1929 Verney Carron 475 No.2 Nitro Express Double Rifle - French ? or Belgium ? made ?

[buckstix]

1929 Verney Carron 475 No.2 Nitro Express Double Rifle - French ? or Belgium ? made ?

Hello fellow forum members.

I come again to inquire of the knowledgeable residents of this forum.

I recently acquired this fine Double Rifle but I am at a loss to determine if it is French made, or Belgium made. Although marked "Verney Carron", (a French Company) I find only Belgium markings. Is it possible that perhaps Verney Carron also had a sister Company located in Belgium?

I've made contact with Verney Carron in France and forwarded pictures in hopes that VC may have some additional information. However, it is somewhat doubtful because I've been told that most all of their records were lost during WWII. If nothing else, I'm hoping to find out if this rifle was "made by" Verney Carron, and proofed in Liege, or if it was "made for" Verney Carron by a Belgium maker. Maybe you have an opinion.

Here are the particulars.

Verney Carron .475 No.2 Nitro Express
Built in 1929
Weight = 10 lbs
LOP = 14-3/8"
Barrel Length = 25-3/4"
Rear Sights = 1 Stand 2 Folding on Matted Quarter Rib
Extractors
Hinged Front Trigger
Chopper-lump Barrels
Rib Extension with Scott's Hidden 3rd Bite
Reinforced Frame
Bushed Firing Pins
Reinforced Comb
Unknown Letter Monogram on Bottom of Stock Behind Grip
Unknown Silver Crest Inlay on Bottom of Stock
Silvers Style Red Recoil Pad

Markings as follows;

Left Barrel Top marked - .475 No.2 Nitro Express - Cordite - 85 Grains - 480 Grain
Right Barrel Top marked - Verney Carron - Liege
Both Barrel Bottoms marked - .475 No.2 Express - B.BLINDEE
Right Barrel Bottoms marked - 11.9
Left Barrel Bottom marked - 11.9 and 11.8
Left Barrel Bottom marked JF - with Eagle's Head Stamp (Jean Falla)
Various Belgium Proofs with an h 1929 Date Code
Bottom of Barrel Block marked - Acier Diamant
Bottom Rib under the Forearm marked - 500 GUNS INDIANAPOLIS,IN

Left Side Action marked - Verney Carron, Liege

As always, your comments and interpretations would be appreciated.

[buckstix]

continued.....

[buckstix]

continued

[mike ford]

Buckstix,
The rifle was made in Belgium. The marking " Verney Carron Liege, suggests that Verney Carron was a Belgian company, at the time, or at least had a division there. As always I could be wrong.
Mike

[buckstix]

Buckstix,
The rifle was made in Belgium. The marking "Verney Carron Liege", suggests that Verney Carron was a Belgian company, at the time, or at least had a division there..... Mike

Hello mike ford,

Thanks for the reply.

Well, that's exactly what I'm trying to determine.

[Peter K]

The star over the capital P is the inspector's Mark. It's the mark of Adolphe Delcommune who was the inspector from 1928 to 1965.
Also search the net under "Belgian Proof Marks". There are several sites with detailed pictures.
Peter

[Axel E]

According to Gadisseur & Druart, "Le Qui est Qui…", Verney – Carron & Cie. had A Liege,Belgium, address at Rue Lamarck 121 from 1924 on, besides their French St.Etienne address. Apparently they had guns made y the Liege guntrade. In 1929 their Liege branch was taken over by Antoine Cordy.So the rifle can be dated to 1928 – 29.

[buckstix]

The star over the capital P is the inspector's Mark. It's the mark of Adolphe Delcommune who was the inspector from 1928 to 1965.
Also search the net under "Belgian Proof Marks". There are several sites with detailed pictures.
Peter

Hello Peter K.

Thanks for the reply.

Its nice to have information such as you have given.

According to Gadisseur & Druart, "Le Qui est Qui…", Verney – Carron & Cie. had A Liege,Belgium, address at Rue Lamarck 121 from 1924 on, besides their French St.Etienne address. Apparently they had guns made y the Liege guntrade. In 1929 their Liege branch was taken over by Antoine Cordy.So the rifle can be dated to 1928 – 29.

Hello Axel E.

Thanks for the reply.

I saw on some other forums that there was quite a debate over Verney Carron having a shop in Liege. I thank you for the information you have given me. I think this puts an end to the argument about their Liege establishment, and I am happy to discover that my rifle is in fact a true Verney Carron Double rifle, even if it was made in Belgium.