Trying to ID and learn about this shotgun

[choclab]

Hello all - I have inherited a few older guns from grandfather and am trying to learn a little more about them. Besides a Mauser 98, 1903A3 Smith Carona, and an old H&R 410, I also have this interesting shotgun that I am having little sucess in learning more about. I've tried multiple sites and even a local gunsmith - none of whom had anything but guesses as to who made this shotgun and when. Looking to see if this extensive forum of experts can help!
Specs:
64 in long assembled
10g single shot
Has markings of '4437' and '10' on receiver
Hard leather (falling apart) butt plate
All screws on gun are flathead
Has brass shield emblem imbedded on underside of stock
'4437' on steel part of fore stock, and '57' stamped into wood where it rests against barrel
has 46" barrel with markings 'choke 10' (obviously 10g), 4437 on underside, and 'A.F.C' on opposite side (I thought American Firearms Corp, but can not locate any pics or info about a gun like this from them). Fairly ornate metal work for what appears to be a plain old 10g shotgun.
Does anyone know what aprox year this is from and who made this shotgun? Is this a punt gun? An older turkey gun? Anything you can share will be great!

[Argonaut]

Probably an old trap gun.......in the old days they did shoot trap with a 10 ga as well as 12. Punt guns are usually pretty crude guns for market hunting. The little engraving is more like a trap model. Probably a 30" barrel....does it have a double bead?

[choclab]

Hi - that would be a short day of trap shooting with a 46" barrel and 8.8 pounds :-) No double bead.

[swifty]

Looks like a Greener type safety. I have a couple of books, I'll try to find some info.

[choclab]

Thanks Swifty. I forgot to mention - two private party responses on another site thought this was from American Arms Co, but all their info has stated they did not make a 10g single barrel shotgun... and no pics of their guns seem to look like this one at all. That marking of A.F.C. is the only type of manufacturer-like marking I can find anywhere on the gun.

[swifty]

Any proof marks? They will frequently give a country of origin.

[choclab]

None at all that I could find on the gun. I also looked with magnifying glass in every location for every maker that I could find where they would normally put them.

[swifty]

Auguste Francotte & Cie is another manufacturer, though I don't think yours is from them. The A.F.C. I don't think is the maker, is there another name on the top of the rib?

[choclab]

Here's a few more close-ups.. no other markings on barrel except the AFC on one side and choke 10 on the other side. Barrel is smooth otherwise besides the scrolling work near the block.
Also took more of the action - top, sides & bottom. I see nothing but scroll work there as well.

[choclab]

Here's two more interesting pieces...the shield in the stock and the butt plate. The but plate sure looks like very old hard leather to me. There's not etching on the shield - I've searched globally for any guns using this type of shield symbol as well.

[swifty]

The rear sight looks like a rifle sight.

[I Swan]

Last last pic in Post #9, flip the barrel upside down, there should be some type of other stamps right there. If you want to really know what this is, post all this over on shotgun world.

[gaucho750]

Last last pic in Post #9, flip the barrel upside down, there should be some type of other stamps right there. If you want to really know what this is, post all this over on shotgun world.

+1. That is where the proof marks will be. They are where the barrel meets the receiver.

[gaucho750]

Here is a link to a page with a ton of proof marks. http://www.phoenixinvestmentarms.com...Proofmarks.pdf

[choclab]

Hi I Swan - tried shotgun world a few months back and really only had a few responses that did not help as much as this forum already has!
There is absolutely nothing on the underside, and there is no sign of sanding or polishing as the color matches the rest of the barrel. A few more pics of underside included.
Swifty - I know is that the strangest shotgun peep you've ever seen? Thats why I started to think it was a early turkey gun or something that they truly aimed with - especially with the extra long barrel. Its definitely been shot through a long time ago based on wear near shell extractor and also scoring in barrel.
Thanks all for the help so far...not too often that its this hard to ID a gun!