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Beginning in the early 70s, Ithaca imported 3 models of Perazzi O/Us: Comp 1, MX8, & Mirage. The Comp 1 was the plainer version, listing for around $1000. The MX8 had a high rib and 30 or 32" bbs and was marketed primarily as a trap gun; the Mirage had a flat rib and 27.5 or 29.5" bbls and was marketed primarily as a live bird gun. Both had case hardened receivers and listed for the same price, around $2000. A few MX8 combo trap sets were available by special order. The TM1 was the single bbl trap gun, listing for around $1000. One of the big selling features was the fact that all models had interchangable buttstocks, so if you didn't like the fit, you could swap stocks or buy a new one for about $100. All models had drop out triggers with leaf springs. About this same time, Hal DuPont could be found at many of the larger trap shoots, demonstrating & selling Krieghoffs. Then, as now, these 2 guns were at the top of the food chain among serious competitive shooters.
 
dlh711 said:
Beginning in the early 70s, Ithaca imported 3 models of Perazzi O/Us: Comp 1, MX8, & Mirage. The Comp 1 was the plainer version, listing for around $1000. The MX8 had a high rib and 30 or 32" bbs and was marketed primarily as a trap gun; the Mirage had a flat rib and 27.5 or 29.5" bbls and was marketed primarily as a live bird gun...
I'm not attempting to be contentious, dlh711, but if you look at my picture on the previous page, the first gun in the rack on the left is an Ithaca import Mirage. It has 32" barrels with a step rib. #'s match.
 
No problem, 45, I noticed the step rib and the blued receiver before I posted and it did catch my eye. I assumed it was a later version, as I can only speak for the models offered by Ithaca in their first few years of importing the P line. I did not keep up with any changes after about 1977, even though I know Ithaca continued to import them for some time beyond that with numerous variations.
 
Guys: Everything I have stated is about 90% right and is based on Perazzi's book. Perazzi has honored their own "rules" more in the breach than in the keeping.

Perazzi has always made guns to customer's orders.....I have owned 3....one a custom set that I ordered as a South American combo gun (20 & 28--on a 20g frame). While I was happy w/ the gun and once used it to win a 28g SC's event, it was about 85% of what I ordered.

Fixed chokes wrong--on the 28 looser than requested and the 20 MUCH tighter than ordered. I just learned to shoot them.

Wood: a 2x upgrade that I did not order and was not asked to pay extra for.....was told that "Danielle" wanted me to have an "extra" b/c he was fascinated by the gun order.

Stock dimensions correct--though they did not match what was listed in the "owners' book.

On my plain 12g MX 8, the numbers in the book did not match the gun , at all, though they did match what I wanted.
 
At the Worlds , my wife and I visited the Perazzi store.....they were constantly arguing....to the point of extreme rudeness right in front of us and the other customers.

one guy did not like the questions I asked , then thought better of it and offered to have the gun Fedex'ed so we could look at it the next day.

It's just the way they are. In the Krieghoff store everyone was chilling and seemed ready for a nap at a drop of a hat. Just the way they are.
 
sera russell said:
At the Worlds , my wife and I visited the Perazzi store.....they were constantly arguing....to the point of extreme rudeness right in front of us and the other customers.

one guy did not like the questions I asked , then thought better of it and offered to have the gun Fedex'ed so we could look at it the next day.

It's just the way they are. In the Krieghoff store everyone was chilling and seemed ready for a nap at a drop of a hat. Just the way they are.
I've only met Deiter once but he was a gazzilion times nicer than Danielle (sp?)---wish I liked his guns as well. At the SHOT show however, the P-gun booth usually has a gal that looks and dresses like Miss Argentina---unfortunately one year they had sitting next to her Kim Rhoade---very nice and sweet gal, but it was a marketing faux paus to have her sitting next to Miss Argentina.
 
We were on holiday in Europe towards the end of last year and headed over to Brescia from Milan to visit the Perazzi factory. I believe it was Mauro Perazzi that gave my wife and I a tour of the gun assembly area, wood area and pattern room. He was a very nice guy and the whole operation seemed efficient and well run.

If any Perazzi fans can make the trip to the factory in Italy it certainly adds an extra element to the appreciation of the great guns that Perazzi make and would be even better if you were making the trip to be personally fitted to a new gun !!

I have ordered two Perazzi's and a third additional stock. The only thing on either gun or any of the 3 stocks that was in any way different from my orders was the spare stock had 36 and 50mm drop at comb and heel rather than the 34 and 46mm that I ordered, as it works out that was probably a good thing. Every other aspect of the two guns was spot on and on the second one I specified every little dimension that they can customize, length of pull, pitch, pad type and thickness, drop at comb, drop at heel, cast at comb, cast at heel, cast at toe, length to comb, grip length, grip diameter, grip height, forend type, no wood finish as well as barrel weight, choking, length, rib style, trigger type and of course engraving pattern.

