Make: St. Etienne, Guichardot

Model: Double Barrel Percussion Sporting Shotgun

Serial Number: NSNV

Year of Manufacture: Circa Mid-19th Century, Antique

Caliber: 20 Gauge, Black Powder

Action Type: Side By Side Double Barrel Percussion Shotgun with Double Triggers

Barrel Length: Approximate 32"

Choke: Left: Cylinder. Right: Cylinder.

Sights / Optics: There is a short blade fixed to the rib about 2" from the muzzle. There is no rear sight, typical of a European sporting fowler of this period.

Markings: The lockplates are marked "Guichardot" and "St. Etienne", indicating manufacture or proofing in the historic French arms center of Saint-Étienne.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The shotgun is fitted with a two-piece walnut stock set featuring a straight grip and straight comb. The wrist and forearm exhibit raised carved borders and decorative panels. The underside of the buttstock displays a deeply relief-carved wild boar head with pronounced scale detail, defined eye work, and sculpted snout and tusk features. The carving remains crisp and is a defining decorative element of the piece. The wrist checkering is present and softened from handling. There are scattered handling marks, light compressions, and finish wear consistent with age. There is a tiny crack in rear of the right lock plate. The butt terminates in a smooth steel buttplate with engraved tang and sides. Length of pull measures approximately 14" and 13 1/4" from the front triggers to the rear of the buttplate, respectively.

Type of Finish:Case Color, Factory Bright, with Engraving

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bores are dark with corrosion. There is no notable deep pitting. In this writer's opinion the bores rate 5/10.

Overall Condition: This antique retains approximately 5% of its original bright metal surface, now aged to a pleasing natural gray patina. All of the case color has muted to a silver. The engraved lockplates depict detailed hunting scenes, including seated hunting dogs. Additional engraving appears on the tang, trigger guard bow, buttplate tang, and side furniture, including bird and wading bird motifs. The engraving remains well defined. Screws show age-appropriate slot wear but retain integrity. The barrels show honest surface wear consistent with age. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Good Plus antique condition with strong decorative appeal.

Mechanics: The hammers cock and release properly on both barrels. The double triggers function as intended. The barrels lock to the breech in typical fashion for a percussion side by side of this era. We did not fire this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: Saint-Étienne has been the heart of French arms production since the 16th century, and by the mid-19th century it was producing some of Europe’s finest sporting guns. This Guichardot percussion double reflects that tradition, blending mechanical utility with expressive craftsmanship. The engraved hunting scenes across the lockplates, the St. Etienne marking on the barrels, and the deeply carved wild boar motif at the wrist create a distinctly continental sporting character.

As a 20 gauge with 32 inch cylinder bore barrels, this shotgun represents a refined upland sporting configuration of the percussion era. The long barrels offer the graceful swing and open patterning typical of traditional black powder fowlers. The metal has aged into a natural gray patina that complements the walnut stock and preserves the historical authenticity of the piece.

This is a true pre-1899 antique sporting arm from one of Europe’s most important gunmaking regions. The combination of maker-marked St. Etienne barrels, Guichardot signature, detailed engraving, and bold stock carving makes this a distinctive and historically grounded example of French craftsmanship.