doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com beretta folding single

Anyone have any experience with the Beretta "Companion" folding single, comments?

Not a double but, still a hinge action gun.

Everybody needs one, if only for the 'cool factor'. I think they're pretty well built and at least do not have a hammer. Mine has a crossbolt safety on the trigger guard. When you fold one over on itself it fits into a pretty small storage space.

They do kick a lot though, especially the 12ga. Mine's a 20ga and it kicks too. I think it weighs about four pounds...Geo

Hi R.C.:

I have one in 12 gage. I bought it for a grouse gun but so far all that I killed was 7 pheasants with 7 shots.

I paid $50.00 for mine and it was like new. When I got it home, I got my pipe cutter out and cut the barrel to 24". It had been a 30" full choke barrel that I could very little use for!

I did attempt to shoot a round of singles at the skeet field but gave up after station 3! For some reason it was not fun to shoot skeet with a 4.25 lb.gun! LOL What is really funny, is that it is chambered for the 3" shell! I have not shot any 3" shells in mine but maybe someday.

I was looking for a gun like this because it was hammerless and had a sliding tang saftey which I find nice to have on a hunting gun. I like to hunt pheasants over my pointer with it and perhaps someday, I may find a place that has some grouse.

If you find one of these guns, by all means get it as it is a real hoot to use!

Good luck.

Leomat

Mine is a 410 full choke. Never weighed it but probably in the 4 lb. range. With 3" shells one can feel it. Some years back I paid a $100 for mine.

My first gun, purchased for me the Christmas I was 14, by dear old Mom. Mine has a vent rib, 30" barrel and a full choke. My Dad, who knew little about shotgunning, insisted I put a recoil pad on it. I wish I hadn't. Another thing he made me do was store the gun in a dry fired condition, but, folded, so, the front wood has a gouge or two in the slot from the under lever being jammed into it.
Dad was a lot better rifleman than shotgunner.
I fed it a 3" round about once, on a goose hunting trip, swore I'd never do that again, and missed the goose. I do use it in years that we have enough snow to snowshoe in, for grouse hunting from snowshoes-this is mostly theoretical hunting, but, the gun is light, and long enough to make a good balance stick as I walk.
You don't need more than one round, or, a heavy load for this type of hunting, but, a sense of humor helps.
The gun has never been any trouble. I read somewhere that copies exist with really bad triggers, but, my gun isn't one of them.

Good Luck,

Best,
Ted

According to the catalogs, it is based on a 1922 patent. It was redesigned in 1930.

In the 1932 catalog there are 3 models, the 1012 - 265 lira, 1013 - 330 lira and the 1013 bis - 600 lira with "acciaio Krupp o Poldihutte" barrels. They also had a model with a sidelever, Cockerill steel for 350 lira.

At one point, I believe in the late 50's or 60's they gave it the name Vittoria. A name they seemed to pass around to various guns over the years.

Pete

I have a 16 made in 1950 at 4 1/2 Lb. with a very small splinter FE; shoots to POA. It does have P. Beretta on it.

Have another 16 Companion, imported by Eagle made in the 60s. If it wasn't made by Beretta, it is a clone. Couldn't find any marks indicating Beretta. It weighs 5 1/2 lb. with a little bigger FE.

Here's what I think is the maker's mark. The letters are MAVI. Anyone recognize it.

I've just started looking for one at the usual sites, but it appears from previous auctions/ads that prices have inflated considerably, I suppose the vast majority are sitting in closets waiting for a trip to the pawnshop.

It seems I'm always getting interested in something after the price has doubled. Look at what Colt Diamondbacks fetch and you'll see what I mean.

Mavi was a gun maker located in Salvinelli. I belief they eventually became Armi Salvinelli.

Pete

One will turn up. I noticed a few over on gunbroker a while back with silly prices-they had been there for years, I think.
Somewhere between $75 and $175 is about right.

Best,
Ted