F. Dumoulin & Co. Garden Gun (AS174)

F. Dumoulin & Co. was a well-known Belgian gun maker located at 2 Rue de la Fontaine, Liege, Belgium. The company operated from 1894 into the 1930s. The predecessor firm, Dumoulin Feres & Cie, Liege was founded in 1849 by Andre-Auguste Dumoulin. After his death, it was run by his widow and later by his sons, Albert Simonis and Joseph Janssen. The brothers were founding members of les Fbricants d'Armes reunis in 1886 and Fabrique Nationale d'Arms de guerre in 1889. This fine little garden shotgun is a great example of the high quality of Dumoulin guns. The overall length is 38". The 23.25" octagon to round barrel has an excellent smooth bore. It appears to be chambered for the 44 extra long (44XL) shotshell (the muzzle measures .3980" and the chamber is .4605"; a 410 is slightly too large to chamber). The top of the barrel is marked F DUMOULIN & Co. The barrel has approx. 98% blue with light edge wear. The action is case colored with approx. 85% remaining on the sides of the receiver. The remainder has traces of color with most being a smooth silver. The left side of the breech is marked DF with an arrow through it. A very small 44 (most likely the caliber) is below. A side lever opens the action. The serial number, 104, and the Belgian Liege and ELG proof marks are on the bottom of the barrel. The skeletonized stock is fine with light wear. The wrist and froearm are nicely checkered with the left side of the wrist having a few usage dents. The blued steel buttplate is fine with approx. 80% blue. The action functions correctly. This super nice Dumoulin garden gun is ready for the finest shotgun collection.