doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 1958 Anotino Zoli

Good day all, a friend is looking at buying an Antonio Zoli 12ga. sxs with the following discription -

'Don, here is the serial #AR-21186 is plastered all over barrel,chamber etc. There are other markings as follows: UNDERSIDE OF BARREL, this is what is engraved,Canne inter cromate AR21186 Finito X1V PSF. SIDE OF BARREL, has the following engraved Ant. Zoli Gardone VT,TOP OF BARRELS whats engraved is English steel Vickers Yorks & Sheffield Ariete. CHAMBER markings as follows, Antonio Zoli PSF Finito.I do have more pictures that I'll send you when I have a chance but this is all you need to investigate its history for now.Let me know your findings, Thanks.'

He failed to add that it is a 'cross-bolt' design, not a dolls head, but a straight/rectangular tab from the barrels. Nickel plated? Very good condition. Simple engravings - dogs head and birds.


Any information would be appreciated. Price?

Thanks, Don.

I've seen similar guns at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania gun shows with prices in the $800-1,000 range. They stayed on the dealers' tables a long time. I should note that most of these pre-dated the introduction of the Zoli over and unders that are now being sold as target guns. I think the Zoli name was a bit of a mystery to most people and buyers stayed away from the guns for that reason.

Having said that, I'll note that I have a 1960s 20 gauge set up for the American market of the time (single selective trigger, semi pistol grip, beavertail forend, vent rib, 26 inch barrels with nominal improved cylinder and modified chokes) that I've owned for at least 30 years. It's been a reliable performer both in the field and on the clay target range. It's a bit heavy (about 6-3/4 pounds) for a 20. The only issue I've had with it is that the ejectors aren't reliable if the forend iron gets at all loose from the forend. I don't know why and since the fix is to tighten the screw, I haven't had someone gunsmith the problem.

If the gun is in good shape, I think your friend will find it to be a good using shotgun, but not one that will greatly increase in value or have any serious collectors' interest. I'd expect to pay $600-750 American depending on condition and wood quality (the one I own has a pretty nice piece of walnut).

Antonio Zoli has made SXSs and OUs probably for over 50 years. Have never heard anything bad. They haven't made SXSs for some years now...only OUs....used ones for as low as $400 and he makes some in the five figure range.
I think they made some guns for Abercrombie Fitch years ago; A&F didn't sell cheap guns.

X1V I believe is 1944+14=1958 year of mfg.

The biggest problem with Zolis is the problem of "Which Zoli?" There are lots of gunmaker Zolis and some of them made good stuff, some dogs, some both.

That said, I have had a number of field grade Antonio Zolis over the years,all bought used, and have had good service from all of them, both O/Us and SxSs. I think there may even be some "hardware store" brand ones out there from the 1960s (Sears?).

I have had three "Silver Hawk" (no, they weren't Berettas) SxSs, a 3" Mag 12 28", and 2 3" Mag 20s, one in 26" and one in 28". All functioned perfectly and served well. Killed a bunch of birds when I lived in the Palouse Prairie in WA. Kept only the 12 because it was in perfect shape and had better engraving and wood than the 20s, one of which was much better quality--you could see the greater skill of one engraver very clearly by closely comparing the two--quite interesting.

I think the "Ariete" is one grade "up" from the "Silver Hawk". My Zolis all had double triggers and were non-ejector. Wood varied from pallet grade to handsome. (Doesn't "Ariete" mean "Ram" or something in Italian?).

I like 'em.

Mike, right on: ariete=ram (battering ram)

The gun has chromed barrels and, as Patriot says, was made in 1958.

Surely the makers, that are very much around, can give a lot of info on the gun in
question Zoli .

JC

I recently picked up an Antonio Zoli OU 12ga. model Delfino with DT, made in 1964. marked IC/MOD and to my surprise it actually measures the same.

First shot out of the gun for me bagged a phez. I like it that way!