doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DIY Gunsmithing @ doublegunshop.com Firing pin return spring hammer sxs

I bought an Italian hammer 16ga sxs. The firing pins were stuck forward. I pulled the firing pin retaining collars and it looks like someone has dry fired it a lot and the collars were peened into the firing pins and the springs were crushed a bit. I filed out the collars with a small round file and straightened the springs(tuff little devils) and all is well. I'm thinking I might want to find a pair in case one breaks. They are odd with one half of the spring the the skinny part of the firing pin diameter and the other half fits the firing pin hole size. Other than the firing pin collars the shotgun looks like it has t had much use and is new stiff.

It is so interesting for an Italian shotgun, double under lugs, greener crossbolt and side clips. It is an Armi San Marcos. 28" M&IC.

oskar,
The retailer is Italian, what do the proof marks tell you?
Mike

The proofmarks tell me , made in Italy in 1963( XVIII ), S. Marco, Gardone-Brescia, Chrom (no E) Nitro Steel Boehler, Kg 1,510, 17.0 on both barrels, 16.2 on left barrel, 16.5 on right barrel, star in a circle over PSF, star in a circle over FINITO, a small star in a circle over a shield and a lion with his paw on a cube with B in one flat and G in another.

It is all pretty much Italian proofs for 1963.

oskar,
There is no doubt that it has Italian proofs, but Boehler steel barrels adds to the impression that it might be a "red headed German stepchild".
Mike

There are no German proofs on the barrels and the Italian proofs are on the barrels and the action. Maybe imported unfinished tubes and assembled and proofed the barrels in Italy.

I was thinking the whole thing might have been brought in as unfinished parts, fit up in Italy and proofed in Italy, which is why I said "stepchild" as a joke.
Mike

After the subject of its lineage came up I looked at some more. I've found references to.S. Marcos shotguns With Krupp, Boehler and English Vincent(?).steel tube full proofed in Italy. They also made boxlocks.that look to be nice shotguns but they do have the frame reinforced much like some of the FEG Monroe Carlo shotguns.