doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Possible Armi di San Marco Hammer gun

Hello all,

I have the following gun, and would like to identify it correctly and get as much information as possible

As far as I know, based in the stamps in the action, the logo of the lion tells it is an Armi di San Marco, made in the year 54 I think (because of the stamp XIV)

Barrels are stamped "English Steel Vickers-Works -Sheffield" and "L.Faverzzani". After reading and finding exactly same model in autions and selling forums, looks like first production gun where made with Krupp barrels, and some year they switched to Vickers barrels. As for the name LFaverzzani, I have no clue. Looks like the was an "Armi Pietro Faverzani", but that Faverzani has an N, and my Faverzanni has 2 N.....
https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=592752

Maybe L.Faverzanni was the owner/client??? the engraving letters for the name is differnt to the Vickers letters, so it was added after.

Engraving is simple yet very nice.

Very solid action.

Shots 12/70 nicely. Hammer spings where worn, and I changed them last week. All internal components where in very good condition.

I dont have here the photo of all the marks on the barrel, but will post it lately. But I can read on the tubes:
kg 1,400: pressure test?
18,3: ?
17,3? ?
20,3 and 70 below: ?



Action marks show:
-Lion: Armi di San Marco logo??
-PSF with a star on top: smokeless powder?
-Finito with a star on top: no idea
-Logo stamp near PSF: no idea
-12C in a diamond: 12 caliber, the C I dont know
-4202 Serial number
-Gardone VT <Brescia>: city of Gardone in Brescia. What is VT??


I have a copy of the Armi Sna Marco catalogue (no date), and it is 90% Model 381 Airone, although I can see some minor variation on engraving, with the duck. Also de barrel lock is exactly the same (mushrom shape), whereas model 340 is different (flat)

Hope with your help and information, I can clarify its origins and history.






















[img]https://i.postimg.cc/XYYMVP9J/IMG-20240228-120731.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/K8q64555/IMG-20240228-120735.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/CLHYMDtv/IMG-20240228-120744.jpg[/img]

You've found about as much information as can be determined.



The chambers are 70 mm = 2 3/4"
At the time of proof the barrels weighed 1.400 Kg. If > 3% less now (from honing) they would be considered out of proof
The bores are 18.3 mm = .720"
The R barrel muzzle 17.6 mm = .693" so choke is .027" or Improved Modified
The L barrel muzzle is 17.3 = .681" so .039" or Full

The barrel flats will have the proof pressure - probably 850 or 900 Kg/cm2
900 kg/cm2 proof = 12,801 psi for a 600 kg/cm2 = max. service pressure of about 9500 psi

Very nice. I just bought a 1962 S. Marcos 16ga hammer shotgun, brushed nickel receiver. Mine is marked "Boehler steel". See discussion in DYI Gunsmithing "firing pin spring replacement".

That gun sure bears a lot of resemblance to my Italian San Georgio hammergun which was made in 1973. I was told by the very knowledgeable former owner that he believed it to have been built by Bernardelli.

VT stands for Val Trompia, a gun making region of Italy. About a 50 mile long valley in Brescia, that had water and iron available, and has been an armory stretching back to the early Middle Ages.

Finito tells you the gun was proofed in a finished state. PSF with single crown is standard smokeless powder proof. Two stars would be superior proof, usually a 3” chamber gun.
Best,
Ted

I have not looked at my Bernardelli hammer guns in a few years (shoulder surgery, not lack of interest), but I thought there was a strong resemblance. I also remember looking at an older Berretta hammer gun that was virtually identical to my Bernardellis. Memory is hazy, but I think someone (Ivory Beads?) told me that a lot of the Italian hammer guns came out of the same shop, but with different manufacturers' names on them. Anyone else heard this?

Replacement is correct. Many of the makers would supply guns to John other makers as well as supply retailers with the retailers name on them.

John Boyd
Quality Arms

I attach the barrels flat information. No mention to the pressure as far as I know

1 star over PSF means it is proofed to 1200KG/CM.

Best,
Ted

It's complicated
Italy is a member of CIP, but in 1962 established "Standard Proof" at 12,801 psi (probably by LUP/crushers so + 10 - 14%) indicated by a single ‘star over PSF’ AND “Superior Proof” at 17,637 psi, with ‘2 stars over PSF’ marks.

CIP 12g standard proof Maximum Average (SERVICE) Pressure 740 BAR = 10,733 psi; Maximum Statistical Individual Pressure 850 BAR = 12,328 psi
Mean proof pressure 930 BAR = 13,489 psi
Superior Proof is Maximum Average (Service) Pressure 1050 BAR = 15,229 psi; Maximum Statistical Individual Pressure 1200 BAR = 17,405 psi
Magnum proof 1320 BAR = 19,145 psi

Short version is that the max. service/using load pressure for the gun should be about 11,000 psi