[mr.sneezy]

Hi All.

I am about to aquire an Italian made 12GA SBS hammer gun from a relative. I will be using it for rabbit and pigeon hunting here. I'm very curious about it's origin and such, I have gleaned a lot of info already from the archives but a few points remain unclear.

Markings on barrels (29.5" long):
Top - KRUPP ESSEN, RINO-GALESI-RIGARMI-BRESCIA

BOTTOM (LHS) - kg 1,415 18,3 17,2
BOTTOM (RHS) - 70 20,3 18,3 17,2

Also proof marks * FINITO XIV, *PSF and the Gardone coat of arms stamp.

There is no Model number that I can see or a 'Brand'.
I understand from the above that it has barrels weighing 1.415kg, and that its got 1.1mm (.043") choke on BOTH barrels. The chamber length is 2 & 3/4" (70mm).
It's also proofed for smokeless powders.

My questions:
The roman numerals after the Finito proof mark, does this give the age of the gun ? (from previous post reply, maybe 1958 ?)

Also, what would the gun have been intended for with those chokes ?

Finally, I want to use 2-3/4" No6 standard lead field loads with it, will this be OK.

thanks
Martin

 

[zzbobw]

Roman date numerals on Italian guns number forward from 1945 (which is/was I) so XIV is indeed 1958. Gardone's standard nitro proof for 12 ga weapons was at 900 kg/cm2 which is around 12,750 psi so it should be fine with 2 3/4" lead shot loads if it's in good condition. Choked that tight with 29 1/2 barrels I guess it's in the style of a "live pigeon gun" but equally may just have been a generic type "field gun".

We tend to forget that in years gone by many shotgun makers turned out guns that all left the factory choked full/full and it was up to the local selling agent to have the chokes honed out to suit each individual purchaser's needs.

HTH
Bob

 

[mr.sneezy]

Hi Bob

Yes, that helped. Nice to know when it was made.
The whole gun looks to be great condition. I don't think it's had more than a box or two though it. The barrels are shiny smooth inside, the action feels firm in every way. The receiver is chrome or nickle plated I think, and unmarked. The timber needs some TLC though.

Thanks for the tip about the honing, might be worth considering opening out the right barrel. Quite often I'm 10 yards from the rabbit or pigeon when they bolt. How far can the bore be honed and is it a risky thing to do ?

Martin

 

[MrBen]

Opening a choke is not risky if it is done right. It has to be done with a reamer that is aligned with the bore from inside the bore, to keep it from being off center.

Mike Orlen, who is one of the Moderators on this site, is a gunsmith who specializes in bore work. He has an excellent reputation.

Take a look at this thread http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=36237

Krupp Essen is the German steel company that made the steel in the barrels. It had such a high reputation that gunmakers bragged about using Krupp steel.

Rino Galesi is the brand name of a line of gusn made by Rigarmi. I haven't been able to find out much about Rigarmi, except that they were better known for small pistols than for shotguns. They apparently are out of business now.