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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 95
Member
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OP
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 95 |
What is the concensus on Bernardelli side by sides, specifically side locks?
I am looking for a small bore side by side and have found one in a near by shop, but admit I do not know much about it.
I thank you for your input in advance.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553 |
Hi
I think the Vincenso(sic?) or V.Bernardelli were good guns...I remember Bill wise saying good things about a modestly priced BoxLock his family had shot a whole lot.
My love of HammerGuns came via a brief stint with a VB Italia...very sound gun.
I 'm sure their Sidelocks were exellent.
Are they still in business? I 'm not sure.
I think there is another Bernardelli out there now, not V.B.
& these may not be as good a gun as the former...or so i have read/heard.
What model did you find?..is it a V. Bernardelli?...they had a line of Sideplated BoxLocks called Roma , I think
They were pretty.
So whatcha find?
Franc
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 137
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 137 |
I believe the more recent Pietro Bernardelli were imported through Cape Outfitters about 10 years ago...Definitely not the quality of the Vincenzo Bernardelli guns.
The Roma 3, 4 and 6 are side plated boxlocks. I had a "Premier Deluxe" that was essentially a Roma 3. Nice gun with rather plain wood.
V. Bernardelli also made sidelocks listed as Holland V.B.but my catalog (#24) only lists them in 12 gauge.
Jeff
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,155
Member
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Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,155 |
Be very sure of what you're looking at! V. Bernardelli made quite a few boxlocks with sideplates which look like sidelocks -even to very realistic looking false pins. They were good enough to fool at least one pro gunsmith I know!  On the positive side, V. Bernardelli sideplated boxlocks are usually excellent and affordable field guns - my 'go to' bird gun for the past 10 years is a sideplated 20ga. Bernardelli Hemingway. 
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,447 Likes: 278
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,447 Likes: 278 |
If it is a sideplate gun in small bore, (smaller than 12 gauge)it is almost certainly not a sidelock gun, but it may be a nice gun, maybe a VB imported by Stoeger.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 304
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 304 |
I have a 28 ga. hammer sidelock made in 1927 that I got from Jim Legg, on this board, and I shoot it all the time. Great engraving and nice trigger pulls. Crisp and locks up nice, I would buy another in a heart beat. Frank
P.S. It is a V. Bernardelli
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,571 Likes: 165
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,571 Likes: 165 |
Good info above. If it's a smallbore hammerless, then it's just about 100% that it's sideplated, not a sidelock. Easy way to tell for sure is to drop in a couple snap caps and dry fire it. On a sidelock, the axle pin (or screw)--which on a sidelock often has little arrows as cocking indicators--will rotate on each side when you fire that respective barrel. On a sideplated gun, you won't see movement from any of the pins when you dry fire.
What you're probably looking at is a Roma series (or Gamecock Deluxe) sideplated boxlock. IMO, they're very good buys. Prices vary depending on condition and grade, and the 28's are pricier than the 20's and 16's. Range would be from the low to mid teens for a Roma 3 (bottom grade) 20 or 16 in decent shape up to maybe close to $3,000 for a Roma 6 (difference is the amount of engraving) 28ga in near perfect condition. There are higher grades than the Roma 6, but they're very rarely seen.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 358
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 358 |
Let's not spread around too much about the great buy a V. Bernardelli is. Prices are quite reasonable right now, but with too much publicity, they will go up.
They make a very good hammer gun (Italia), of which I have found at local vintagers shoots in the hammer gun division. I am looking at one right now to complement my L.C. Smith hammer gun. Jim Haynes
Jim Haynes
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