I've completed a rough translation of Didier-Drevet's letter to the editor of "L'Republican de la Loire et de la Haute Loire," 28 November 1878. (Welcome corrections/edits - I may have missed some technical terms). It's posted above for anyone with historical metallurgical interest. He recommends upgrading Saint-Etienne's rolling machines and mandrels (mandrin). He lambasts the Parisian gun makers for using Belgian guns and barrels and relabeling them. However, lest anyone think the guns Saint-Etienne were making at the time were inferior, here are photos of an 1878 Didier Fusil (Barrel flats already pictured above):













And check out the arsenic case colors - not to American tastes but popular in France.

Last edited by Argo44; 07/29/17 11:52 PM.
Baluch are not Brahui, Brahui are Baluch