doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Beretta Model 412 Folding single-shot

Several years ago I acquired from a list member this 20 gauge Beretta 412, the folding shotgun. I initially thought about rigging it for turkey hunting, but decided to keep the gun as is, especially the full choke. I've recently carried the 4 lbs., 13 oz., gun woodcockin' shooting Polywad spreaders. There has been some commentary in the forum over the years about these guns. It�s solidly built gun made in 1957 according to the Beretta date code �XIII�. Beretta initially made the gun in Italy, but in later years, made the gun in Brazil. It was made in 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32 and 36 (.410) gauges and bore. The factory eventually was sold and Taurus handguns are now made there. At the link below, Beretta shows a painting with a hunting scene depicting hunting for a song bird with call cages containing live birds. Any idea the quarry? Note the �pill box� type hunting blind.
http://www.berettaweb.com/Beretta_Folding_Shotguns/Beretta_412_series.htm

Quarry? Almost too many to list but the type of hunting depicted is for migrant songbirds and finches. Blackbirds ( similar to Am. Robin),Thrushes, Fieldfares,Larks, Finches,Sparrows and doves are all considered legal quarry. Thirty Day Limit, 60 day season.

Was also made in 8ga and 9mm rimfire

Hmm. Second photo from the early 1970s Beretta catalog in as many weeks:



The 412 morphed into the TR-2 trap gun, later in production. Notice the svelt weight of 8 1/4 lbs, and that the gun didn't seem to fold anymore.

My own copy:



"Companion" folding single shot, made in Italy.

I have owned 12, 20 and 28 gauge versions of this design, but, only own the 12 as of today. My Mom, God bless her, bought it for me when I was 14, as my first shotgun, so, it will never be for sale. They don't seem to turn up as often as they once did. No one has been able to convince me that my suspicion that Beretta produced this copy is false. This one has a nicely matted and tapered rib on it's 30" barrel, non automatic safety, and about 40 points of choke. It is unpleasant to shoot with normal hunting loads, and I usually put a Winchester low noise round of 7 1/2 or 8 shot in it when I use it.
I was actually contemplating shooting a round of trap with it last week, but, the weather turned cold before I got out there. It is very nicely balanced, carries very well, and is useful as a balance pole while hunting from snowshoes, an endeavor I haven't done much of the last few years, but, enjoyed a lot, as a younger man.

As recently as a few years ago, Acardi imports was bringing in a different, but, very similar folding shogun from Italy. I don't know if they still do.

Best,
Ted

Yildiz currently makes a version in .410, the TK-36, sold by Academy brick and mortar stores. A 12 gauge version was announced but never introduced. The .410 is quite a value at $130 with handcut checkering and on some, very nice wood. Dunno if anyone else is currently marketing one in the US.

Gil, that looks a lot like my red dirt in that pic...Geo

Geo, it may have been your neighbor's. gil

I can claim to have, what I believe to be, the ugliest folding .410 ever made. The El Faisan was given to me by my first cousin several years ago. I think it was just too ugly for him. It is a doublegun, tho', not a single shot, which only makes it twice as ugly, actually. I'm afraid to take a picture of it, for fear it would break my camera. Both triggers break cleanly at 12-13 pounds.

SRH

Similar, not identicle:

http://www.accardi-importers.com/investarm.html

Best,
Ted

These were also offered by Zoli and Investarm. Handy light little bunny and squirrel guns. The old Berettas with top barrel matting are quite nice. I have picked up 4.5lb repeating shotgun with four shot magazine tang safety select a choke type of device at end of barrel as old age knockabout truck gun. The older I get the less I want to carry. The only downside I have to use specialized 3/4oz 1100fps loads in it. Not so bad 3/4oz was the original 20ga load.