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8 comments

Date Votes
  • MIKE WISKEY
    Gardone VT?
    it wasn't "made" in vt., it was imported (probably) by C.I.A. (Century Int. Arms). nice looking shotgun, probably one of the Italian makers.
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  • rufe-snow
    If it was imported and sold commercially in the States, all that was required was the importers name and the country of origin. One of the Italian Proof Marks would be a coded date.

    This is all the information that can be ascertained from the shotgun, if their are no other markings.

    The Gardone area situated in Northern Italy, is the main firearms manufacturing area of Italy. There are many different shotgun makers located there. With out any manufacturers marking on the shotgun, it would be very difficult to figure out who made it.


    EDIT #1, The figure shown on the buttplate is that of Diana goddess of the hunt, from mythology. The only firearms manufacturer shown in my reference using Diana as a Trade Mark was the Pieper company from Belgium. Since the shotgun is Italian, doubt if it was made by Pieper in Belgium.
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  • pa916
    I was told the owner was in the military, stationed in Italy, and bought this gun there when he was returning home.
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  • perry shooter
    Great looking high grade gun The LOGO The butt plate and label on the gun case should be your best shot. at who made it I have seen the logo before but cant place.Look in the blue book many times they have an introduction with a logo on each brand . look at any brand that looks like italion
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  • pa916
    The box does not go with the gun unfortunately, but the insignia on the butt plate might
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  • TRAP55
    Acciaio is Italian for steel, Boehler is an Austrian type of steel, makes for high grade shotgun barrels . I think the gun was probably proofed at Beretta.
    V.T. is for Val Trompia, about 1930 the Brescia proof house was moved to "Gardone Val Trompia" with the proof house from the Beretta plant.
    I can't make out much else in the pics.
    Like Rufe said, there were dozens of independent firearms builders that surrounded the Beretta plant, and it was common among them to import the Austrian barrel steel.
    Look for Roman numerals, or double capital letters stamped on it, probably on the water table, and I can date it for you, if it was made 1945 or later. Chokes are usually marked like 2/10 for Cyl, and 9/10 or 10/10 for Full.
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  • pa916
    Thanks for the replies. The date code is XXIV (1968) the action is a 7 pin true sidelock if that helps
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  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by pa916
    Thanks for the replies. The date code is XXIV (1968) the action is a 7 pin true sidelock if that helps



    There is a couple of shotgun specific collectors sites on the net. They have a number of European collectors participating. You might try posting your photos to the forums on the Double Gun Journal or Shotgun World sites. Maybe one of the guys from the other side of the pond, will be able to identify your shotgun?
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