WWII bring back shotgun

[kbeckle]

Hello,

My father in-law-brought back a Lovinsior Herstal double barrel shotgun at the end of WWII (he served as a machine gunner in the Army in the Pacific). He brought home the shotgun and also an Arisaka Type 99 7MM bolt action. The Arisaka is pretty common, but I can find no information on the Lovinsior Herstal. Any one out there that knows anything about it, i.e., country of manufacture or any history? Thanks for any help.

 

[rcmodel]

Well, I know Herstal is a city in Belgium famous for the arms making trade for several century's.

I would assume the gun was made there by a person or company named Lovinsior.
Quality could range from dismal to superb, depending on the maker.

I would suggest you pop off the forearm and look for Belgium proof marks on the bottoms of the barrels.

Once that is done, come back and post photo's of them and someone can probably help you date it.

At any rate, it seems doubtful your FIL picked it up in the South Pacific during WWII!

rc

 

[KodiakBeer]

Herstal is in Belgium. Gun making was pretty much a cottage industry there prior to WWII and the number of manufacturers were in the thousands - most manufacturers were a couple of guys in a garage, making, buying and assembling components bought from other guys in other garages. Belgian guns can range from absolute junk to works of art.

Take a look at it. If it's solid and has high grade wood, it's a nice shotgun. Have a good gunsmith look at the barrels to see if it will handle modern loads.

Any pictures?