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How to Identify Antique Fabrique Nationale Side-by-Side

Fabrique Nationale is a Belgian firearm company that created many high-quality shotguns over the years, and whose side-by-side double barrels can command good antique prices. Some of the designs came from John Browning, of the Browning firearms company, which still maintains business ties with Fabrique Nationale. If you have a very old, side-by-side shotgun from Fabrique Nationale, it is possible to identify and date it, but it's going to take some legwork.

Things You'll Need

Camera

Instructions

- 1
  Go over the shotgun and look for identifying characteristics. The barrels will have the company name, either Fabrique Nationale or FN, stamped somewhere on the barrels. Examine the pattern on the hammers and the break for the shotgun. Make notes on the stock and whether there are any precious metal inlays or carvings that make it unique. If there is a serial number, write it down. Make notes and take photographs of the gun from several different angles.
- 2
  Go to Browning's website and check the date for your gun. The list can be found at the Browning link in the Resources section. However, if you don't have all the details for the gun, it might be hard to look up in that registry.
- 3
  Request a letter of history from Browning. For a $39.95 fee, a Browning representative will search the history of your particular shotgun and provide you with a letter of history detailing what it is, where it came from and all of the other, relevant details regarding your double barrel.

Gun Collecting