Hi,
I'm new here, but I hope that over time I'll get the chance to read and interact more, as you guys seem like a nice bunch.
I've been on a kick recently of purchasing inexpensive, but serviceable side by sides to use in the field. I can normally use my google-fu to yield enough information about them to satisfy my curiosity, but my most recent acquisition is taxing those skills with little return. I was told that you guys might be able to help me learn a little more.
The Gun is marked 'Marca Registrada El-Faisan' In an oval around a pheasant (I know that it's spanish for 'Trade Mark' 'the pheasant') on the barrels. Along with the indication that it was made in elgiobar.
It seems as though many of the guns marked as "El-Faisan" are inexpensive 'poachers' guns in .410. This one however is a 12 Gauge side-lock gun with nice hand engraving. The proof marks seem to indicate a 1963 manufacture date (IL) from what I can tell.
I haven't been able to determine the manufacture yet, but it's a very well made gun; 7 pin side-locks, selective ejectors, articulated front trigger, bushed firing pins and the aforementioned nice hand cut engraving etc. The gun has clearly seen use, but shows little wear, I haven't taken the locks off yet, but it seems to function properly with snap-caps, and the ejectors throw them with some authority.
The makers mark seems to be an AP in a long diamond, but it also appears that this was stamped over another mark. I can't make the other mark out, but seems to have ended with an S inside a rounded box.
I'm not really concerned with value much, as I plan to use the gun, but I'd be very curious what else I might learn about the gun.
Photos below may shed some light?
Any help identifying this gun would be much appreciated!
