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How do you regulate such a barrel?

As for the engraving? Really quite awful. Matches the whole appearance of the rifle, squat and dumpy looking.

Look at the "cheeky" cape buffalo!

The elephants are all on the "bottom of the page" like a immature five year olds drawing.

The leopards? Thankfully the lion and rhinos are too small ... really so much more could be said about the engraving ...
'
The concussion the recoil would give one, is the best thing about this rifle ....

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Oh well.....!

The Torx screw holding on the rear sight sets it off nicely!

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Only for your information, Mr. Claude Bouchet was absolutely not a gunsmith, he was a very good self taught machinist, passionate about very big bore double rifles.
His challenge was to make this pair of true monobloc barrels, that is to say, drawn from the same block of steel, and while I remember the tests carried out at the time (circa 1970) by Raymond Caranta the convergence was perfect.
We see that the man did not have a very large culture and little knowledge about classic rifle design and even if I am deeply sorry about the result I recognize his mechanical tour de force.
The system is also very specific, unrelated to anything that has been designed previously.
The adornment is hideous because it was done by beginners with a very small budget.
On the other hand, the wood and leather case is the work of the FAC (Fabrique d'Articles de Cuir), very serious people of great reputation who have equipped prestigious manufacturers.
Those who know me will understand that I cannot like this weapon but I pay tribute to the will, the ingenuity and the patience of its designer.

DORLEAC
www.dorleac-dorleac.com

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Only for your information, Mr. Claude Bouchet was absolutely not a gunsmith, he was a very good self taught machinist, passionate about very big bore double rifles.
His challenge was to make this pair of true monobloc barrels, that is to say, drawn from the same block of steel, and while I remember the tests carried out at the time (circa 1970) by Raymond Caranta the convergence was perfect.
We see that the man did not have a very large culture and little knowledge about classic rifle design and even if I am deeply sorry about the result I recognize his mechanical tour de force.
The system is also very specific, unrelated to anything that has been designed previously.
The adornment is hideous because it was done by beginners with a very small budget.
On the other hand, the wood and leather case is the work of the FAC (Fabrique d'Articles de Cuir), very serious people of great reputation who have equipped prestigious manufacturers.
Those who know me will understand that I cannot like this weapon but I pay tribute to the will, the ingenuity and the patience of its designer.

DORLEAC
www.dorleac-dorleac.com

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That puts it in a very different light, and I heartily echo your sentiments. While the finished product is not to the standard we all expect in a professionally-made rifle, as a product of an amateur machinist with no previous gunsmithing training, I am in great admiration of M. Bouchet. We all have these dreams of a personal masterpiece, made to our own vision and nobody else's, but few of us ever realize them. M. Bouchet has overcome huge challenges and done just that, and I doubt that many with his level of experience could equal it, let alone do better. As fine piece of a gunmaker's art, it leaves much to be desired; as a first effort, it's incredible. Well done, that man!

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vykkagur,

Very well said, and I agree with you totally.
It's not the prettiest double on the planet but it is indeed an engineering masterpiece.
Anyone who can machine the two barrels from one piece of steel, and get the convergence right, certainly has my respect.

And Mr Dorleac, thankyou Sir for your informative and highly valued details on this unique double rifle.

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Only for your information, Mr. Claude Bouchet was absolutely not a gunsmith, he was a very good self taught machinist, passionate about very big bore double rifles.
His challenge was to make this pair of true monobloc barrels, that is to say, drawn from the same block of steel, and while I remember the tests carried out at the time (circa 1970) by Raymond Caranta the convergence was perfect.
We see that the man did not have a very large culture and little knowledge about classic rifle design and even if I am deeply sorry about the result I recognize his mechanical tour de force.
The system is also very specific, unrelated to anything that has been designed previously.
The adornment is hideous because it was done by beginners with a very small budget.
On the other hand, the wood and leather case is the work of the FAC (Fabrique d'Articles de Cuir), very serious people of great reputation who have equipped prestigious manufacturers.
Those who know me will understand that I cannot like this weapon but I pay tribute to the will, the ingenuity and the patience of its designer.

