France comes to Texas
Story by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News
French factory representatives were on hand at the Beretta Gallery on Sept. 28-29, sharing the history of the company and showcasing some high-quality firearms.
Chapuis, bought by Beretta in 2019 and imported and marketed by Benelli, is well known in European firearm circles, but not so much across the pond.
The Chapuis family has produced some of Europe’s best shotguns and rifles since the early 1900s. After several father-to-son generations, the guns reputed to feel like an extension of the hunter’s body are available for the American customer.
All stages of manufacturing and finishing are French-made, executed at the St. Bonnet-Le-Chateau facility in the French countryside. The legendary Model 1777 musket came from the plant, being the gun that helped the U.S. obtain its independence in the late 1700s. The company’s reputation is so revered that it has its own government-certified proof house within the plant — something unique in European firearm manufacturing.
Chapuis’ gunsmiths and engravers exhibit master attention to detail as seen in the finest guns, and the company is known for its Iphisi double rifle that doesn’t cost upwards of $30,000, but rather close to $10,000.
The company’s bolt-action Rols rifles utilize the European-style straight pull bolts, commonly used on the continent for hunting driven game, and are gaining in popularity in the U.S.
Handlers of the gun said the age-old technology will take some getting used to.
“The non-rotating bolt has a locking sleeve in the barrel, in front of the chamber,” product manager Tom Leoni said. “The system has been tested to 123,000 psi, and the rifle is designed not to fire unless the bolt is pushed all the way home.”
Other invited guests included author and television host Craig Boddington, Kevin Steele of Petersen’ Hunting, Chris Agnes of Outdoor Sportsman’s Group, Scott Rupp of Handguns and Rifleshooter, Houston Safari Club Foundation’s Joe Betar and Shaun Nelson and Jim VanGilder of Guns America.
From Chapuis, Pierre-Laurent Faure was at the event, along with Leoni.
“Most kids read comic books,” Leoni said. “I read Craig Boddington — that’s how I developed my passion for guns.”
Beyond the firearms, conversations turned to negotiating roe deer hunts in Europe and white-tailed deer hunts in Texas, with the Americans experiencing the sophisticated atmosphere, partly due to the French accents in the room.
Beretta’s Ian Harrison was on hand from New York, and entertained fine gun customers in the room, and plans were made to field test and hunt with the rifles with Sams in Texas later this hunting season.
Chapuis also now offers the Manurhin MR73 revolver in .357 Magnum in the U.S., the pistol used by French Special Forces, and known as the strongest and one of the most accurate revolvers made, which was at the event for customers to handle.
“We have so many orders for the pistol we are having trouble keeping up,” Leoni said.
The Chapuis entire lineup of shotguns, rifles and pistols will be available for purchase at the Beretta Gallery and other fine gun retailers, and the lineup can be seen at chapuis-usa.com.
