Alphecca: Another New (used) Gun

August 30, 2005

Another New (used) Gun

A friend just gave me his old Franchi 20 guage over/under shotgun. I've never even shot a shotgun before but I NEVER turn down a gift like this (actually like anything...). Looks to be in very good condition and is about 20 years old.

I'll buy some shells tomorrow and try it out. I can't find a model number on it but I'll post some photos of it on Friday when I'm back in action here. Anyone know much about the Italian gun maker Franchi? I'm somewhat sure this wasn't an expensive gun since he got it when he was 16-years-old but still, it seems nice with walnut stock and checkering and some ornamental engraving on the metal sides by the breech. Okay, here's a quick photo of the "mechanical part" of it:

What the heck, I'm not taking up any shotgun sports or hunting but it should be fun and is a welcome addition to my meager gun collection.

Ya' know, I really feel bad (really, awfully bad) for Blue Flypaper since while (*ahem*) she is ordering me to disarm, I seem to be accumulating more guns than ever. I'm SO sorry to disappoint her and end-up on her black list. Dang! And just when people were starting to like me.

I know, I know... Now you all are going to shun me. I feel so alone. I think I'll go polish my guns...

Posted by Jeff Soyer at August 30, 2005 11:51 AM

Comments

Jeff, it looks like one of the Peregrine models aka Franchi 400. Look for Stoeger name or more info on the barrels under the fore-end.

Franchi is one of the older gunmakers in Italy dating back at least a 100 years, and is now owned by Beretta. I've shot their aluminium framed Falconet which was a fine light bird gun. Congrats on the shotty-gun! Shooting moving reactive targets (clay pigeons) is a really fun and addictive game.

Posted by: Brent at August 30, 2005 02:34 PM

Franchi is probably best known for the SPAS-12, the butt-ugly big black shotgun they developed back in the 70's. It could work either as a pump or a semi, and had an odd folding buttstock that had a J-shaped carryhandle/butt.

Here's a pic.

I put 'em in the same category as Taurus or Savage. Not a top-rank manufacturer, but still pretty solid.

Posted by: El Capitan at August 30, 2005 03:20 PM

Considering that 'top-rank' shotguns are priced like a Porsche Carrera (google for F. illi Rizzini, FAMARS, or Purdey), I think you have a darn good double gun.

Posted by: Brent at August 30, 2005 04:18 PM

I've got a very similar Franchi O/U in 12ga that has served me very well on a couple of upland hunts and when busting clays at the range. Yours is a nice gun, and unbeatable for free.

Posted by: Josh at August 30, 2005 10:46 PM

You're going to like that Franchi. Great shotgun. And in 20 gauge? That is a honey of a double.

Oh, I went over to whatshername's and asked me to blacklist her too.

Posted by: PaWpAW at August 31, 2005 10:26 AM

Jeff,
Is the receiver aluminium? If so, then I revise my guess to a Franchi Falconet.

Posted by: Brent at August 31, 2005 10:37 AM

Those of us on our patch of blogosphere never abandon our own, Jeff. Yours is a no-shunning zone.

The shotgun sounds mighty sweet for bird hunting, too. I've never tried out an over-under at a range, so I hope you'll give us a nice review.

Posted by: Jason at August 31, 2005 11:45 AM

I need new friends.

Posted by: Bruce at August 31, 2005 05:12 PM

Glad to see another fellow vermonter who refuses to cave into the idiotic leftists. Keep up the good work. Who knows? maybe we'll meet up at a range sometime.

Posted by: WildCard at August 31, 2005 11:50 PM

"I need new friends."

Oh sure, see how he is now that he's got his permit... Borrowing's not good enough any more... ;)

Posted by: Jay G at September 1, 2005 10:55 AM

The barrels are, or feel like, aluminum and sound like it, sort of a dull clink when you flick your fingernail on them. Very lightweight, too. Yet a magnet will weakly stick to them -- weakly, though. The finish is a very high gloss and on the side of the barrel (now that I examine it with my reading glasses) it says, "something S P A. Luigi Franchi - Brescia - Made in Italy Field". It took me a while to figure out that you move the safety/selector from side-to-side to select which barrel to fire. I bought a box of Remington 2 3/4" game shot and will try it this weekend. Last night we were still obsessing over the BFG...

Posted by: Jeff Soyer at September 2, 2005 05:43 AM

Barrels are steel for sure, but the receiver may be aluminum. the selector decides which barrel to fires first. There may be an intertia type safety that won't set the second trigger pull unless the first barrel goes bang.

Posted by: Brent at September 3, 2005 10:22 AM

ive got a luigi franci-brescia, just like that one, besides it being a semi-auto. they're good guns, but i'm trying to figure out the problem with the shell-jacking mechanism, if u guys find benelli's or frachi's homepage, or instruction manual sites, tell me

Posted by: Gage at September 15, 2005 10:27 PM

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August 30, 2005

Another New (used) Gun

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