doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Curious about a recent purchase, any help?

Hi,

I'm new here, but I hope that over time I'll get the chance to read and interact more, as you guys seem like a nice bunch.

I've been on a kick recently of purchasing inexpensive, but serviceable side by sides to use in the field. I can normally use my google-fu to yield enough information about them to satisfy my curiosity, but my most recent acquisition is taxing those skills with little return. I was told that you guys might be able to help me learn a little more.

The Gun is marked 'Marca Registrada El-Faisan' In an oval around a pheasant (I know that it's spanish for 'Trade Mark' 'the pheasant') on the barrels. Along with the indication that it was made in elgiobar.

It seems as though many of the guns marked as "El-Faisan" are inexpensive 'poachers' guns in .410. This one however is a 12 Gauge side-lock gun with nice hand engraving. The proof marks seem to indicate a 1963 manufacture date (IL) from what I can tell.

I haven't been able to determine the manufacture yet, but it's a very well made gun; 7 pin side-locks, selective ejectors, articulated front trigger, bushed firing pins and the aforementioned nice hand cut engraving etc. The gun has clearly seen use, but shows little wear, I haven't taken the locks off yet, but it seems to function properly with snap-caps, and the ejectors throw them with some authority.

The makers mark seems to be an AP in a long diamond, but it also appears that this was stamped over another mark. I can't make the other mark out, but seems to have ended with an S inside a rounded box.

I'm not really concerned with value much, as I plan to use the gun, but I'd be very curious what else I might learn about the gun.

Photos below may shed some light?






Any help identifying this gun would be much appreciated!

Spanish. There's a thread around here somewhere with the maker's marks.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Hello and WELCOME on your first posting

Here is the proof mark web site

http://www.shotguns.se/html/spain.html

The I1 makes it 1963 as year of proof

I feel, the letters and the diamond represent the manufactures code.

http://personales.jet.es/rafa/b_punzones_larga_lisa.html


Mike

p.s. for the rest of us see here

http://personales.jet.es/rafa/b_punzones.html

p.s.s. the manufactures code looks like an overstrike when the industry consolidated??????

I wonder if the "AP" denotes Amadeo Pintado? That firm evolved into Armas Parkemy, using the "APM" mark. Armas Parkemy made sidelocks, so it's a possibility. Virtually all of the Spanish makers were capable of making high-grade guns, they made whatever was ordered by the customer. Very nice gun, by the way.

It'd be nice to know what the mark is that the the "AP" is covering.

For a general overview of Spanish shotguns, get the paperback of "Spanish Best", it's only around $20 on Amazon.

Regards
Ken

Thanks for the warm welcome and quick replies!

Those links to makers marks are very interesting, and it looks like the barrels were probably made by Jose Azpiri According to the information on that site. (See the JA marking on the rear lump)

I'll pick up the "Spanish best" book as recommended. Thanks!

If anyone else has any insight, thoughts, wild speculation etc, I'm very curious to hear it.

Ken, I had a Parkemy/Parquemy 28ga sidelock years ago. Don't know whether you ever got over to the old Dennis P. Roberts gunshop in Des Moines. They handled Parkemys back in the 80's. The only additional information I have on them is that they were imported by Toledo Armas at one time.

I believe it was American Arms that imported them back then. In fact, that gives me an idea, check your PMs.

Ken

Interesting. I know American Arms imported Zabala-made guns, as well as a Grulla #2 which was their top of the line gun. Don't recall Parkemy associated with AA, but that was a long time ago and there were more Spanish makers around than there are now.

Very true, they also imported from Felix Sarasqueta, I know this for a fact, as I had an O/U, the Silver II, that was made by them. They may have imported from other Spanish makers, but IIRC not Parkemy. American Arms would brand a shotgun with their handle, but the gun itself could be made by Zabala or Rota (Italian) for example. So, who knows, America Arms never disclosed who made the guns they cataloged.

Very nice gun you have there Tony, I hope you have many happy and healthy years shooting her.

Best,

Greg

Tony-I have the exact same gun with a serial number of 3667x. Only mine is a 20 gauge. It has the same AP marking but I've yet to determine who the maker is for sure. You are correct. These are not your typical shotgun that everyone envisions when you say it's an "El Faisan".