Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Another Interesting Rook Rifle - Marietta Dumoulin Freres - 44 Shotgun w/ Travel Case

Another Interesting Rook Rifle - Marietta Dumoulin Freres - 44 Shotgun w/ Travel Case

Hello All,

Here is another very interesting Rook Rifle in my collection. (actually a 44 cal shotgun) It was acquired at a local gun show about a dozen years ago. It still has its original 1916 Redhead Leather Travel Case. The travel case is dated June 20, 1916. Amazingly, the case still has its original key for the locking strap. (a feature that would not likely stop a thief)

This dainty little gun weighs only a tad over 3-1/2 pounds. It has a very Unique Folding Martini action, making it simple to clean. This may account for why it still has a mirror bright bore from end-to-end.

Here are the specs:

3 lbs 9-1/2 oz - Octagon to Round 22-1/8" Barrel - 13-5/8" LOP

The gun still retains about 75% silvered case color on the receiver, and 90% original blue on the barrel. The previous owner; W.K.SMITH, carved his name into the left side of the stock just behind the receiver. It also has an "optimistic" Hard Rubber Butt Plate showing a pair of Flying Ducks.

As always, comments are welcome.

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I always enjoy looking at your collection. You have some very fine firearms indeed!

Thank you for sharing this with us.

That is a gorgeous piece, sir!

Beautiful gun, thanks for sharing it. I'm curious. Have you ever shot it? Seems like it would be a good garden gun for bunnies at short range.

Marvelous!

I've been a small frame Martini fan, both rimfire and centerfire, for many, many years and I've never seen a folding one like this before. Thanks for posting.

Hello Remington40x,
Thanks for the reply.

I also had never seen a folding "Martini". Ive seen a few other folders that were break action, but never a Martini Action that could be folded..

A first for me too, and I thought I had seen it all

Hello gnoahhh,
Thanks for the reply.

Me too ... that's why I had to buy it when I saw it.

I have a little .44 cal falling block shotgun…age unknown but about that time period. I will post pictures. It is a petite little weapon like yours.

buckstix;
Good day to you sir, I hope that despite all the happenings in our world as of late that you're well.

Thanks again for sharing your collection with us. While I don't always comment, I do appreciate you doing so and try to check in.

I've got to say a hinge Martini is a new one on me, but the Belgians did all sorts of inventive things with arms of all sorts.

Thanks again and all the best.

Dwayne

Pretty nifty!

Hello BC30cal,
Thanks for the reply.

Here's an update. I decided to do a chamber cast. I discovered the gun is actually a 410ga with a 2" chamber. I examined all the markings more closely and found a tiny 410-50 mark. The 50 is 50mm which equates to a 2" chamber. This will make reloading much simpler. Take a look at the original picture. I edited it to show the 2" cartridge options at the bottom.

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