Where the hell did Verney - Carron come from?

12 February 2011, 01:50

Hi Guys:

It's been a while since I have been back in to doubles on this board. Two years ago I bought a 470 Cahpuis Brousse, my first double.

Naturally there were the Merkels, Kreighoff, Heyms, Searcy, Chapuis, and all the famous British Doubles.

But I have NEVER seen or heard of the Verney - Carron DR. And now they are all over this forum with GREAT Reviews. Dumb question, where did they come from all of a sudden? Are they reasonably priced? They sure as hell were not talked about much two years ago.

Doc's VC DR is absolutely stunning. Oh God help me I feel the DR urge again.

Regards PAHunter.

12 February 2011, 02:00

<generalwar>

They have been around for some time. They make all of Griffin & Howe DR's. Nice guns for the money.

12 February 2011, 03:15

CCMDoc

PAHunter,

Give Ken Buch ( Kebco) a call he can fill you in on the details and history. Great guy to deal with and plenty of his own hunting experience to share.

12 February 2011, 03:23

PAHunter

Hi Doc:

After seeing your rifle so far, I am afraid to give him a call... LOL cause it would probably cost me money.

I see you are from the great state of NJ, I am from Allentown PA. Is Ken close to our area, just curious.

Who sells VC... Cabelas ???

Regards PAHunter..

12 February 2011, 03:31

CCMDoc

One of the reasons that we don't know much about V-C is that Ken is one of a very few (perhaps the only) distributor here in the USA, so none of the popular places like cabelas carries them.

Ken is in Hanover, PA so thats about 3 1/2 hour drive for me from northeast NJ and about 2 hour dive for you from Allentown.

I'll let you know when I go to pick it up - maybe we can meet at his place. I'll drag Biebs and BigFiveJack along for the ride!

12 February 2011, 04:08

505ED

Ken is the importer, and he will sell direct to you

http://www.kebcollc.com/

Griffin and Howe--company label doubles are VC just like generalwar said.

They are nice guns

12 February 2011, 04:13

srose

Verney Carron guns are kinda an offshoot of the Chapuis by Demas (Paul) I think. Pretty sure there is some information on them in the book Express Rifles. I have two VC guns and like them a lot. Very well made for the price you pay. No they aren't Holland & Holland nor are they Sabatti.

12 February 2011, 04:18

CCMDoc

Importer, yes I stand corrected.

12 February 2011, 04:42

DoubleDon

quote:
Originally posted by CCMDoc:
I'll let you know when I go to pick it up - maybe we can meet at his place. I'll drag Biebs and BigFiveJack along for the ride!

Doc, let me know when you yanks are driving down from New Joisey. If schedule permits, I'll drive north from Col. John Mosby's home ground (which is my home) and hook up with y'all just east of Gettysburg.

12 February 2011, 05:41

CCMDoc

quote:
Originally posted by DoubleDon:
quote:
Originally posted by CCMDoc:
I'll let you know when I go to pick it up - maybe we can meet at his place. I'll drag Biebs and BigFiveJack along for the ride!

Doc, let me know when you yanks are driving down from New Joisey. If schedule permits, I'll drive north from Col. John Mosby's home ground (which is my home) and hook up with y'all just east of Gettysburg.

Sounds great DoubleDon - will certainly do.

As far as the other trip you mentioned, that one is actually a bit shorter than the one we currently drive each November.

12 February 2011, 08:18

PAHunter

Hi Doc:

quote:
Sounds great DoubleDon - will certainly do.

quote:
Originally posted by DoubleDon:

quote:
Originally posted by CCMDoc:
I'll let you know when I go to pick it up - maybe we can meet at his place. I'll drag Biebs and BigFiveJack along for the ride!

Doc, let me know when you yanks are driving down from New Joisey. If schedule permits, I'll drive north from Col. John Mosby's home ground (which is my home) and hook up with y'all just east of Gettysburg.

Sounds good let me know when, sounds like a road trip.

I like French women, wine, and DOUBLE RIFLES!!

12 February 2011, 18:58

Bill/Oregon

Dang it. You East Coast guys have all the fun!

12 February 2011, 19:56

Showbart

V-C is kinda like the Beretta of France, an old moniker, made fine guns, became a big modern production company, had stopped making fine guns. Paul Demas was with Chapuis for a long time, then went out on his own. He patented and marketed the lockup that was designed in his house. Ken says it was actually Demas' production manager who designed the lockup. These were hand built guns made to order. Paul, I believe, influenced the design of the Chapuis lockup, and the two designs are very similar, from an engineering POV, with Chapuis using double and Demas using triple lugs. I guess G&H were really the first to get into small numbers with Demas, literally twos and fews. I discovered Demas on the internet. I don't think he even had an English translation for his website yet. I can read French and began to make inquiries, which lead me to V-C USA, which was just Hastings barrels, and they said contact the factory, which I finally did. Little did I know that Ken was already in the process of become the US distributor, and when I finallly composed a decent enough email, in French, and finally got a response, they sent me to Ken. Verney-Carron bought out Demas Atelier and now that shop produces V-C fine guns. V-C modern factory still makes main stream sporting arms as well as a non-lethal weapon for police.

12 February 2011, 20:33

Showbart

Here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...pages-fr/video01.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj1k2jMYhuc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dBvOkE3Z84

12 February 2011, 20:33

CCMDoc

Wow! Thanks for that history lesson. Excellent

12 February 2011, 22:43

PAHunter

Hi Showbart:

Then Chapuis is actually older than VC as a company? How does Chapuis compare to VC?

Very interesting video by the way.

Regards.. PAH

12 February 2011, 23:05

Showbart

Chapuis is a modern company, V-C's been around hundreds of years. V-C is better than Chapuis, which is in turn better than Merkel.

12 February 2011, 23:39

CCMDoc

quote:
Originally posted by Showbart:
Chapuis is a modern company, V-C's been around hundreds of years. V-C is better than Chapuis, which is in turn better than Merkel.

Uh oh!

Lane is saddling up to meet you at the edge of town!

You're in for it now! hammering

13 February 2011, 00:17

Showbart

There's nothing to debate.

14 February 2011, 00:06

Sid Post

quote:
Originally posted by Showbart:
Chapuis is a modern company, V-C's been around hundreds of years. V-C is better than Chapuis, which is in turn better than Merkel.

I don't know how to qualify "better" but, Chapuis sure knows how to build a good rifle for the money. I never thought I would own a French rifle or car but, my recent purchase from CCMDoc may cause me to go look at a french car since my bias for their rifles was so unfounded.

Hmmm ... maybe I need to look at some Chapuis shotguns too.

Best Regards,
Sid

All those who seek to destroy the liberties of a democratic nation ought to know that war is the surest and shortest means to accomplish it.
Alexis de Tocqueville

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.
Alexis de Tocqueville

14 February 2011, 06:34

CCMDoc

quote:
Originally posted by Sid Post:
I don't know how to qualify "better" but, Chapuis sure knows how to build a good rifle for the money. I never thought I would own a French rifle or car but, my recent purchase from CCMDoc may cause me to go look at a french car since my bias for their rifles was so unfounded.

Hmmm ... maybe I need to look at some Chapuis shotguns too.

Sure is a beauty, isn't it?

Glad that you are happy with that Double