doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com French 16g sxs

C'est toujours avec plaisir Ted.
Bon week-end à tous.

I have been cleaning up an old French SxS boxlock for a friend (it spent decades in a gun sock in the corner of a closet). This thread has provided invaluable information on his gun, too. Thank you!

https://imgur.com/a/dtjddTc

https://imgur.com/a/rmSCPkv

https://imgur.com/a/oj48gPI

Can't tell you much about L'Abeille Manufacture d'Armes of 81, rue Turbigo, Paris; Looks to have been a pre-WWII retailer in Paris selling both Belgian Liège and Saint-Étienne guns. Here are Bruce's pictures, an advertisement for L'Abeille" and a picture of their shop/workshop for sale.

Thank you for adding that information. The owner will be very pleased to know more about his gun.

Argo44:

Which tube maker was J*C that like to apply the stamp >>Poudre Pyroxylée<<???

Serbus,

Raimey
rse

Marks on the barrels, water table:
-- Wreath with Saint-Étienne - single proofed in Saint-Étienne
-- 65 - chamber length (2 1/2") - post 1924
-- 17.1 - 16 gauge
-- PT under crown - Saint-Étienne smokeless powder proof mark (originated in 1900).
-- Rectifié - regulated chokes (no real meaning)
-- Acier Décarburé - carbide Steel
-- Nouveau Choke Perfectionné - Perfected new choke
-- J (star) C - possibly the artisanal maker of the gun or the barrels in Saint-Étienne
-- Canon Spécial - Special barrels
-- Poudre Pyroxlylée - smokeless powder.

Donno Raimey. I vaguely recall researching a similar mark some time ago, I'll continue looking.

False alarm...it was a Jean Brueil stamp:


1951 list of gun makers in Saint-Étienne lists a Jean Chanson: can't find anything more about him - have searched for him before.
Chanson Jean, 40 rue Badouillère ;

It is interesting though to read the "L'Abeille" lines from 2007 including this one just resurrected and locked:
https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=70201&page=2

In those days people got worked up about guns. re-reading it is hilarious. Robert Chambers was "on fire!" Wondering if this might have been a war-trophy?

My 1923 Verney-Carron catalog (available from Cornell Publications) includes microscopic photos of the steel they used in their barrels. 4 different varieties of "acier diamant" (diamond steel).

That catalog includes a unique full page ad for Verney-Carron from a French war hero: Captain Rene Fonck, the surviving ace of aces (of both sides) from WWI. (75 kills.) Fonck has inscribed his full page photo as follows: "I am delighted with your Verney-Carron Helice Grip shotgun. The birds fall like Krauts!"

To which Verney Carron added:

"Pilot Captain Fonck, famous hunter of men with his machinegun as a well-informed sportsman ensures his reputation as a crack shot with his Helice Grip Verney Carron."

Assuming that American ace of aces Eddie Rickenbacker was a bird hunter, I wonder if one of the American gun companies thought of getting him to advertise their shotguns.




 

I believe I translated that catalog section on VC steel types years ago before AI and machine translations got so good. Can't seem to find it though.

https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=527154&page=8