I love the French steel types. . .American marketing penetrating the European persona.
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.
Last edited by L. Brown; 10/23/24 06:40 AM.