I decided what I wanted, ordered the gun with stock dimensions clearly marked on a copy of Perazzi's own dimension sheet from the owners manual, clearly listed the barrel specs etc. placed the order and sat back and waited ........ gun turned up just like the paperwork asked for.

How many people change their mind on something and ask the dealer to change the details with maker during the order/manufacturing process ? I have been around people directly involved in the industry for years and it is amazing how many people will order something and then change their minds on some aspect of the order and change the order details several times within the say 6 month waiting time. The changes invariably get messed up with the communication between client, dealer and manufacturer and the client is then surprised when the gun arrives with some aspect of it not changed to match their third or forth revision of the order details !!

Not saying that this applies to anybody here but it certainly happens. I bet that Perazzi or any other custom maker puts out many times more guns that are accurate to the order than the ones that have some sort of variation to the clients request.

Bryce
 
I found this post when searching for info on Perazzi nomenclature and model number system. After reading this and several other internet postings, it appears to me that Perazzi has no system of model names or numbering.

I picture a gent sitting at a bench in their factory with several metal punches, each stamped with a particular letter/number combination: MX8, MX10, MX14, MX2000, MX2005, TM1, Mirage, SCO, DB81, etc.

At a whim, he picks up a punch, (whichever one strikes his fancy at the moment), and punches a model designator into the side of each gun that comes along. And that is how Perazzi's are labeled.

Glad I finally figured it out.

bluedsteel
 
bluedsteel said:
I picture a gent sitting at a bench in their factory with several metal punches, each stamped with a particular letter/number combination: MX8, MX10, MX14, MX2000, MX2005, TM1, Mirage, SCO, DB81, etc.
There actually is a pattern to their naming starting with the MX-8. Mexico City 1968. Then, all of the guns that end in an even number (8,10,12) and so on have the sculpted receiver. Those that end in an odd number (5, 11) have a plain receiver. The MX-2000 was released in 2000, the 2005 in that year. Mirage is named after the the mirage of options and configurations in which the gun could be ordered. SCO is a grade, not a model. DB81 was named after trap shooter Dan Bonillas and released in 1981.

While there are certainly a huge number of Perazzi models, there's a pattern or an explanation behind almost every name.
 
Bopper;

I have always liked Perazzi's a lot, but have been frustrated in figuring out which one I like, mainly because I can't identify it by model. In any event, your post unraveled some of the mystery for me. You definitely know your P-guns. Thanks!

bluedsteel
 
What is a 'sculpted' receiver? Can you post a pic of what the differences are? I didn't know this until you said it. Good info.
 
Slightly different angle of the sculpting:

Image


There's actually a bit more to the Perazzi models.

The MX-3 and MX-5 have a different locking system and the barrels will not interchange with the rest of the O/U line. The monoblocs and inside of the receiver of the -3 and -5 are rounded where as the others are squared off.

To add insult, though, the MX-3 SPECIAL has traditional locking system and square monobloc.
 
Thanks again gentlemen. That's some good info. I had never thought about that and I always like to learn more about my guns.
 
There here are two sxs models, Dho and Dc.
Dc was made as "live pigeon" gun with a very unique looking lock design, some of them got detachable triggers - approx 205 built. Dho is a sidelock sxs gun with all the bells and whistles, some claim fewer than 20 guns built.
 
Perazzi made a few SxS....DHO and DC.

The DHO was a "double holland oro" and a superfine sidelock gun.

Since we started this thread , I have bought an SC 3 Custom (it has all the upgrades except a pierced top lever) that also has a set of matched weight 20g barrels.

Perazzi has dropped Andy Duffy and I was wrong....Wendel shoots an MX 2ooo not a 2oooS.

Enjoy.
 
"S" = sovraposto = O/U

"D" = dopietta = side by side DC is dopietta competizione

"H" = Holland like was said and denotes the type of sidelock. Holland&Holland lock design was highly regarded and often copied. By everybody.

The "O" = oro biznez is because in olden times high grade guns had the internals gold plated for corrosion resistance.

Early MT6's had barrels similar to the MX3 (no Boss locks) but I do not know (or care) if they interchange. Later MT6's and MX3S ( like bopper said) had the Boss lock MX8 style barrels and will sorta interchange with any MX8 design action sorta like all Boss lock barrels will "interchange".
And to make things more fun, even tho they didn't have the sculpted action MX3's had drop out triggers hahahahaha

I'm certain that MT6's were produced past 1982 since I have ones proofed from 1984 and 1986. Lippard doesn't have absolutely EVERYTHING right hahaha. I don't recall if anyone mentioned that the MT6 was the "Montreal" Olympics gun.
 
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