DE MEERN "Holland" 20GA pair

TOM DERKSEN

Shotguns

Category : C

Caliber : 20/70mm/2¾"

 

A rare De Meern "Holland" small bore pair, made in 1992 and proofed in England.

Dutch gunmaker Tom DERKSEN was the president and founder of Holland's Verenigde Gewermakers [United Gunmakers].

During the '80s and '90s VGM, one of the most technologically advanced sporting gun makers in Northern Europe, produced and supplied components and near-finished actions to a variety of makers, including some in Britain.

Despite all his efforts DERKSEN failed to save FRANCOTTE from bankruptcy and his venture in the field of sporting guns ended in 2001.

In fact, very few guns bear its signature and they recognize themselves easily to associate the best of the Liège know-how to the English style.

That pair of 20 bore sidelock ejector guns have been built on rounded treble-grip actions with concealed inert wedge bite.

The 27¾" game rib chopper-lump barrels, engraved "De Meern Holland" and gold numbered, are choked improved cylinder and improved modified.

The sidelocks are true Holland & Holland pattern, while the first trigger is hinged and H&H automatic ejectors control the large rimmed cartridges extractors.

The best foliate-scroll engraving is the work of J. OUDEWEQ[1]

and, with the exception of the blued barrels, all metal parts are finished in nitride tempered French grey.

The 15" LOP stocks, made of highly figured French walnut, bear gold intertwined C-Z initials while the splinter forends are adorned with a gold stylized goose, the mark of DERKSEN also find punched on the action flats.

This extremely well cared pair has hunted but remains in a perfect condition with superb untouched mirror bores.

Each gun, perfectly balanced at the pivot axis, weighs 5lb. 15oz. and they are presented in their original blue lined brass-mounted oak and leather case.

 

[1] Its real name was Jean VIELVOYE, Piedboeuf street in Jupille, Liège.

VIELVOYE whose meaning in the Walloon language is "Old Road" which translates into OUDEWEQ in Flemish or Dutch.