Aaron, I read your very well presented article but am not sure it's logical. Here are the points I think are important which should be the reference marks for further historical research:
1). The gun is Saint-Etienne made and proofed in the 1860'a. If it were made in Paris, it likely would have no Parisian proof marks. Saint-Etienne complained about this double standard for years.
2). Messardier is a Saint-Etienne barrel maker, and perhaps gun maker (arquabusier) of the 1860's.
3). Coirier is a armurier (gun dealer, repairer) in Clermont-Ferrand as of circa 1860's.
Thus, I don't think looking in Paris is the way to proceed. I would think that the best way to find more about Messardier would be to post a question on Passionlachasse.Fr. Since there are other Messardier gun (barrels?) out there the gun maker was known. French genealogy sites might help. I have a feeling that the firm didn't last that long maybe 20 years at most. I'll look a bit further as time permits.
Whatever, the gun is beautiful and worth enjoying.
There is an Armurier currently working in Les Landes named Jean Jacques Massardier. In the off-chance that he's a descendent, I'll send him an email.
40 - Landesup
JIGA DIFFUSION
Mr Jean Jacques MASSARDIER
414, rue de la gare
40140 MAGESCQ
Tel: 05 58 91 30 84
Fax: 05 58 91 31 97
Web:
www.jiga-diffusion.comMail: contact@jiga-diffusion.com
Cotisation: 2017
I've forwarded the following note: If this doesn't work, I'm going to go ahead and bite the bullet and join Passionlachasse myself and let them laugh at my English-French translations:
M. Massardier, je suis American donc pardonnez mon Francais. Sur le site Doublegunshop.com, nous sommes en traine de parler de un 1867 fusil broche fabrique (nous pensons) par un canonnier Stphanois M. Massarier pendant les annees 1860s. Voila le site et les photos.
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=524443#Post524443
Jai trouve quatre fusil fabrique par Massardier pendant les 1850s-60s mais nous je pouvons pas trouve plus de information sur le arquebusier. Par hazard, et vous un descendant de le Massardier de Saint-Etienne? Pouvez vous nous aidez avec un peu de information sur le compagnie? Merci infinitvement?
Gene Williams, McLean, Virginia, USA
