doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Luigi Franchi Imperiales Sidelock

Do any of you members know where I can obtain information on the Luigi Franchi sidelocks? In particular the Imperiales, but also the Imperial and the Condor model as well. Any leads would be appreciated. Thank you.

What kind of info are you looking for?,..I'm quite familiar with the Condor model

CJ

How do you tell one model from another? Are they stamped anywhere with model name? Could the barrels be made to any length when ordered?
When were they made? Approximate value of each model in very good condition? Where on the gun is the serial # located.
Tom

http://www.scaravelliemilio.com/html_home_en.php Look at this Italian website there are often Franchi's for sale.
Marc.

Can't find any info on dates of production. However, on a specific gun, you can tell when it was made from the date code on the barrel flats. Either a Roman numeral if it's an older gun (I = 1945; count forward from there) or two letters, starting with AA in 1975.

Blue Book says the Condor should be worth mid-$6K range, the other two mid-$9K range, in 98% condition. I've only seen a couple Condors on dealers' lists, and from their prices it looks as if the Blue Book may be high on these guns.

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How do you tell one model from another? Are they stamped anywhere with model name? Could the barrels be made to any length when ordered?
When were they made? Approximate value of each model in very good condition? Where on the gun is the serial # located.
Tom [/quote]


The model name and ser# is stamped on the water table "CONDOR"
Should be the same for the Iperiale
I belive bbl lengths were standad on the Condor...27", 29"
I think they were made in the late 50's to mid 60'

All this info is also available in the blue book of gun values as well as prices as to condition

These are high quality guns, for the sake of comparison the Imperiale should be as fine as a Piotti

CJ

You can see descriptions and pictures of the Imperial in mid to late fifties Stoeger catalogs. They were about six hundred dollars then.

Good call, eightbore. Just checked my 1961 Stoeger's. Condor $470, Imperiale $595. For comparison to another Italian sidelock, the Bernardelli Holland went for $450 in the same catalog.

Here is from the 1954 Stoeger Catalogue No. 45 --

I was told that the earlier guns were spectacular.
When questioning that opinion, I was told that the engravers of the earlier (circa 1930s)were done by master engravers from Liege. Luigi Franchi hired a couple of the master engravers from Liege to work on his highest guns. They did what is known as Bouquet and Scroll. Not Rose and Scroll like the English guns. This was a special Belgian design and was possibly more beautiful.
It was used on only his best work.
I recently looked at one. A round body of really outstanding handling and it was/is a work of art.This was my first experience with this grade of Franchi.
I had to smile when I mounted it. It was a perfect extension of my arms and hands. The weight was exactly between my hands and seemed to weigh nothing.
It was, at that moment, I wished I were younger and had a bit deeper pockets. Other than my beloved Diamond Lindner, this is the finest shotgun I have ever handled.
Best,
John