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Calling all Wizards,Aces & Experts...HELP!

Myra-LouMyra-Lou Member Posts: 641 ✭✭✭✭
edited June 2003 in Ask the Experts
I have a friends Shotgun that he wanted me to check out...It has stamped on the barrel block.....Investarm made in Italy.....SILE Inc-OSSIAN,IN......20 gauge 3" magnum.....It is a over/under 20 gauge which cocks with the opening lever and it breaks open like a pocket knife folding.....the forearm wood had a depression in it for the trigger guard to fit in it when broken all the way open.....I can not find a barrel selector on it....it shoots the top first.....is there some trick to the selection of the barrels....like maybe rotating the gun in the air like a 6shooter or maybe dropping it on the ground first? also who made this thing.....sure glad it isn't mine.....I need some help on this 'beauty'......wishing myself BEST OF LUCK.....john.....
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Comments

  • captkirk3@dslextreme.comcaptkirk3@dslextreme.com Member Posts: 3,804
    edited November -1
    Sorry to say....I have nothing in my database concerning this Gun...as for the Trigger selector...It might not have one...If it does it might be set for the Bottom Barrel by pushing the Trigger Forward.... I'm sure someone will be coming along with the information You seek......

    Captain Kirk, Tech Staff
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  • Myra-LouMyra-Lou Member Posts: 641 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks Capt. K. for the answer. tried the push trigger forward as you suggested. not it.....a correction is as follows .....the bottom fires first.....this is a low-low end shotgun and this might be all that it is designed to do....I haven't taken it apart yet.....I am kinda hoping someone who delt with one could walk me thru....John....
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  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    On a lot (not all) of O/U shotguns there is a "barrel selector safety" on the top tang, about where your thumb rests, will it move side to side? It might need to be to the rear (ON safe) before it will go sideways.
    Another thing, if the first barrel fails to fire, sliding the safety ON than back OFF will set the trigger to the other barrel.

    The above is general information, not specifly the one you are examining, so I don't know if it applies to you.
    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
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  • HappyNanoqHappyNanoq Member Posts: 12,023
    edited November -1
    I think I have seen one of these ones before.
    I can't remember if it could fold ALL the way, as you said - as a pocket knife.
    I think it was an italian type of doublebarrel shotgun, that could fold completely - so it wouldn't take up too much space.

    Beretta also makes a singleshot Veritable Monobloc that folds all the way.

    But the doublebarrel shotgun, if I remember - didn't have a barrel-selector. It also shot the upper barrel first.


    For instance many "Jaguar" shotguns, doesn't have barrel selector.

    But if some more time and efford have been put into them - you would have a barrel selector.
    It is usually the whole Safety-button that you need to move back in "Safe"-position and to one of the sides.
    Or the barrel selector works through a Safety-button in two parts.
    Where you can move the Safety to ON - and move a part of the Safety-button from side to side.

    I haven't seen shotguns, where you could only change between barrels by rotating something in a special way.

    But best of luck to you =o)


    Don't do anything that I've allready done - That'd be just plain STOOOOOOPID.
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  • ItGoBangItGoBang Member Posts: 1,529 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If I remember right, it was sold at COMBS, years back... Lots of problems with them.[:)]

    It will hurt you, More than it will hurt me..

    Life Member... N R A

    Thanks for all the help!
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  • Der GebirgsjagerDer Gebirgsjager Member Posts: 1,673 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    John--As near as I can figure out from your post your main question seems to be how to make the barrels fire selectively. You can't. As for the gun itself--the information is as you've stated. Investarms made the gun in Italy, and it was imported by Sile of Ossian, Indiana, gone out of business for perhaps 15 years. The gun is not a bad one--I have one in .410, and a neighbor has one in 20 GA. Both fold up as you have described and have "engraving" etched into the sides of the receivers. The .410 is blue, and the 20 GA.'s receiver is silver chromed. Further, I've got one each .410 and 12 GA. that possess shorter barrels and a pistol grip only instead of a butt stock, and were designed for backpacking and camping; made much more suitable for that application by the folding feature. These always draw a gasp of shock when viewed by visitors for the first time, followed by, "Are those legal?" But, a yard stick soon convinces them that, despite their appearance, the barrels are 20 inches in length and the overall length is 26 inches. I've never had the guts to fire the 12 GA. Both the neighbor and I have had several offers to buy our specimens, but they're just too handy to get rid of. If your friend's is in decent shape it's worth keeping; although I doubt if it will ever possess collector value.
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    From the Blue Book (an older one, 19th): "Investarm, s.p.a. Current manufacturer located in Marcheno, Italy, no current importation (1998)
    Investarm manufactures a variety of shotgun configurations, including folding single shots, folding O/Us, in addition to muzzle loading black powder rifles." No models or values given, which I think implies value is whatever you can get.

    My heros have always killed cowboys.
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  • 1s1kwade1s1kwade Member Posts: 56 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I just looked at one of these in north gorgia at a pawn shop in feb. They were wanting $200. Hope that helps.

    w.wade brinson
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  • Myra-LouMyra-Lou Member Posts: 641 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    .......Thanks for all the replies......these have been very helpful.....I appreciate it.....maybe I can return some in the future......BEST OF LUCK.....john
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