DORLEAC
www.dorleac-dorleac.com

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That puts it in a very different light, and I heartily echo your sentiments. While the finished product is not to the standard we all expect in a professionally-made rifle, as a product of an amateur machinist with no previous gunsmithing training, I am in great admiration of M. Bouchet. We all have these dreams of a personal masterpiece, made to our own vision and nobody else's, but few of us ever realize them. M. Bouchet has overcome huge challenges and done just that, and I doubt that many with his level of experience could equal it, let alone do better. As fine piece of a gunmaker's art, it leaves much to be desired; as a first effort, it's incredible. Well done, that man!

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vykkagur,

Very well said, and I agree with you totally.
It's not the prettiest double on the planet but it is indeed an engineering masterpiece.
Anyone who can machine the two barrels from one piece of steel, and get the convergence right, certainly has my respect.

And Mr Dorleac, thankyou Sir for your informative and highly valued details on this unique double rifle.

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I remember reading an article about this fellow, he made more than 1 didn’t he? Yes, they are huge and not the most attractive, but as Dorleac said, they are marvels still.

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Where's the forend?

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Only for your information, Mr. Claude Bouchet was absolutely not a gunsmith, he was a very good self taught machinist, passionate about very big bore double rifles.
His challenge was to make this pair of true monobloc barrels, that is to say, drawn from the same block of steel, and while I remember the tests carried out at the time (circa 1970) by Raymond Caranta the convergence was perfect.
We see that the man did not have a very large culture and little knowledge about classic rifle design and even if I am deeply sorry about the result I recognize his mechanical tour de force.
The system is also very specific, unrelated to anything that has been designed previously.
The adornment is hideous because it was done by beginners with a very small budget.
On the other hand, the wood and leather case is the work of the FAC (Fabrique d'Articles de Cuir), very serious people of great reputation who have equipped prestigious manufacturers.
Those who know me will understand that I cannot like this weapon but I pay tribute to the will, the ingenuity and the patience of its designer.

DORLEAC
www.dorleac-dorleac.com

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His challenge was to make this pair of true monobloc barrels, that is to say, drawn from the same block of steel, and while I remember the tests carried out at the time (circa 1970) by Raymond Caranta the convergence was perfect.

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I assume the tests were actual shooting tests. Then yes a amazing if it was able to shoot regulated groups. Well done to the maker on the engineering.

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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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The engraving.

Sometimes I wonder why people engrave their rifles at all. No engraving is far preferable to bad engraving. Minimal engraving is far preferable to bad engraving.

The animal engravings actually remind me of another sometime mush praised gun maker, not mentioned a lot on NE though, and the cartoonish animals engraved on his firearms and displayed on the internet in the past.

I think some scroll work looks fine. I would not want to carry a rifle or own a rifle with such "pictures". Give me plain sideplates any day in preference if not done properly.

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The engraving.

Sometimes I wonder why people engrave their rifles at all. No engraving is far preferable to bad engraving. Minimal engraving is far preferable to bad engraving.

The animal engravings actually remind me of another sometime mush praised gun maker, not mentioned a lot on NE though, and the cartoonish animals engraved on his firearms and displayed on the internet in the past.

I think some scroll work looks fine. I would not want to carry a rifle or own a rifle with such "pictures". Give me plain sideplates any day in preference if not done properly.

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Putting aside the whole question of M. Bouchet's artwork for the moment, I have to say I agree with you on the subject of engraving firearms. I do appreciate the artistic skill that goes into fine engraving (on anything, let alone the convoluted surfaces of a firearm), but I too, very much prefer the clean lines of unadorned steel. Even if I ever became disgustingly wealthy enough to afford custom rifles made to my every whim (Are you listening, Universe? Still waiting...), I would forego the scrollwork and the hunting scenes in favour of a first-rate, deep bluing job. I just find engraved rifles too "busy" for my personal taste. To each his own, I suppose. That's why they still make Fords.

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I like engraving. Am too poor to afford it. Too rough to have good engraving on my using firearms. My comment was this rifle is so gross and ugly with that awful engaving, I would not own if given it for free and would be embarrassed to sell it. I would prefer plain metal locks to those abominations.

Moot point. Can't afford it anyway. My Spanish detachable sidelock shotgun does have nice engraving and I purchased it for $800. Machine engraved?

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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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