A question about Bernardelli Shotguns

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TrustySidearm

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Hey friends,

Long story short, my grandfather and my father immigrated to Canada after the second world war. I'm not entirely sure if I'm related to the Bernardelli family back in Italy but I do share the same name. For a long time I've been interested in learning about the Bernardelli company and their firearms, but never got around to it.

Since joining here, I realized how much I don't know about the gun culture. I'm very excited to learn more. That said, I wanted to ask you folks if you've seen very many (or any) Bernardelli shotguns being sold in the Canadian market and what your overall opinion of them is.

One day I hope to own a few of them and hopefully I'll be able to find some on EE someday. Thank you for your time.
 
I've had a few of theie side by sides, all very good guns in their respective price class. Prior to about 1990 they were the full equal of Beretta in features and quality but starting in the 1960's Beretta started to concentrate most of their business on their excellent over/under guns and autoloaders whereas Bernardelli concentrated on expanding and refining their line of side by sides. American buyers in particular swung heavily to over/ unders leaving Bernardelli's fine side by side doubles falling by the wayside. Today, because almost all of these fine guns have fixed chokes and /or double triggers they are under appreciated and undervalued and can be somewhat of a bargain.
 
There was more than one Bernardelli making shotguns. It is the Vincenzo Bernardelli guns that have the great reputation.
I have had a Bernardelli Brescia hammer double for 50 years. A few others have come and gone, but my first Bernardelli still lives with me.
 
Correct, there were several different Bernardelli makers, probably related but the others were riding on the coat tails of Vincenzo Bernardelli. Same thing happened to Victor Sarasqueta, Antonio Zoli, Rizzini and other fine makers where other makers with lower quality products attempted to cash in on a hard won and well deserved reputation. It's still happening today where you have quite ordinary guns attempting to cash in on the name and prestige associated with names like Webley and Scott and Churchill. Same name, NOT the same gun.
 
I have a 20g Vincenzo Bernardelli Roma 6EM. A well made made and good looking gun. I don't use it very often and think about selling it every so often, but then I pick it up and look at it and decide otherwise. I contacted Bernardelli (who have currently suspended operations) to get more information on it and was informed that previous manufacturing records were given to the courts some time back during a bankruptcy filing. I have the email from them somewhere.
 
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