doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Verney-Carron Helicobloc

Doverham--You've got a gun with a double St. Etienne proof (mark seen twice on each barrel in front of the flats) and with factory 2 3/4" (70mm) chambers. The chamber length would lead me to speculate that it's perhaps more likely to be a post-WWII gun than one from between the wars years. Acier diamant = diamond steel. Pretty much like the different names for the steel Parker used in its doubles. Should indicate higher quality steel.

What you found on Helice, Helicobloc etc is a good explanation of the situation. There are a lot of French guns out there not made by V-C which use the same system, or perhaps minor variations of it.

Just to update this post, based on the V-C catalogs I have seen, this appears to be a Commodore model made in the 1950s, which was a mid-grade model with extractors and manual safety. According to the V-C catalogs, ejectors were only offered on their top-end models. Unfortunately, I have not been able to track down a price list.

The quadruple grip lockup is very robust, and the gun sounds like an 8lb Perazzi when it closes, even though it weighs only 6.5 lbs. There are the standard Purdey underbolts, and then two extensions on the barrels. The first extends off the back of the rear lump and is locked down by a bolt extending forward from the bottom of standing breech � essentially a third Purdey underbolt. The other barrel extension is similar to the Webley screw grip � it extends into the top of the standing breech and is cammed down by the top lever, which relies on threads in the spindle to lock it down.

The barrels had some surface corrosion so NECG reblued them. I ended up having the gun restocked using a Cecil Fredi blank � I asked NECG to duplicate the shape and checkering pattern from the original stock as closely as possible and I think they got it right.

Nice restock, Doverham. I've just been doing some research on V-C guns. Have owned a couple in the past, but never one with sideplates. I recall that Steve Barnett had a V-C sidelock for sale a few years back, great condition. You don't see many of those. Thought about chasing it a few times, never did.

Rene Fonck, WWI Spad pilot and surviving ace of aces (from both sides--75 kills), shot a V-C Helice gun. He gave the gun high marks.

Thanks Larry. Osprey has a Silverside sidelock for sale right now and Cabela's had one not too long ago. Osprey's is pretty pricey (more than 4x what I paid for this gun), but that said, it is looks to be a very well made gun with top shelf fit and finish - though the seller's "best" gun claim may be a little over the top. Still, you could spend a lot more and get a lot less.

V-C Silverside

That's a nice looking gun, quite similar to the one Barnett had as best I can recall--but priced about 50% higher.

Paul is looking for a bit of info on this Belgian made sidelock with Helicobloc and VERCAR(Verney-Carron) on the toplever.












JNO. HY. ANDREW & CO. LTD. TOLEDO STEEL WORKS SHEFFIELD

One doesn't see that many of the Andrew Toledo Steel tubes so I wonder if there was just one outlet in Liege.
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=200594&page=1

I have seen some sketchy info that the Helicobloc VERCAR might fall under a 1924 patent by Verney - Carron. Another topic of interest is regarding the stop on the left side of the toplever. Did the V-C Helicobloc VERCAR cover a toplever stop also. It is seen on just a few sporting weapons and Paul has an A. Cordy with such.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Antoine Cordy w/ toplever stop on frame.

The V-C at Osprey also has the same stop

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

JNO. HY. ANDREW & CO. LTD. TOLEDO STEEL WORKS SHEFFIELD 1899 Australian trademark - 1st trademark more than likely filed in 1898.


1902 U.S. of A. advert.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Raimey - that is an interesting gun, minimal engraving but a fancy trigger guard inlay, rounded front lump and disc-set strikers. It also looks to be one of a pair(?). I don't have the information on hand unfortunately but I can post some information on the Helicobloc patent in a few days from one of their catalogs.

The top-lever stop is present on m V-C as well.

Have you noticed the toplever stop prior and what do you know about it? Is it V-C related or is it touted in their catalgoue?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse