doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Franchi Instinct L question

Good day folks.

I have a question regarding the Franchi Instinct L's and the Google hasn't been much help. I know that Franchi has become more of a brand than a manufacturer which is kind of sad really because I have a 1967 Falconet Skeet that is a beautifully made gun. I purchased two Instinct L's for use in the field. Both slightly used but in very, very excellent condition. The 20ga was made in 2021 and the 12ga in 2023. They are almost identical in looks other than the smaller frame for the 20ga. I did read that Bettinsoli may have made the very early Instincts and I do recall on one that I saw, the barrel selector was the safety catch that slid left and right but on the guns I have it has the "Beretta" style button with the one dot, two dots. A gent at the trap and skeet club said that he believed that the Instinct L's are now being made by F.A.I.R.

Does anyone have any knowledge on this? I emailed Franchi but they have not replied on that. I have looked at similar guns by both manufacturers on line and they both have models that kind of look the same in the shape of the forend and stock but the checkering is different.

Thanks!!

Pietro

I really don't really have any answers, really more questions than answers but have you seen the prices of the Franchi SPAS 12 pump & semi auto shotgun? Apparently Franchi must have made more military type arms that sporting?


Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

Not sure why they would be made by fair
Franchi is owned by Beretta has has the most up to date and advanced equipment in the world

They are certainly capable to built anything they want
Why would they farm it out to fair?

John
Arrieta

See John, that's exactly what I thought, but a 2012 article on Chuck Hawk's website said the following:
It is made by Bettinsoli of Italy, imported into the United States by Benelli USA and sold under the Franchi brand. Its published specs are as follows: Currently, the Franchi Instinct L has a beguiling street price of about $1000.

https://www.chuckhawks.com/franchi_instinct-L_shotgun.htm#:~:text=It%20is%20made%20by%20Bettinsoli%20of%20Italy%2C%20imported,has%20a%20beguiling%20street%20price%20of%20about%20%241000.

Then on Shotgun Forum it says:
F.A.I.R (Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini) does produce the Franchi Instinct L. The Franchi Instinct L is a model of shotgun manufactured by F.A.I.R, and it is available in various gauges, including 12 gauge.
Shotgun Forum

So I am thoroughly confused. The 12ga I have was getting stuck and I couldn't open it. The firing pin got hung up on the fired shell. The gentleman I bought it from had registered it and I sent it back to him so he could get Stoeger Canada to service it for me. They advised that the upper and lower firing pins were put in the wrong spot.

Further in the Chuck Hawk's article it complains about manufacturing deficiencies, so maybe that could be the move to FAIR if that is really the case?

But I get what you are saying, with the size of Beretta and even Benelli, they should/could be doing it in house.