I live in smaller community. Back in the 70s I visited Stoeger dealer who sold a nifty gun but price was out of my range...

I am not sure, but thinking these were Stoeger semi-autos, with engraved receivers and I believe short recoil guns.

I have looked and not found any for last few years.

Ring a bell?

Stoeger imported the Franchi AL-48 during this period. One of the best upland guns ever made. However, the 48s are long recoil guns.

Thanks. As i recall, these guns had silver (engraved steel) receivers and were short recoil guns like my old DA Browning and why i was looking. They were spendy. I know the ALs and loved them but had the DA already...still shooting it...but I get this urge to find out what these guys were selling...should have bought one...keep thinking these guns were Stoegers...very fancy and had catalog but trashed it, like the dippo i am.

I have looked back through Stoeger's import history and can't find the gun you are referring to. Could it possible have been the Eldorado Edition of the Franchi 48 that you saw? I can't recall a short recoil from that era that Stoeger imported. In fact, the only SR gun from that era that I can think of is the Breda. It was the gun that Benelli got the SR idea from but I don't recall Stoeger importing any of them.

The Eldorado was nice looking with engraved, silver colored receivers. But, alas, it was LR.

Thanks, Ev, could be I only know it was nice, shiny and deeply figured engraving,and spendy...