Colt Franchi auto 12 Ga. in a 3 in. mag. ??

2692 Views 11 Replies 6 Participants Last post by collector14, Aug 11, 2020

colt57

Discussion Starter · Dec 3, 2013

The title says it all .. Was there ever a 3 in. mag. made and if so what was the longest VR barrel .. Thanks Randy

1 - 12 of 12 Posts

The Colt Auto shotgun was available in 20 or 12 gauge, and in Magnum.
Barrels were 26", 28", 30", and 32" with plain or vent ribs.

The Custom Auto was the same gun only with fancy wood and a hand engraved receiver.
Both were made from 1962 to 1966.

Save

colt57

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 3, 2013 (Edited)

WOW .. A Colt 12 Ga. auto in 3 in. Mag with a 32 VR barrel ?? .. That's the stuff dreams are made of !! I suppose they are made from unobtainium ?? Meaning I have zero chance of ever finding one ?? Thanks Randy

Save

JudgeColt

· #4 · Dec 4, 2013

colt57 said:
Meaning I have zero chance of ever finding one ??

About the same as a Colt 57!

Save

smkummer

· #5 · Dec 4, 2013

I have a Colt standard and custom auto 12 gauge with 2 3/4 chamber. These guns are very light and they are in reality a Franchi AL48. A couple of years ago in a Sheels sporting goods store in Bismarck, ND, I handled a used Franchi auto 12 gauge magnum. The shotgun was a lot heavier than the 2 3/4 guns and I am guessing it had a steel receiver instead of the aluminum of the 2 3/4. The gun was priced to sell but I didn't think I would have any use for it in Southern, IN.

Save

collector14

· #6 · Jan 18, 2020

dfariswheel said:
The Colt Auto shotgun was available in 20 or 12 gauge, and in Magnum.
Barrels were 26", 28", 30", and 32" with plain or vent ribs.

The Custom Auto was the same gun only with fancy wood and a hand engraved receiver.
Both were made from 1962 to 1966.

dfariswheel, I'm researching the serial numbers of these guns and hope you can help me. The Auto (Standard Model) serial numbers appear to be C010001 through C012888. The Custom Auto (Custom Grade) serial numbers appear to be C070001 through C072145.

Then there is a group of 260 guns in 1963 and 1964 with serial numbers C040001 through C040260. I'm trying to learn why these 260 guns begin with 04 instead of 07. My gun is serial number C040001.

See less See more

Save

Reactions: 1

collector14

· #7 · Jan 18, 2020

colt57 said:
The title says it all .. Was there ever a 3 in. mag. made and if so what was the longest VR barrel .. Thanks Randy

My 1963 is 3" chamber, 30" Full Choke with Vent Rib

Someone help me here. It's not stamped Magnum. But it is stamped 3". Is it okay for the hotter loads?

See less See more

Save

ColtsDad

· #8 · Jan 18, 2020

3” and magnum when referring to shotguns mean the same thing . As does 3 1/2 meaning super mag .

Your shotgun is very sweet , even though blurry pic - I think it’s pretty uncommon set up .

i have looked them up and been interested for over ten years.

There is really no need to use 3” , but yes yours will handle IT .

My deluxe is a 20 gauge , my wife has shot clays with it , it is too big of a handicap for me though .

Also your recoil pad looks very nice , my 20 was shot .

See less See more

Save

Reactions: 1

collector14

· #9 · Jan 18, 2020

Thanks for sharing that info. Your gun looks great! I'm working on a webpage and took some more photos this afternoon. I hope to learn about the serial number so I can share that information with everyone. Have you tried to lookup your serial number in the Colt Database Lookup Tool?

https://guncollectorsclub.com/colt-custom-auto.htm

Save

ColtsDad

· #10 · Jan 19, 2020

Thanks for link and compliment . To me my shotgun looks great because it says Colt on it , the Franchi would not interest me.

i love having Colt long guns other than AR’s ...... love COLTS period .
I really don’t think medallion on your stock is factory, but I could be totally wrong .
i put a cap on my Coltsman .308 , so it’s all good .
The grain pattern and shades on your 12 ‘s stock & forend are really cool.

Colt offered another semi auto shotgun not French. I believe American manufactured post 1980 .
It is in Fiestads blue book , I would REALLY love to own .

i saw one on gunbroke in the last two years . It was about a grand , if there was ANY way I could’ve came up with the cash it would’ve been mine . I doubt I will EVER see one again . Oh well , be happy for what we have !

See less See more

Save

Reactions: 1

collector14

· #11 · Jan 19, 2020

ColtsDad said:
I really don’t think medallion on your stock is factory, but I could be totally wrong .

I agree with you 100%! I looked at that medallion and thought how cheezie. Of course I don't have another one to compare to. This gun has been a shooter and I could see someone losing the original. The other thing that bothered me about the medallion when I took the photo, is that I had to turn my camera and I wondered if it was mounted upside down. The logo is 180 degrees on the Colt Sauer rifles.