Raimey, at least we're getting someplace. Definition so far:
"Helice action: An unpatented center-break action made in Saint Etienne, France, characterized by a top lever opening system, a prominent left-stop for the lever, the internals of which are unknown and with "Helice" in some variant or form engraved on the top lever key."
So far it looks like a French advertising variant of "Choke Rectifie," or "Canons de Surete" or "Acier Hercule" etc.
Anyway, Joyeux Noel and Bonne Annee to all you guys.
Back in 2002, I received a letter from Claude Verney-Carron, then president of the company. Concerning Helice, he wrote:
"Helice was the name of the locking system patented by my great grandfather Jean Verney-Carron at the beginning of the 20th century. When the patent expired and fell in the public field a lot of gun makers from Saint-Etienne adopted the system for their own use. That's why you can find a lot of brands derived from the word HELICE. Verney-Carron used the following ones: Helice Grip, Helice 33, Helistop, Helicobloc, Heliduplex."
It looks very much like what happened when the original Darne patent expired and various other makers started producing Darne clones.
