La Franc is the boule brand of FBT, a Thai sporting goods maker working in Bangkok since 1952. The name sounds French, the factory is not: every La Franc boule is made in Thailand, and the range has been on the FIPJP approved list for decades. Buyers pick carbon steel or stainless, hardness from soft to hard, sizes in the usual 71 to 76 mm band, and several groove patterns. In the United States the boules come through Petanque America, where a set of three SM sits near 89 dollars, about the lowest price for a competition legal boule.
The SM line suits a player who has finished with backyard sets and wants boules allowed in club play. The softer SB costs a little more and holds the ground better for shooters. Finish is plain, engraving choices are few, and the matte carbon steel will rust if it stays wet in the bag. Players who want a boule made to measure look elsewhere.
Address: 537 Ramkhamhaeng Road, Hua Mak, Bang Kapi, Bangkok 10240, Thailand
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