Some questions about a gun

[mspiridonov]

Soo... I have a Giuseppe Gitti, Gardone VT over under 20 guage with a lot of engraving on all metal parts. It has ACCIAO BREDA CROMATO on one side of the barrel, hidden under the barrel there are 3 numbers in this order

960
71
20

it states "made in italy" on the bottom and there are 3 stars on the side....

Here is what I have found out...

ACCIAO BREDA CROMATO "Breda Chrome Steel" A particulat steel alloy supplied by the Breda Steel works specifically for Gunmaking.

Giuseppe Gitti, Gardone VT: One of the many (over 300) Registered Gunmakers or families of the town of Gardone Val Trompia ( G in the Trompia Valley) up the creek from Brescia, the Centre of Italian Gunmaking since the mid or early 1500s, and iron making since Roman times.

A Lot of Shotguns were made in small, individual lots, by families working together, each supplier contributing various parts, etc to be assembled into a complete Gun. The Final "maker" usually placed their name on the gun; Very few families made a gun from all the raw materials right through to the finished article, but of course the bigger "industrial" makers do so.( Beretta, Bettinsoli, Pedrazzi etc, etc).

These "family" or "artisan" makes supplied the general Italian shotgun market for over a century, and they were also exported by "co-operatives" specifically formed to market the guns out of Italy

now for the tricky part.... What is a worth on the gun for insurance? Also I assume 20 is 20 guage, what do the other numbers and star mean. I believe it is the choke but I am unsure, and if it is what size is it. I will not sell this gun because I love it. It is light quick to shoulder and great for pushing through the bush.

Here are some horrible pictures that don't do it justice but all I have at my disposal tonight is my camera on my phone!

Thank You for your help

Mike

 

[gunsaholic]

The 3 stars mean modified choke. Are both barrels marked the same? Often (but not always) one barrel is choked differently. I assume the 71 might be referring to chamber length which is 2 3/4". No idea on value.

 

[mspiridonov]

Thanks for the info, both are 3 stars. I was hoping the 71 was chamber length, as Italian shells are slightly different. But because the stamp "made in Italy" I would assume it was imported for the north american markets and chambered for such.