doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Just acquired an interesting French double

Argo, I would suggest that there is indeed a "common denominator" amongst all those "Helice" locks: The 4 piece "Helice Grip" lock patented by Verney-Carron and very clearly illustrated in the 1922 catalog I have. I believe that if a French maker put some variant of "Helice" on his gun's top lever, that's what is meant by it. Widely used by makers other than V-C once the patent expired. Why does that seem so unusual? Look at the millions of guns made on the Anson & Deeley action--by a plethora of makers. (From various countries, in the case of A&D.)

And I'll add that I owned a V-C gun (first V-C I owned) that was actually called "Helice". It was the Helice 33. I wrote V-C about the gun and still have the correspondence, in addition to the page from their catalog they sent me. It was the first V-C gun to use coil rather than leaf springs. Mine was the top of the line Helice 33 #3, and used the "Helice Grip" locking mechanism. (That's one I wish I still had. It was a 16ga in excellent condition.)

From what I can see from the exterior of my Mondiale, everything looks right for the same locking mechanism. Those features, although based on the "helical principle", are specific enough to state, quite clearly, that if it's the exact same system that V-C used, then it is indeed a V-C copy. What else could it be? And it is a very specific system. What's somewhat unusual is that Mondiale put their name on the top lever rather than Helice or some variant, which is often the case with other French guns--which bear no other maker's name. Mondiale also appears on the underside of the barrels, along with the initials VA after the serial number.

After trying my best to read what's written on the front of the barrel flats (in a circle above "garanti"), I took a look at Mark Beasland's photo again. Gives me a better view than I can looking at the gun in my hand! It's the name "Pierre Dechelle". Would seem that would be the barrel maker. Can't recall having seen that name previously. Argo?

Assume that's a Verney-Carron gun, since Helice Grip is one of their trademarks?

Pierre Dechelle. There are several guns with barrels with his name from the late 40's-60's on www.naturabuy.fr. Can't find a lot of history. There is some backing and forthing on Passionlachasse.com with mention of his name. Here is a little clip from an article I can't get total access to:



Rough translation: in the 50's the Barrel maker Breuil took on the services of a well known barrel maker Francois Deschelles, who had begun with the Manufacture National d'Armes. In 1946 Deschelles took over the barrel maker at Rue des Francs-Macons in Saint Etienne. With his partner Paul Terrier he developed the honing of barrels in 1951 and adopted the stamp Pierr� Deschelle and not Pierre Deschelle, which creates confusion.

(Note: The only gun maker operating on rue des Francs-Macons was "Damon"..see list above).

Paul Terrier apparently in the 1970's opened a gun repair shop in Saint Etienne (same shop referred to above on passionlachass.fr..).
www.canonnerie-stephanoise.fr/
Notre atelier de r�paration de canons d'armes � feu, bas� � Saint-Etienne, a �t� cr�� dans les ann�es 70 par Monsieur Paul TERRIER et fut ensuite repris dans les ... Etant l'un des trois derniers r�parateurs de canons de fusils ou de carabines en France et ayant conserv� le savoir faire d'en temps, notre atelier est en

Examples of ads from www.naturabuy.fr:
--Canon FANGET Ame 15.0 Eprouv� Triple �preuve St Etienne Pierre D�chelle Garanti.
--Fusil st�phanois � canon PIERRE DECHELLE ...
--Canon : 3 palmes sign� Pierre Dechelle
--CANONNIER JEAN BREUIL ACIER 6 PALMES SIGNEE SUR LES CANONS jean breuil GARANTIE PIERRE DECHELLE

Thanks for confirming the Dechelle connection, Argo. Would seem to indicate that my Mondiale is pretty clearly a post-WWII gun.

An initial round of skeet tells me that it may well be a fine choice for grouse and woodcock, but not necessarily for targets. No surprise there, given its short barrels and light weight.

Larry I sent you a private message, if you want the shells I no longer have the gun.