Brescia, Italy

[USMA65]

Today I received a Pietta that I ordered from Cabelas. This brand is new to me. Over the last few years the debate has been argued as to who makes the best revolver, Pietta or Uberti. The jury is still out with me, but something I read in the brochure enclosed with the Pietta caused me to remember something I saw on a gun show TV program a few years ago.
Evidently most reputable gunmakers use proofmarks to ensure certain checks and balances in their production processes. The city of Brescia took it one step further. They installed a city proofing department to ensure that every gun, from every company which makes guns in that city, meets their standards. The TV show stated that since the city added this extra level of customer protection, the standards of production had increased to the point that very few guns failed. This could partially explain the turnaround which evidently Pietta has undergone in the last few years. The city checks all guns, revolvers to shotguns. Some BP long guns are made in Italy. I would be interesting to know which ones are made in Brescia, and whether the program is as effective as presented on the show. I know that right now I am very happy. If this Pietta is as much fun as my Uberti, I will be very pleased.

 

[USMA65]

I feel like an rookie. My recent purchase has a major flaw, as I described on my thread on the Handgun section. Brescia let at least two slip through. Never will purchase a Pietta again.

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

You should be able to return the revolver to Cabela's. Hopefully they can make things right for you.

 

[TFoley]

:hmm: Who told you that this was a new thing?

In the early 1900s the firearms manufacturers of the Province of Brescia found the key to their success in the quality and reliability of their products, and formed a consortium with the Towns of Brescia and Gardone Valtrompia, the Chamber of Commerce of Brescia, and the Ministry of Industry of the then Kingdom of Italy.

Thus, by Royal Decree Nr. 20 of 13/01/1910, the Proof House was founded and based in Brescia. Its laboratories were set up in the two major firearms-making towns: Gardone Valtrompia and Brescia.

FYI, gunmakers do NOT use proof marks. Gunmakers MAKE guns that are then, by law, submitted to one of the two Italian Proof Houses in either Brescia and nearby Gardone Valtrompia. All the fourteen signaturees to the CIP are required by law to submit their products for sale to the public for proof, and Italy is one of them.

tac

 

[USMA65]

It was presented on the show as a new event, but thanks for your enlightenment

 

[TFoley]

Sir, can you please point me at your original post?.

In Italian-made guns, the date of proof can be clearly seen stamped on the side of the receiver in the form of Roman numerals from i to XXX [1945 - 1974] and then, dual-letter alphabetically [with certain exceptions] starting with AA [1975] and so on - we are now at CP [2015]. These marks will be inside a little rectangular 'box' denoting arms intended for export.

You will also see PN - Pulvero Nero - [for] black powder or PSF - Pulvero senza fumo - [for] nitro [powder without smoke].

It's true that in recent years the Pietta company has come on in beaps and lounds, to the point where they are making some very fine firearms indeed. It is also true that Pedersoli has at least two distinct product lines. Evidence shows numerous shortcuts in the items of lesser value, and the gradual upgrading of the higher-priced items to a level of quality approaching that of the originals.

Can you please point me at your original post?

tac

 

[TFoley]

A hundred and five years in the past is hardly a 'new event', unless, of course, you are a Sequoia. :wink:

BTW, here in yUK guns have been required to be proofed since 1813 - the founding date of the first of three proof houses.

tac

 

[TFoley]

Addenda -

A current list of Italian firearms manufacturers based in and around the Trompia Valley [Valtrompia] - and using the facilities of the Gardone Val Trompia Proof House -

Abbiatico & Salvinelli
Amerigo Cosmi
Antonio Zoli
Armeria Cortesi
Armeria Tucci
Armi Art
Armi Salvinelli
Benelli Armi, s.p.a.
Beretta.it
Breda Fucili
Caesar Guerin
Davide Pedersoli & C.
Effebi, snc.
Fabarm
Fabbri
Fabbrica Armi Val Susa
F A I R
Falco
Famars di Abbiatico and Salvinelli
Fausti Stefano, s.r.l.
Ferlib fine firearms
Filli Poli Armi
Filli Rizzini gun factory
Franchi
Fratelli Gamba Armi
Investarm, s.p.a.
Luciano Bosis
Mauro Battaglia
Pedersoli
Perazzi Armi, s.r.l.
Perugini e Visini
Piotti Fratelli s.n.c
Redolfi Fratelli, s.n.c.
Renato Gamba
Rizzini & Tanfoglio, s.r.l.
Rizzini snc di Rizzini B. & C.
Sabatti, s.r.l.
Silma
Tanfoglio
Uberti
Vincenzo Bernardelli
W. R. Saleri di Saleri William & C
Zanardini arms

Also - On say a repro Colt or Remington revolver, one will expect to find the following.

1. On the right hand side of the frame, the date code, the Gardone BP proof, and the Gardone firearm inspection stamp.
2. on the barrel in front of the cylinder, the same date code, the Gardone BP proof, and the Gardone firearm inspection stamp.
3. On lower price guns, the maker’s logo and name/location and blackpowder and calibre warning on top of the barrel where the Period makers’ name would be. If there is a USA importers name and location, the Italian info may be stamped under the barrel or on the side.
4. Italian firearm identification aka “serial the date code, the Gardone BP proof, and the Gardone firearm inspection stamp.
5. The Italian firearm identification number or “serial” number. For revolvers, on the bottom of the barrel unit and at the front of the frame in front of the trigger guard. A semi-nice touch as that is where they are on original Colt revolvers but the size and style of the font is not Period. These are needed by the Italians to make a firearm, as well as to be able to export it say to the USA (The USA has no proof houses or proofing system, and has a joint "self policing" done by each maker themselves.)

The same appear on Italian reproduction rifles, muskets, rifle-muskets, and rifled muskets, typically with the Italian maker's name and/or US importer’s name on the barrel top. And the date code, the Gardone V. T. BP proof, the Gardone firearm inspection stamps, and manufactures’ firearm ID or serial number down at the breech’s left hand side where the US proofs are on originals.

Note that the Gardone V. T. [Gardone Val Trompia] acqured its nationa status as the definitive testing and proof house for the Italian government in the form of a 'rubber stamp' government ruling as recently as 2012, -

Quote - This 31 July the Italian Senate has approved a maxi-amendment to the Decree-Law n. 95 July 6, 2012 (the so-called “Spending Review”): in Article 23, subsection 12-sexiesdecies, a provision was inserted that gives the Italian National Proof House of Gardone Valtrompia the authority to verify whether any firearm produced, imported or marketed in Italy meets the requirements to be qualified as “common weapon” or “sporting weapon”.

It would seem that the Gardone Proof House and Brescia are one and the same entity. Confusion arises since one [Gardone] is a district of the other [Provincia del Brescia]. The proof house per se in the actual province of Brescia closed back in 1934.

tac