doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Please help ID this shotgun

Hello,

My name is Jerry, I'm new to this forum, but not to guns. I've recently aquired a shotgun that I can not identify, and was told that this is a great place to seek assistance. I've got plenty of pictures, but the markings haven't really given me much information. I know the barrels are German-made, possibly from the Brescia proof house, but that's about all I've been able to figure out. Thanks in advance for your help!











[img]http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc1/bugeyedmonster1/mystery%20shotgun/IMG_1793.jpg[/img]

It is a nice Italian made Sidelock with German Krupp barrels. Early Gun it appears to me.

The "1944" on the right barrel flat jumped out at me - wartime gun?

Choked 0.4 mm on the right barrel and 0.7 on the left.

Nice gun, though it almost could be passed off as a lupara, its barrels are so short.

He was maxed out so I posted the last picture.
27 inch barrels, sweet!!!
Mike

Any clues as to maker? Were small Italian shops still turning out high-end shotguns in 1944? Was the proofhouse still functioning?

Welcome Jerry.

More than likely a craftsman in the Gardone Val Trompia region. It is purported that there was some dating scheme from the mid 1930s till 1943(maybe it was Beretta only???) and there's a table floating around here somewhere with the date code from 1945 hence. So yes as far as I know the proofhouse(s) were active in 1944 and the absence of a dating scheme in 1944 sort of confirms that stamp for the date. Post 1950 the proof stamps were surmounted by an encircled star so the surmounted crown dates the longarm prior to 1950. There seems to be plenty of diameters to go around so either the tubes or tubeset experienced proof a couple of times, maybe sourced from the craftsmen in Liege or some other gunmaking center that was churning out Krupp steel tubes during WWII, or at some later date there was a reason for re-submission to the proofhouse. I can't remember when the bore in a rhombus stamp arrived on the scene. Low serial number though and probably points to a small Gardone Val Trompia craftsman who hung out his shingle either just before or during WWII.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

My bad on the "short" barrels - must have been the perspective in the photo.

Still a very nice gun - excellent figure in the wood.

Dave (or anybody) what do those choke restrictions translate to in the usual terms like full, modified, etc?

Raimey is correct. It was proofed in Gardone.

Starting around 1932 Krupp barrels became common place on Italian guns.

Italy signed an armistice on Sept 3, 1943. Though fighting continued well into 1945. Exactly when Gardone was liberated, I am not sure.

Judging by the sling this gun was meant for Europe. It may not be a mistake that there is no maker's name on this gun. Partisan activities in the north included many reprisals.

Pete

The 18,3 on the right barrel is bore size of .720 the 17,9 is choke or .704. On the left barrel 18,5 is bore or .728 and choke is 17,6 or .692.
I would say full and modified.