This is my first time on the web site and I'm hoping that there is someone out there with knowledge regarding French made shotguns. 30 years ago I bought an old side by side from my great uncle. On the barrel it says "Janisson Jeune", and on the other barrel it says St. Etienne. I think it would be fun to learn a little bit about it's history, and possibly find out when it was made. If anyone out there has heard of this gun, please let me know. Thanks, Jeff

Pictures are the secret to getting max information. Both of the gun and almost as important the proof marks on the undeside of the barrels. From those we might be able to estimate when made, where proofed and what shells it was designed to shoot safely.

You should post photos of your gun including close-ups of the barrels flats, the barrels just in front of the flats as well as the water table.

I realize posting photos is a PITA but there’s a tutorial here http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=148935#Post148935

Most importantly, welcome to the board!

Steve

Hello Jeff S
Welcome to this site
These pictures are nice, but we could help you more with clear pictures of the barrel flats and action flats to show the proof marks and other data.

Again, WELCOME
Mike

p.s. congrats on the French shotgun, I sure do like shooting mine.
They are LIGHT and a joy to carry.

Mike, I am so glad you are on this site. Unfailingly helpful, pleasant, enthusiastic and welcoming.

Thank you!

Holy crap! How did you get the pictures of my gun? Good thing I don't have any pictures of my wife out there. I'll take some pictures of the barrels in a couple days. I have to go partridge hunting all day tomorrow. thanks for all the interest. Jeff

Skeetmike copied them from the fox web site. He must have plenty of time on his hands. Sad.

Actually, Mike is a gentleman first class. Something your comment lacks.

Should gentleman pirate pictures?

Looks to have the V-C Helice stop?


Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Seems to me a gentleman was helping someone out who didn't know how to post photos on this site.

My apologies to the board for my intolerance.

SRH

Sure pleased hunting season is here, lots of ammo to go around
No harm, no fowl so far.

Old Joe is OK so far, pleased he is posting here, Yes, I had time on my hands today, it is RAINING here in Amarillo and the dirt roads are too wet to get to my hunting spots and I do not like messing the roads up.
Old Joe, what do you do when you have time on your hands? Do you help people with their requests?

Mike

See, I CAN be nice

Tell us something we don't know. Gil

Mike tries to help everyone. Bobby

Yup.

Nice stick on it, too. Classic French walnut.

One of mine has the similar side and balls engraving

Janisson, 26 cours Fauriel, St-Etienne.
Was in business in 1951. I don't have any other info.
"Jeune" means "the younger", e.g. one of his predecessor was in the business too.
Cours Fauriel was one of the hotspot of the gun making industry in St-Etienne.
Seems like a St Etienne industry standard Helice gun.

WC-

Wow! Lots of chatter out there. I have attempted to take a few more pictures to help identify this shot gun. However, it's obvious that you guys are better at taking pictures, or have much better cameras than I do. I'll give it my best shot.
On the flat portion of the "lock" it says PT, with a small crown over it.

On the "flat" of the barrels it says ACIER DE SURETE, to the left of that is has the PT with the crown again. To the left of the "PT", there are words stamped in the form of a circle and it says "CHOKE RECTIFIE A. COUILLARD". Just above the circle is stamped 65.

On the actual barrels it says S.H.&C, JANISSON, St ETENNE, 18.4


What do you think guys? Does all of this make any sense to you?

What is a V-C Helice stop?

Jeff
Look at the picture in my above posting and you will see a protrusion that keeps the opening lever to always be centered.

Acier de surete = safety steel

CHOKE RECTIFIE = chokes regulated

Circle 65 = 65mm chambers

Mike

P.S. if you will take your pictures in the bathroom without flash you will do well. In most houses the bathroom is the best lit room in the house.
My camera is an ANCIENT Sony Mavica 73 with 3 1/2 disk format, Ebay $10.00

Mike

Wow! Is there any way to tell when this gun was manufactured?

Take a look at these and narrow it down in years

http://www.shotguns.se/html/france.html

Mike

P.S. Mine has a double proof (line 34)

Acier Suerte translates to "Proof Steel"--

RWTF, it actually means "safety steel" which means ... nothing at all, really.
The barrel set is from Heurtier, a good brand.
This gun is dating from the mid 20th century, 1930s to 1950s.
Best regards,
WC-

It's that tab on the left side of the toplever that gives it away as some Helice variant.


"La qualité HEURTIER est un Nom et un Renom de Référence dans la Canonnerie Stéphanoise et dans la fabrication d'Armes de Canons et de Chasses et ce depuis le XIX siècle. Puis de nouveau dès 1930 lorsque Simon HEURTIER fonda sa Société "S.H & Cie" suite au décès de son frère. La canonnerie Heurtier à disparue depuis comme beaucoup d'Armuriers Stéphanois mais les fabrications et Canonneries de qualités sont encore dans nos mains et pour notre plaisir et passion de la chasse."

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Jeff,
PT with the crown is the stamp for proof testing at the French proof house in St. Etienne with French proof powder T. There was also a proof house in Paris, it used different stamps. French proof was, by law, the highest in Europe at one time. 18.4 is the metric measurement of the barrels (a 12 gauge, in this case) at a point about 9 inches from the standing breech. That is what it measured originally, it could be a bit larger today if the gun saw much use or was honed.

It looks like a very nice boxlock.

Welcome to the site.

Best,
Ted