What is this shotgun worth?

[JimmyJoe69]

I am posting this inquiry for a friend. He owns this 20 ga. shotgun and was wondering what the value of it could be. I told him that if anyone would know it would be the TGO group. I have been unable to find anything about this weapon online. Any iinformation would help immensely. Thanks everyone.

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[Warbird]

It looks to me to be the FS-1. They are not worth a lot, no demand for single barrels, probably $175 for 100%, down to $80 for 60%. The A&F guns are a piece of history now I guess though, as they no longer are the place to buy your safari guns and all the attire and accessories you would need for a safari.

Many years ago people bought everything they need at A&F and you could store your safari guns there till your next trip overseas if you wished.

Unfortunately for your friend the O/U's and SxS are the real money getters for shotguns, but it looks to be in decent shape. To my knowledge Beretta has not made a single barrel, outside of special trap guns, since the late 80's or so.

I would say if you want more info and want to go the experts, the most knowledgable folks on scatterguns on the net will be found at www.shotgunworld.com

Edited August 7, 2008 by Warbird

[Guest gcrookston]

Yes, it's an FS-1 "Companion". Based on the pictures it appears to be in great shape. They were made from the late 1950's into the 1980's in gauges 12 to 410. Not high on the list of collectables. It should bring from $175 to $250. A look at Sold items on GB shows $225 to be reasonable. But that's before you add A&F, for that you need to add an amount (and I don't know).

The largest importer and most knowledgeable guy I know of Beretta Shotguns is Joel Etchen. It would be worth your while to give him a call, tell him what you have. He probably knows an advanced collector that will pay the premium (however small it might be)..

http://www.joeletchenguns.com/

[Warbird]

The most I have seen one go for lately is around $185 and it was pristine. Yes, give him a call or have your friend do so, you never know. My personal favorite shotgun is my Beretta Silver Pigeon Sporting with 32"bbls, even more than the DT 10 or or 682 Gold,. They just make a fantastic shotgun. I have shot Perazzi, Krieghoff( personal favorite rifle is a double bbl K gun), Guerini, and Beretta points better than any of them for me. I just love them.

He may just want to know the value for the sake of it, but if I was him and could afford to keep it I would for the memento of it, there won't be anymore A&F guns.

Although a collector might be willing to pay for the A&F name on it, I don't know one who is or find evidence of it. I could ask around if you like, I attend most collectors shows around the country. My hunch would be that there is some A&F collector out there, I just don't personally know one. Hell there's a collector for everything so there has to be one for those, though I would imagine like gcrookston said the premium would likely be small.

Edited August 8, 2008 by Warbird

[fizik]

What? I see Abercrombie and Fitch on the receiver, Beretta on the barrel, and Ausonia Electric Steel on the barrel...what on earth is this thing? Was it made by Beretta and distributed by A&F? or is that a replacement barrel? I certainly like the look of it though, pretty cool.

[Warbird]

It's a Beretta made specifically for A&F's customers. All the FS1's were alike, some had specially engraved receivers for certain large distributors and at one time A&F was a big distributor for Beretta. That wasn't really any big deal at all. But, since A&F was a major outfitter and they are not anymore some have fondness for the name.

Edited August 8, 2008 by Warbird

[TripleDigitRide]

That's interesting.

All this time I thought Abercrombie and Fitch was nothing more than a clothing company for the highfalutin.

[fizik]

That's interesting.

All this time I thought Abercrombie and Fitch was nothing more than a clothing company for the highfalutin.

Me too, iIm surprised. I didn't even know the company had been around more than tweny or so years. Good to know.

[Guest gcrookston]

What? I see Abercrombie and Fitch on the receiver, Beretta on the barrel, and Ausonia Electric Steel on the barrel...what on earth is this thing? Was it made by Beretta and distributed by A&F? or is that a replacement barrel? I certainly like the look of it though, pretty cool.

A&F back in the day was a sporting goods store. They also were an importer of Fire Arms going back to at least the 1920's and imported these guns from Beretta back in the 1960's (J. L. Galef & Sons, a sporting goods distributor had also imported them in the 1950's-early 60's). --- Think of Eddie Bauer, a sporting goods store not unlike A&F, that also discovered the key to marketing success.

I believe Ausonia was either the maker of the steel or of the entire barrel.

I found this link describing this particular shotgun (in Europe it was known as the 413) and was intended as a beginner's or entry level hunting gun, affordably priced.

http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.berettaweb.com/Beretta_Folding_Shotguns/Beretta_412_series.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522Ausonia%2BElectric%2BSteel%2522%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff&usg=ALkJrhgIBcuOQdtAAGvTLfvQnRWyOFBvRg

Edited August 8, 2008 by gcrookston

[TripleDigitRide]

Me too, iIm surprised. I didn't even know the company had been around more than tweny or so years. Good to know.

I took a few minutes to read the Wikipedia page for A&F. It was very interesting.

[141FE]

$150 - $200

[Guest ColdEspresso]

I bought my first handgun at the AF retail store in San Francisco back in 1975. It was a used Colt 32 rimfire. At that time, I was able to pay for the gun and take it home that day. Try doing that now in San Francisco. I wish I still had it.

[Oh Shoot]

I took a few minutes to read the Wikipedia page for A&F. It was very interesting.

Yeah, always some memorable trivia factoid therein, even if you already know something about the subject.

Like, that Hemingway's suicide shottie was probably an A&F.

- OS