More info...
My letter from Bob states my gun was received into the A&F inventory on Dec. 24, 1929. Thanks to Daryl Halquist who informed me that A&F took over VL&D in 1928 but the import license from Francotte was probably still in VL&D's name. I imagine the barrels were stamped at Francotte so they had to stamp them VL&D?
The gun was in an out of the A&F Used Gun inventory for a few years after the initial sale, sold and traded back and was finally sold again in 1939 to the ancestor of the man I purchased it from.
To further complicate my decision, I inspected the case more carefully and it is stamped Abercrombie & Fitch below the handle, and the oil bottle is also from A&F. I believe they were probably purchased with the gun in 1939 because I can see the name of the family I purchased it from in the leather where it was probably embossed at the time of purchase.
So it could actually be an A&F label that's appropriate.
