person. The ones in the photographs were confusing. Were you shooting modern smokeless cartridges in the video?

[@PhoenixPhart]

@@robertrobert7924 Sorry for the late response: yes, I'm shooting modern factory target shot through this shotgun

[@robertrobert7924]

@@PhoenixPhart My bolt action single shot 14mm/32 ga. Garden Gun is also marked PT. I don't know if that means early smokeless, or modern 2020 smokeless. Perhaps I should try to contact FIOCCHI for more information before I shoot modern in it. I do not know the year of manufacture which may be a factor that determines what is safe to shoot.

[@druisteen]

@@PhoenixPhart Do not fire hot load , that one was made prior to the 20's

[@GingerAleDude]

Nice gun but the action is loose and would benefit from a bit of work.

[@BachongKomandoAirOfficiaL]

Try to shot a hog...

[@jonpaul3868]

Ambidex lever 👍

[@laurentboucher8250]

J ai le même en 16 gauge

[@igor79cz]

Looks cool jackhammer is shoty i like

[@SpruceReduce8854]

The joke is that there is no joke

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

inb4 cliche Darne puns

[@oolooo]

Kind of brilliant design .Although I imagine they must be sort of weak . Perfect to pair with a breech loading rifle and a top-break revolver .

[@madanjandu3043]

Beautiful full

[@jameson7276]

pretty good darn gun

[@gentity8589]

I like it!

[@ras20V11]

Very cool!!!

[@JohnDoe-pk8lc]

neat action

[@The_Austin_Doell]

Big Darne

[@ຊ້າງນ້ອຍກົມມະເມືອງ]

ມັກລຸ້ນເກົ່າ

[@fortawesome1974]

Need some work done on the locking mech it's popping open even when you still have a round to fire!!

[@antoniskiats2303]

I have 1 old from my grandfather what is the price for it?

[@Russianpaintrain]

Wow , thats nice , great work , well done !