doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Help figuring out Beretta Gun Model and Value

Okay got some more info, the pics I still have to upload and will probably put on tomorrow. But using the info you guys gave me I found out alot more so far. On the underside of the left barrel it says CAM 70 13.0, on the underside of the right barrel it says BOEHLER ANTINIT STEEL KGI. 270 12.9, you cannot push the front trigger foreward, underneath the foreend is what I believe is the serial # 72635, on the sides of the gun in the engraving on the left side it says P. Beretta, on the right side it says GARDONE, V.T., on the "water table" it says C72635 on one side and PSF Finito on the other side above the PSF there are 4 clusters with stars in them and another type of proof mark. On the "barrel flats" on the one side is Choke then a proof mark then PL sideways then Beretta C72635 on the front of the barrel flats is another cluster with a star in it then a box underneath it with AF inside on the other side of the barrel flat is another cluster with a star in it, then the same proof mark that is on the "water table" then PSF, and finally, yes I now believe it is a custom gun, on the side of the trigger guard engraved very finely in italian using a magnifying glass I was able to read All'amico a name then Cesare Giadanelli. I have since discovered that the previous owners initials were LLL. So the LLL with the crown above is his initials, and the engrave name first and last begins with L's so google italian says it means "a friend" so it seems to mean Cesare Giadanelli made the gun for LLL who was "a friend". I'll try and get the pics up tomorrow but even thought the writing is very clear and looks good it is very small and hard to get the camera to focus to get a good pic of it. I appreciate all your help, this gun is way out of my price range but I am having a wonderful time learning about it. Thanks again guys.

Your stars represent choke markings

http://www.hallowellco.com/choke_chart.htm

The PSF is as below

http://www.gundealersonline.com/firearmid_italian.asp

I was hoping you would find a mark like 28-70 or 20-70

Mike

more

http://www.gun-data.com/italiandatecodes2_arms.html

Most likely the name you read as "Cesare Giadanelli" is in fact Cesare Giovanelli who is the founder and maestro of the Bottega Cesare Giovanelli, an engraving school and atelier in Gardone, Val Trompia, Brescia, Italy.

The Bottega Giovanelli does a good deal of outwork for various gunmakers in Brescia,including Beretta. Along with hand engraving, they also do the roll die impressed decoration on production model Berettas.

BCG's usual marking is found alongside the triggers and reads "Inc. Bottega Cesare Giovanelli." The Inc. is an abbreviation for incisore, which is Italian for engraver.

The gun in question seems to have a variation of the usual marking. From what you wrote, the gun may have been engraved for a friend of Maestro Giovanelli.

Given the value and unique aspects of the gun in question, I am surprised that your friend doesn't know more about the provenance of the gun as it is rather unusual for such a fine shotgun to find its way into the hands of someone who knows little about it.

Regards,
CRB

I am sure the previous owner knew alot about the gun, unfortunately he has passed and now I am trying to help his family member the current owner who is not a gun person to find out about this firearm.

skeet, one of the markings on the barrel flat is an AF in a box using your timeline link does that mean the gun was made in 1993? I appreciate the help.

It would be nice to see the pics. AF would be 1980 for date of proof. The Kg is weight of the barrels in kilograms and it is probably 1,270 (2.8 lbs). Look closer at the marking. The Boehler barrels are what beretta used on the top of line guns. The gold crown on the top lever was also on Beretta's top of line guns.

Ken

you mentioned the boehler barrels and gold crown being on their top of line guns, what were they called? I've tried to find pics of other beretta's that look like this one on the web and I can't. I find guns that look similar like Vittoria's but none have the gold crown or as nice an etching as this one. I'm trying to find other ones for reference. Thank you again I really appreciate the feedback and help, also I will try and get pics up tomorrow morning but I'm not sure that you will be able to read the proof marks as the writing is very fine and the camera was having trouble focusing on them. Thanks again guys, appreciate everyone's help.

In 1980 the top of the guns were the SO3EELL sidelock over and under. The 451EELL in a hammerless sidelock side-by-side. RL Wilson's book (World of Beretta) shows presentation hammer guns similar to the yours. However, no real model name.

Ken

This is very common for Beretta and has been discussed here before. Take Jaycee's advice and contact Beretta directly.

Pete

I will try emailing her. Just curious though what were you referring to when you said this is common?