Stephan,
It will be 30 years ago this May that I was in St. Etienne, a guest of the Bruchets, Paul and Herve’. I went through Verney-Carron at about 6:00PM, after the worker bees had gone home for the day. Most of my discussions were with management and centered on business, and business models pertaining to exports and imports of civilian firearms. Sadly, I never had the pleasure to meet your barrel guy. The kids spoke fluent English, and I did get to see the setup that they produced brazed shotgun barrels on, an automated furnace that had a conveyor to run barrels into it. I handled and fired a Flashball double, with non-lethal rounds, beanbags of some sort. Wicked looking weapon.
https://flash-ball.com/I also had the chance to tour G. Grangers operation, owned by Richard Levi. That tour was one of the highlights of that trip, and that evening, Herve’, Richard, and myself went out on the town and had an excellent meal, and a fine time bird dogging girls at a few Irish themed pubs in Lyon. We were all single. I also toured the proof house the next day, an interesting side trip. I was able to tour it, as there were no military guns in for proof that day, it would have been forbidden if there had been some on the docket. The place was full of racks of Verne Carron aftermarket barrels for Browning A5s, and a few Darnes that had been dropped off, prior to my arrival.
Everything passed proof, that day.
I had a great trip.
Best,
Ted
