Now I have more time to play you may be interested in this double rifle I bought at Holt's last year

It is marked "Jean Van Malle - Brevete a Bruxelles - Arquebusier de S. M. le Roi Milan 1er de Serbia" = S.M. (His Majesty) King Milan 1st of Serbia

The King was a very interesting guy, reigning 1882-1889 when he unexpectedly abdicated

A British and American connection is that he allegedly had an affair with (among others) Jenny Jerome, mother of Winston Churchill!!

I have nothing on the gunmaker Jean Van Malle of Brussels - can anyone help?

Described by Holt's as probably re-stocked, my ex H&H gunsmith considers not, but has been completely restored by one of the better name companies. In UK that would have been almost as much as I paid for it, so I am concerned something is not quite right

To my untrained eye it seems to be to good to be true, mostly in the white, action is as tight as new, engraving crisp, but with odd queries

If it has been re- stocked, the inletting is very good

Button release on fore end

Nice belly!

Liege proofs plus '96'?

Very crisp engraving as if it was done (re-done?) yesterday

Sights are all folding - why? is this rare? The browning clear

Bores are good, I have not shot it yet

Rim recess appears for a thicker rim than the Bertram

No butt plate unusual on a good quality rifle?? with nice wood? -Does it indicate re-stocking?

There is no half cock -any ideas?

I assume 450/400 3 1/4 " - from date (1880s?) and chambering 3 inch does not chamber fully although the rim recess is thicker - but I only have Bertram brass, did the 3 1/4 inch exist with a thicker rim?

Please comment, help or just enjoy!

TH44