Jourjon Victor
14 mm
caliber rifle signed Victor Jourjon
Victor
Jourjon was born in Saint Etienne in April 1909 where his father built bicycle
frames.
After
studying at the National Professional School in Saint Etienne, he taught
gunsmithing there in 1941, but before that he worked at Darne, Montcoudiol,
Laspoussas-Driol and Brun-Latrige.
In 1946
he created his own workshop in Saint Roche, after resigning from teaching.
The
weapons were marketed under the brand name "Select Armes".
Victor
Jourjon bought his father's workshops, rue de Roubaix and filed 7 patents
relating to the modernization of weapons.
He ended
his career at Ets Damon in 1968, to retire in 1974.
Victor
Jourjon left us on March 30, 2005 at the age of 96.
Source of
information: Book by Maurice Forissier “Armorery of St Etienne in the 20th
century” Page 120 –121.
The whole
weapon is made of white polished steel with a stock of the so-called "pistol
type" shape in varnished walnut.
Total
length: 1090 mm
Barrel
length: 650 mm.
14 mm
Caliber Central Percussion Over-and-Under Barrel.
The
particularities of this rifle are to be found in the opening and tilting of the
barrels, the cocking and its size.
Opening -
Tilting and Cocking:
On the
right side of the frame there is a lever, by pressing on it, the plate attached
to it makes a movement of about 10 mm towards the rear, releasing the barrels to
the left by 45 ° and allows the ejection of the cases.
The
movement of the lever also allows the firing pins to be cocked.
The rifle
folds
completely in two "poacher type" by tilting the barrels to the left.
To do
this, you must first press the lever to allow the ejection of the cases and
position the barrels at 45° and then activate the lock on the right to "fold"
the weapon in two, thus facilitating its transport and storage.
The
weapon is probably a prototype (unless I am mistaken), never marketed since no
acceptance punch or proof bench is visible.
The
barrel and the frame bear the No. 1 (serial number ??) and the underside of the
butt is signed: V. JOURJON.
Why this
opening system was never marketed...too complicated, too expensive or too
cumbersome...this is not said in the story and will remain a mystery since
Victor Jourjon is no more.
