Actually Raimey it's a very interesting side-light to the Saint-Étienne industrial story.
Early on this board I bought a war-trophy St Étienne 12 gauge with "Wonder" on the key. I finally figured out it was probably marketed by Ravat who had a trademark "Wonder" for bicycles and mortorcycles. It's what got me first questioning this whole "Helice" thing.
http://doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=448156&page=1 But Ravat is nowhere listed in the St Étienne chamber of commerce listing of manufacturers of firearms and parts.. or whatever.. Nor is ATM. Except we haven't looked very hard. Yet.
Per the above, it looks like Merkel licensed the use of their name to a St Étienne company. Plus...here's a 1920's-30's German company marketing their name to French manufacturers. And a few years later.,,,,
