You should consider a French gun - here's why!

When we talk about the great gunmaking nations, we typically think of places like Italy, Belgium, Spain and the UK. But what of the land that sits right in the middle of those countries, the land of haute cuisine and fine wine? Chapuis Armes is perhaps the best known of the French gunmakers, and there’s a good case to be made that your next game gun should be from this historic house.

A brief history of Chapuis Armes

Chapuis Armes was founded in 1934 in the Loire valley, home not only to some of the finest wineries in the world, but also the town of St. Etienne, the French equivalent of Italy’s Gardone Val Trompia. Jean Louis Chapuis, the founder, was an action and barrel maker, producing parts for the St. Etienne guntrade who decided to set up his own gunmaking house in the nearby village of Saint-Bonnet-Le-Chateau (should French gunmaker’s premises be referred to as Chateaux? I think so). 

Although the company made its name making double rifles, in the 70s they branched out into shotguns, and since its foundation nearly one hundred years ago has become one of France’s most recognised and respected gunmakers. From its humble beginnings in the barn behind the founder’s bar, the company now occupies a large modern factory space, just outside the picturesque hilltop village where it was born, which Frank Stephenson visited in 2017.

The company was owned and managed by the descendants of Jean Louis until 2019 when Beretta Holdings purchased a controlling stake from his grandsons David and Vincent Chapuis, who continue to manage and run the business day-to-day. In the UK Chapuis Armes guns are distributed by GMK through a small network of 12 dealers.

A blend of traditional and modern techniques

As Frank Stephenson explored in his visit to the factory, Chapuis’ shotguns can be characterised by the marriage of traditional artisanal techniques and modern technology. This mélange, if I may use the term, allows the factory to turn out high quality shotguns, made to the customer’s specifications and measurements at a very competitive price.

Robert Frampton, Brand Director at GMK, said “Chapuis offer a huge range so we decided to focus initially on two over and under rounded action models – the C35 Super Orion ‘Classic’ and C135 Super Orion ‘Artisan’, both custom-made to a UK spec.”

Chapuis Armes Super Orion C35 Classic

Starting from £3,200 the C35 ‘Classic’ can be thought of as the entry-level offering, but given the custom-made nature of the guns, this could be seen of as something of an under-sell.

Built on an elegant rounded action with coin-finished laser-engraving on the action body and trigger blade, and attractive Grade 3 Turkish walnut with a matt-oil finish used for the woodwork, it is a very pretty gun to look at. On the pistol-grip stock the chequering is hand-cut, as is the case on the nicely rounded foreend.

When it comes to the engraving, there is a choice of 11 designs, from gamescenes to traditional scrollwork, and you can even submit a custom design. Since Chapuis offer six grades of wood, you can also opt to upgrade from the standard Grade 3. Whichever grade you plump for, you can choose a blank and provide your custom stock measurements.

Just one of the 11 engraving designs customers can choose from

The monobloc barrels are available in 30” as standard, though other lengths are available, and they are fitted with interchangeable mobil chokes. Available in 12 and 20 bore, the C35 is superior steel proofed, so it is set up for the future. The C35 offered by GMK is specced as a game gun, hence a narrow solid top-rib.

It is not, however a great heavy thing, tipping the scales at 2.95kg, or 6lb8oz, so you won’t want to be using too heavy a load with it. This lightness does mean that the C35 is well suited for both driven and walked up shooting, which, combined with the customisation options making it a great alternative to some of the more common ‘starter’ guns on the market. If you want something even less weighty, there is a Lightweight model with a receiver constructed from alloy rather than steel.

Chapuis Armes Super Orion C135 Artisan

On the other hand, if you are more discerning and appreciate even greater gunmaking artistry (and have about three grand more), the C135 Artisan could be the gun for you. This gun is mechanically the same as the cheaper C35, but with many more hours of spent on all the important parts making it a real joy to behold.

The Artisan comes, as the name implies, with hand-finished engraving by Chapuis Armes’ master engravers. The extended trigger guard features a half-rollover and the action fences are sculpted.

The woodwork is also given an upgrade. The Best Oil finished Prince of Wales stock is made from beautifully figured grade 5 Turkish walnut, adding to the classic elegance of the gun. There’s no denying that it’s a thing of beauty

The C135 Artisan is a little heavier than its little sister, coming in at 3.25kg (7lb2oz), so while it is still not a behemoth, it should stand up to heavier loads with less felt-recoil than the C35.

Lead time and warranty

If you are considering either a C35 or a C135 (and from what I have seen, you would be crazy not to) you can expect to receive your fully bespoke gun in around 6 months after placing and confirming the order, which in today’s climate is pretty good. Before this you work with the dealer to set your exact specifications, and then when you have confirmed the order you can select your stock blank and provide your measurements.

The guns are covered by GMK’s 2 year warranty, so you can be confident that in the unlikely event of something going awry, you won’t be on the hook for an expensive repair bill.

Who are these guns for?

It is tempting to say that these guns are suitable for anyone, but that would be glib, not to mention unhelpful. The price points give us some guidance here.

The C35 Classic will set you back about £800 more than a Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon III, so I’d say that it is best suited to someone who is looking for an affordable game gun that’s a little bit different and expresses something of you. Similarly, the C135 Artisan, at roughly the same cost as a Beretta 687 EELL, is suited to those looking for a high-spec gun with loads of personality and that will draw admiring glances in the gunbus.

No matter which price point you’re at, if you’re in the market, you would do well to add have a look at French as well as Italian, Belgian, Spanish or Japanese before making your choice. For more information on GMK's range of Chapuis Armes shotguns, visit GMK's website or find your nearest dealer.