Identify a Franchi shotgun

[Cram1965]

Just acquired a Franchi 12 over and under. I see the markings of the chamber , etc but not sure about the model and year.

 

[Raton57]

Picture works.

 

[sillymike]

By the look of it, it must the Harry-Potter-Invisibility-Cloak edition!

Coming up next: How much is it worth?

*-*-*-*

On a more serious note, unless you provide actual pictures of the gun... there's really not much to say...

 

[FLHTCUI]

By the look of it, it must the Harry-Potter-Invisibility-Cloak edition!

Coming up next: How much is it worth?

*-*-*-*

On a more serious note, unless you provide actual pictures of the gun... there's really not much to say...

Be gentle with him.....

 

[sillymike]

I thought I was ... But I also was at a loss for word...

 

[mephisto002]

Just acquired a Franchi 12 over and under. I see the markings of the chamber , etc but not sure about the model and year.

I will have a look and get back to you soon.

 

[hunter5425]

On the barrel usually under the forend there should be a box with year code, you can look this up as I believe the code is universal in Italian guns. Once you have the year its easier to figure out the model.

 

[IvoB]

a bit more information would be nice - does it have a single or double trigger can you disassemble it an put it in carry-on luggage (thats) how the one I have came here.

 

[Aniest]

Hijacked / Quoted from Shotgun World Forum (it's the first Google reply on my search: it's the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button hit) :

All firearms made in Italy are required by law to be tested by the Government Proof House, which marks the firearm with several symbols, one of which is a code identifying the year in which the firearm was proofed. A key to the code is shown below.

Note: The date code is not a part of the serial number. Read the paragraph below to learn where to find the date code.

In recent years the two-letter code has usually been enclosed in a rectangle. On shotguns, the mark is usually found on the bottom of the barrel. It may be necessary to remove the forearm, and sometimes to remove the barrels from the receiver, in order to expose the mark. I have also seen the date code on the bottom of the frame (receiver) of a semi-automatic, but I have never seen it on the receiver of a break-action gun.

On recent pistols, the mark is usually located on the frame near the trigger guard, and for older pistols, the mark is on the slide or on the frame behind the grip area.

In some cases, the actual date in Arabic numerals may be used, or a combination of Roman and Arabic numerals. For example, 1972 is usually represented by XXVIII, but in a few cases, it may be written XX8 or as 1972. Also, during the years 1945-1953, some Berettas may be marked with Arabic numbers 1-9 rather than Roman numerals I-IX.

During the years 1935-1943, before the National code system was enacted, some Berettas were marked with the Roman numerals XIII (1935) through XXI (1943). Thus, guns bearing those Roman numerals may need additional evidence to establish the year of manufacture. Beretta used no date code in 1944.

It is not clear to me when firearms by Italian manufacturers other than Beretta began to be marked with date codes - it may have been as late as 1954, with the Roman numeral X.

Update: (This was originally posted in 2006.)
CD - 2009
CF - 2010
CH - 2011
CI - 2012

Second update - 2/10/2014
CL - 2013
CM - 2014

Sigla	Anno	Sigla	Anno	Sigla	Anno
X	1954	AE	1979	BU	2004
XI	1955	AF	1980	BZ	2005
XII	1956	AH	1981	CA	2006
XIII	1957	AI	1982	CB	2007
XIV	1958	AL	1983	CC	2008
XV	1959	AM	1984	CD	2009
XVI	1960	AN	1985	CF	2010
XVII	1961	AP	1986	CH	2011
XVIII	1962	AS	1987	CI	2012
XIX	1963	AT	1988	CL	2013
XX	1964	AU	1989	CM	2014
XXI	1965	AZ	1990	CN	2015
XXII	1966	BA	1991	CP	2016
XXIII	1967	BB	1992	CS	2017
XXIV	1968	BC	1993	CT	2018
XXV	1969	BD	1994	CU	2019
XXVI	1970	BF	1995	CZ	Fino al 31/05/2020
XX7	1971	BH	1996	20	Dal 01/06/2020
XX8	1972	BI	1997	21	2021
XX9	1973	BL	1998
###	1974	BM	1999
AA	1975	BN	2000
AB	1976	BP	2001
AC	1977	BS	2002
AD	1978	BT	2003