Donnasson Shotgun
Have a single barrel side hammer shotgun. Appears to be 12 ga.The name on side plate says "Dommasson A St Etienne". the breech is opened by flipping a hinged block to the right. It only travels 90 degrees. Has a hammer like percussion cap gun, but this one hits a firing pin in the block. Does anyone out there Know about this instrument?. On the top of barrel there is the word ZULU stamped in 1/4 in letters. thanks,Len
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You pretty much answered your own question. You do, indeed, have a ZULU.
Lots of obsolete longarms were hanging around France c.1870 and were declared surplus. An enterprising group got together and bought these old arms for next to nothing, then converted them into "shotguns" (if we can call them that).
The funny part is that the ZULU conversions are worth very little (less than $200.00 as a rule) and the unconverted originals are considered collector's items with considerable value.
Nord0 -
thank you for the information. 0 -
"ZULU" SHOTGUN. at one time this gun was among the most commonly encountered of antique shotguns. They've had very little collector value, but seem to be gaining in popularity as the supply is all but dried up, and collectors are beginning to re-evaluate them as a collector piece...
Utilizing a French version of the British Snider breech-loading action [invented by an American], the breechblock is hinged on the left side and lifts upwards to expose the chamber for loading. One of the most inexpensive shotguns of its day, pruduced in large quantities and apparently sold mostly through American Mail Order Houses, Sears and Roebuck and some other Arms dealers sold them also. They sold for a very modest price...$3.40 to $4.50 in the 1880's and early 1890's....Most are 10 and 12 Guage, Have different barrel lengths....and were all Black Powder Guns and Not made for Modern Shotshells...
French muzzleloading Zulu's started life as French military system 1857 Muzzle-Loading Percussion Rifled muskets. In the late 1860's they were converted to breechloaders using the Snider type action, of which many saw service in the franco-Prussion War, 1870. Sold as obsolete and surplus to Belguim arms dealers circa 1874, They were altered into inexpensive shotguns to make them saleable to a civilian market.Apparently it was the Belgum Dealers who coined the name "ZULU"...Most likely to give some pazazz in advertisement to help thier marketing of these homely shotguns...The ZULU was among the most advertised shotgun in its day...Occasionally it was also called "THE HUNTER" in American Sporting Goods mail order Catalogs of the 1880's...There are reports that there were KNOCK-OFF'S, copies, of it using other surplus military parts.
One particular ZULU has an intriguing background. Those with Brass Breachblocks were produced during the Franco-Prussian War under siege conditions. The Brass was obtained from French Church Bells donated to meet the dire emergency.....Value wise its going to depend upon on the Condition...an original ZULU in Excellent Condition should Bring $250.00 to $300.00 on todays market...........
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff<P><BR>0
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