doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Luigi Franchi Condor Questions

I'd like to know more about the Luigi Franchi Condor shotguns. Where do these stand in terms of quality level compared to the Spanish sidelocks? The gun I'm looking at dates to 1960, I believe (date code XIV). Is this a good period or a bad period for Franchi from a quality standpoint? Anything else to know in particular about these guns? What's a reasonable price range for one in good shape?

Thanks.

Doesn't anyone have a Franchi and a comment on their quality?

Iv been looking at it too....looks like a nice gun and in 16ga....price seems more than fair but I have no real idea...only Franchi I'm really familiar with is the 48

It was listed in the 1965 Shooters Bible, but, was not in the 1959 edition. If you have read the add copy from the 1965 edition, you have the sum total of what I've ever seen, read, or, heard, about this model. Never held one, but, got the chance to fondle the Imperial Monte Carlo Extra version. It was a very nice gun, I haven't really had a chance to have a Spanish gun in my hands that was of similar quality.
Catalog price on the Condor was $520, that was a pretty expensive gun in 1965.
That's all I got.

Best,
Ted

As Ted said, they were pretty expensive guns back then, and not all that many sold. Expect you'll probably have trouble finding someone who's owned one. Even I haven't! However, I've handled a couple. Looked to be nice enough guns, but they just didn't trip my trigger to the extent that I took the plunge.

Franchi made some very light OU's that were their bigger selling doubleguns back then. Also a lot less expensive.

Google "franchi condor" and there is some info on them, also images. They look like nice guns, but no comparison to the ultra deluxe Franchi Imperial. Franchi is of course Italian, not Spanish. The one on GB looks fairly priced:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=478165384

Have you gone through this old thread ?

http://doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=259992&page=2

Looking at the state of the barrel finish, very plain wood and checkering quality on the forend I wouldn't get involved for that $3200 minimum bid. And as you can see from the limited knowledge of these guns they clearly were not popular at the time. I do remember as a teenage looking them over in the Stoeger catalogs though.