doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Help identifying a Beretta

Well . . . we are neighboring countries. Not sure why it would be harder to make it to Canada from the States than for someone to bring it back to Canada from Italy. I've seen Berettas that were likely bring-backs from Italy. No importer's name, which was required under our Gun Control Act of 1968.

From the photos, sure looks like a GR-something to me. An old Gun Traders Guide I have says the GR-2 is supposed to have DT, and the 12ga is supposed to be 2 3/4", 20ga 3". The 3 is supposedly ST with a 3" chamber in 12ga. My memory may be a bit hazy on the 424, but I recall the ones I've seen had coin finished vs blued receivers.

Canada had a different importer for Berettas, so we had Beretta designations S55,S56 when you had BL-4, BL-5 from Garcia. Not to say there are no US imported Berettas in Canada from the 60s and 70s,just fewer.
The GR-2, GR-3 of this date are catalogued with Greener crossbolt and engraving that this gun lacks, which lead me to the 424.

That is solid gun quality wise equal to BSS box lock. That is same gun they made for Charles Daly. The Charles Daly which they called 'Empire' came in 12ga, 16ga, and 20ga. Those guns are not marked Beretta and can usually be had for less cash.
I have actually held 16ga in my hands at one time. Heck I didn't even know Beretta made inexpensive 16ga SxS doubles until I seen that one.

At same time they made engraved one with on "French Gray" receiver and Greener X-bolt plus selective automatic ejectors. I do not remember what it was called, but 10ga version of that was also made.

The GRs imported by Garcia into the US all seem to be cataloged with a vented rib, circa 1972 or so:



Comparing what Garcia imported to the US from Beretta to what showed up in Canada might very well be a fool's errand.


Best,
Ted

The gun in the photos clearly does not have a crossbolt. And Ted's catalog indicates the 12's should have one, at least the GR-2--and I'd doubt they'd drop the crossbolt on the GR-3 if the GR-2 has one. On the other hand, someone a few posts back says he has a GR-3 without crossbolt. I wonder if at a later date--Twogone's gun being from a few years later than Ted's catalog--the crossbolt might have been dropped?

Not unusual to find things that don't quite match what this or that model is supposed to have. And in this case, without Garcia being indicated as the importer, it's likely the gun was maybe a Canadian import but essentially the same gun we were getting in the States as the GRs, maybe with a few differences. The old Silver Hawk, imported back in the 60's, was basically a 409 (so stamped on the underside of the forend wood), but with some modifications for the American market: no sling swivels, pistol grip vs small round knob, beavertail vs splinter forend.

I have the GR3 without crossbolt. I'd post a pic but it is about 100 miles from me right now. Re the Silverhawk, Beretta may have intentionally confused a lot of shooters by putting a silver hawk on a lot of their guns. My 20 ga 426E has a big, fat, silver hawk on the top lever. Looks more like a pigeon.

I have a GR3 (stamped G3), SST, extractor, definitely cross bolted. It does not look like the one in the pix cosmetically. If the pix of 426's from google are observed that is what a GR looks like but the actions are all blued AFAIK, including a couple GR4 and one GR5 that I've seen.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/51436459@N08/albums/72157634504606428

the stock alone is GR4

have another day
Dr.WtS

WOW! Wonko, nice gun

The gun illustrated here has a lot of similarities with my Beretta sxs but the main difference is the cross bolt (which mine does not have). I did a pattern test yesterday and was amazed at how little kick there was for such a light field gun. I'm used to getting hammered by my father's old BELGIUM or my grandfathers Jeffrey. They are both double triggered so I can't use them anymore because I damaged my trigger finger with a table saw and can only fire a single triggered gun.
Are we any closer to a fairly accurate identification? My reasons for wanting to know are #1 - curiosity and #2 - possibly looking for a second set of barrels for skeet.
Again; I want to thank all you folks for all your help and expert advice & have a Happy, healthy & prosperous New Year!
Cheers; Twogone

I think there is a snowball's chance in July of finding a spare set of barrels.
You would look a while to find another similar gun in Canada.
I believe it conforms to the specs of the 424 as listed in vintage books and catalogues and Wilson's Beretta history.