doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Verney Carron St Ettiene - 12 bore

Completely agree Larry. This is very recent "Jubile" model, more than likely less than 30 years old. I looked at their web site, but they don't seem to make SXSs anymore (at least under the V-C brand).
This model was clearly made for automated machine production (not like there is anything wrong with that).
Best regards,
WC-

They still make SxS, but only custom orders.

If it's a Helicobloc, it doesn't look like any I've seen previously. And I've certainly never seen one with twin lumps.

I have a V-C catalog from 1999. It looks like the "Rustic" model from V-C's Jet line of sxs, but the photos of the Rustic aren't detailed enough to tell for sure. At that time, V-C was marketing two types of sxs: Jet and Helux. They state that the guns are made for them in the European union. The Helux definitely looks German. Harder to tell with the Jet. My initial thought was Spanish, but in the case of the original poster's gun, that doesn't seem to fit either. I haven't seen anything out of Spain using those twin parallel lumps.

Unless the 1/2 or mod choke is tighter than one would expect, I'd guess that it would be OK with steel as large as US 4's, if you had to use steel in the gun. It does have the double proof, so pressure should not be an issue.

Cannot remember the model name but it was the standard VC double in the 1980s. I recall the dealer telling me that it used the same spring to power hammers and ejectors.

Here is a photo of the unique lever in action. is this what you are all referring to as a helicobloc?

No, that's not it. The top lever in your gun appears to push on a rod which protrudes from the breech face. That's not a design feature of a Helice or Helicobloc gun. The 1922 V-C catalog shows the design of the "Helice Grip" compared to the locking mechanism of an "ordinary triple bolt" system. The Helice Grip has 4 pieces while its competitor has 7. Basically a question of being simpler while also being sufficiently strong. After V-C's patent expired, many other French guns were made using the same design.