Shotgun Original Or Repro

Has most members will now have guessed that I am not a favourite of factory made shotgun reproes , Most are made from poor grade materials and do not represent the original and require a lot of work to get them shooting with little trouble .For a original which is over a 150 years and well looked after it can shoot all day and not break down.
I own a pair of repro shotguns that I bought in 1980 these were made by a well known firm of Berretta they are under and over percussion guns to mark 300 years of Berretta guns
For a company like Berretta they were poor the stocks were of cheap grade wood ,but worse was the poor locks internals and springs which I had to re harden and finely tune in, the hammers also were to harden and reline to the nipples .The bottom barrel Allen screw on the breech plug began to gas leak which would have burnt a hole in the stock for end . I did a full customizing on these guns which now give me little trouble but will these reproes last has long has a original a good question .
Enclosed is a image of these guns after customized .
Feltwad

Berretta under and over

A Standard Birmingham Made Original With No Name

It sounds like Berretta never intended for those guns to be shot, rather merely wall hangers. Sad.

Though this is just my personal taste, the original side by sides or single shots are FAR prettier to look at than these repro's, even if I did not want to shoot them.

Gus

P.S. I wonder if Berretta even made those O/U shotguns and instead had someone else make them?

The 70's-mid 80's was tough times for a lot of gun companies...Berretta included if I remember correctly.

Artificer said:

It sounds like Berretta never intended for those guns to be shot, rather merely wall hangers. Sad.

Though this is just my personal taste, the original side by sides or single shots are FAR prettier to look at than these repro's, even if I did not want to shoot them.

Gus

P.S. I wonder if Berretta even made those O/U shotguns and instead had someone else make them?

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Yes these guns were for use they came with all accessories which included a powder Flask , shot flask, inline capper cleaning rods and brushes plus a 3 drms powder dispenser.
Feltwad

Like Gus, I wonder if Beretta commissioned those from one of the smaller Brescia makers back in the days before CNC and better steels.
Yours do appear very nicely reworked.
I have a circa 1860 John Crofts pinfire double incoming. Outside looks nice, but was warned the bores were rough.

BillinOregon said:

Like Gus, I wonder if Beretta commissioned those from one of the smaller Brescia makers back in the days before CNC and better steels.
Yours do appear very nicely reworked.
I have a circa 1860 John Crofts pinfire double incoming. Outside looks nice, but was warned the bores were rough.

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The Berretta Percussion u/o could have been commissioned out but here in the UK they did not sell well , the reason been they were far too expensive they were priced more than a good shooting original.
I am not sure that we may not discuss this gun but you mentioned a D/B pinfire been badly pitted in the bores the reason for that was mainly the fultimate in the caps was very corrosive this is a common fault on pin fires
You also mentioned the maker John Crofts if it was the UK maker ,my records show that he was a gun and pistol maker 1845-1857 ,19 St Marys Row Birmingham which later became John Crofts and Son 1861 ,11 Newton Street Birmingham
Feltwad

Yep, I have a O/U Beretta, worked OK after I switched nipples to musket caps, cleaned the long route to the lower chamber w/brake cleaning fluid to rid the oil from cleaning. Wood is undistinguished, dings up in the field just like fancy maple, only cheaper.

Not PC, or HC, but serves me well hunting grouse. RR is puny and don't reload in the field w/loads that require pressure loading. I turned an aluminum version to fit the ferrules for field use. Shoots doubles as nicely as a modern SxS.

Upper barrel shot RB better than any shotgun I've owned, knocked down several white tails on-the-spot. Don't bring it to a rondy, keep it hidden until you go afield with modern gunners.

All in all, a really nice shotgun!

Is the O/U pattern correct for an old/original smoothbore double ?

I thought the O/U was a (relatively) modern pattern, post (say) 1900. :hmm:

I have seen O/U rotating barrel rifles, presumeably modern made, for sale at a local rondy (ca.1985 ?)

Over and under shotguns were the most build by the Continental makers and were used mostly in the percussion era with two hammers and two triggers .
Feltwad

Pete44ru said:

Is the O/U pattern correct for an old/original smoothbore double ?

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I have one by Francois Gruche c1690 :hmm: :grin:

Squire Robin said:

Pete44ru said:

Is the O/U pattern correct for an old/original smoothbore double ?

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I have one by Francois Gruche c1690 :hmm: :grin:

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An image would be helpful
Feltwad

Francois Gruche a Paris

Squire Robin said:

Francois Gruche a Paris

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Nice looking piece has the left lock the long
channel for the touch hole :hatsoff:

Feltwad

I find the problems you had with the Berettas a bit puzzling. My late pal Charley had one that shot like gang-busters. He fiddled around and found 70-90 grains of FFg and 1 to 1 & 1/2 oz shot did a good job on everything from our Texas cottontails to some pond jumped ducks. We cooked up many a dove and quail thanks to it.
Even worked up an 80 grain load with a .690" ball but found using Fg grade powder was a bit less of a 'thumper'. Accuracy was minute of Stetson but at short range you could have knocked down a Bambi...though he never did. It puzzles me yours required so much work to make work. Oh well...luck of the draw maybe. I was never greatly enamored with it...too much of a flinter guy! :wink: :haha:

Wes/Tex said:

I find the problems you had with the Berettas a bit puzzling. My late pal Charley had one that shot like gang-busters. He fiddled around and found 70-90 grains of FFg and 1 to 1 & 1/2 oz shot did a good job on everything from our Texas cottontails to some pond jumped ducks. We cooked up many a dove and quail thanks to it.
Even worked up an 80 grain load with a .690" ball but found using Fg grade powder was a bit less of a 'thumper'. Accuracy was minute of Stetson but at short range you could have knocked down a Bambi...though he never did. It puzzles me yours required so much work to make work. Oh well...luck of the draw maybe. I was never greatly enamored with it...too much of a flinter guy! :wink: :haha:

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It may have been that a bad batch arrived in the UK because there were many complains on what I said. Dealers could not sell them and they were sold at prices less than half the retail price .
Feltwad

That's certainly a possibility. Too bad if someone decided to dump off some guns that may not have passed muster with the company inspectors...known to happen and far too often. I'm sorry you had that experience, most I've seen were well done.