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Forums10
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Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 27
Junior Member
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OP
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 27 |
I've recently acquired an Italian SXS with open hammers in 12 gauge. It was listed by the vendor as being of "Unknown" manufacture. The proof marks indicate that it was made in 1951 and is proofed for nitro. There's a mark on the water table, which I believe is the maker's mark, which I am trying to identify. It consists of an illustration of an open book with "BG" written on the facing pages. A lion stands next to the book with his fore paw on top of the book. Under all of this appears "S. Marco" or "I. Marco" - it's hard to see clearly. I found a post on another site where the poster claims that the "S.Marco" is not the name of the maker, but stands for "trade mark" and indicated that what appears above it is a trade mark. I am beginning to doubt this information, as I have not found evidence of any other trade marks with this inscription underneath. Rather, it appears that this is part of the mark and refers to the now-defunct maker Armi San Marco. Does anyone know about the trade mark question, or whether the mark in the top left corner of the image below indicates Armi San Marco, or some other maker? 
Last edited by Straight Shooter; 11/24/08 01:32 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,737 Likes: 96
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,737 Likes: 96 |
I wonder if the BG could stand for Bernadelli Gardone. There is still a hammer gun in their current line up. Just a possibility. Lagopus.....
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,812 Likes: 193
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,812 Likes: 193 |
I have a similar 16 bore boxlock(Model 409???) that I enjoy shooting with 26" tubes that has the side escape gas channels. I've been meaning to order a reprint catalogue, which I think has the same trademark, from Cornell - http://www.cornellpubs.com/Templates2/ARMI%20San%20Marco%201964.htm , but I haven't taken the time. I think San Marco is an area near Venice or is everything named after St. Mark - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_San_Marco . Kind Regards, Raimey rse
Last edited by ellenbr; 11/24/08 04:52 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 27
Junior Member
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OP
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 27 |
I wonder if the BG could stand for Bernadelli Gardone. There is still a hammer gun in their current line up. Just a possibility. Lagopus..... A definite possibility. Another possibility is that it stands for Bescia, Gardone (Val Trompia). But wait 'til you see my next response...
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 27
Junior Member
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OP
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 27 |
The web site that you reference is the one that really messed me up! It does, indeed, have a motif with the lion and the paw on the book. The weird thing is that the lion is facing the other direction, the letters 'B' and 'G' are in the opposite order, and yet they aren't reversed (mirror images). You would think that, whatever the B and G stand for, they would at least appear in the same order.  To solve this puzzle, we're going to need more evidence, or someone who can put some of these ideas to rest.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598 |
BG is Brescia Gardone the major gun center in Italy. Brescia is the province, Gardone is the city. The winged lion or lion is the symbol of Saint Mark, the writer of the gospel. St Luke is a winged ox or ox, St John is an eagle, St Matthew is an angel or human. Piazza San Marco is the Square of St Mark's, a famous church in Venice ( Venezia ) built in 828 that has nothing to do with modern shotguns. It is not near Gardone. Great for hand blown glass however.  The fact that it has the stamp of St Mark indicates it was made by Armi San Marco. They became known for their replica pistols.  Pete
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,438
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,438 |
I too have an Italian S Marco 12 ga shotgun in used but nice condition. According to the date code it was made in 1969. Are we saying that these are the Italian version of "Guild Guns" and were not made by any one specific maker?
Jim
The 2nd Amendment IS an unalienable right.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,381 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,381 Likes: 1 |
Made at Via Parte 33 by Fabbrica D'Armi Fausti cav. Stefano & Figlie.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,812 Likes: 193
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,812 Likes: 193 |
PeteM:
Thanks for the info bridge and correction. I didn't intend to infer that guns were made in Venice.
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,026
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,026 |
Is it possible that only the reciever was made by ASM and the gun finished by another maker? Steffano Fausti and Sons (which still exists)? ASM made some very nice replica guns later on; their "Spaghetti Colt" clones are real clones--parts interchange with a First Generation SAA perfectly.
San Marco also has a martial implication; the Venetians being a very warlike naval power at one time--they rented their navy to anyone with the coin and their ships' "infantry" were legendary. The present Italian "naval infantry" are known as "San Marco Marines."
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