I just picked up this nice O/U 20GA, which looks like a Beretta Silver Pigeon. But it has some German influence, such as a cheekpiece on the stock, and thankfully, double triggers with ejectors. It is marked "Sauer-Beretta" and S-56E. I see Italian proof marks but no German ones. I read on shotgunworld that these guns were built in the 1970s. I was not aware that Germany would permit other European gun in without being proofed in Germany. I was not aware heretofore of a Sauer-Beretta cooperative effort. Also I would like to know the chamber length, but there are no markings that I recognize as chamber length, such as 20/70 or 20/2-3/4". I see two and three stars above the chambers, which I would interpret as modified and improved cylinder chokes. It weighs 5 lb 12 oz and balances well, and except for shooting a little to the right from the left shoulder, fits me well. I plan to use it as my bad weather gun. I'll post some photos in a bit. In the meantime, here is a link for a 12 gauge that is identical except for the gauge and the recoil pad:
http://www.bellandcorbettoutfitters.com/Sauer-Beretta_12ga_S56E.html Any light you can shed would be "enlightening". Good shooting!
Allan