Hey guys, a quick question for ya.. Have any of you guys ever shot or owned a shotgun built by Rizzini in Italy for Abercrombie & Fitch? For those of you who dont know A&F, and I'm sure that the faithful of AR do but I'll say it anyways for those few who don't, is that it was opened back at the turn of the century (LAST century!) by 2 HARDCORE outdoorsmen. They opened a wonderful store in NYC.. They catered to the "who's who" of the hunting world back then.. Teddy Roosevelt, Ernest Hemmingway, Robert Ruark, Jack O' Conner, etc... They were THE premier outfitters of the day for hunters going to Africa, Asia, Alaska, etc. Not only that, they were legendary for the store itself in downtown NYC. There were mounts from every corner of the globe, a legendary gun room selection, a rock climbing wall, a camping section, etc.. Basically, they were the Cabelas of the 40's, 50's and 60's..(And 1000X better) Ask any oldtimer about A&F and you'll see a gleem in his eyes light up! He begin by instantly remembering those wonderful catalouges that were sent out in the mail, and then he'll speak of wonderful quality from every end of the spectrum of the products provided.. Back then they had the hunting and camping world in their pocket. But conflicting personalities between the 2 owners of the company eventually ended the AF era of yesteryear. They sold the company name and we all now know where that took the AF brand nowadays. To think back of those wonderful days of our grandfather's AF is a romantic one.. I wish I coulda seen it! Hell, I'm sure a few of you out there in AR land got the privilge of getting to see it firsthand! Lucky dogs!

ANYWAYS, back to the point of the topic.. I've found 2 A&F shotguns I might end up buying if they look and fit right. One is a 20ga. O/U Rizinni sidelock with IC and C barrels.. The only thing I can see wrong with it is it appears that the buttstock was taken off at some point and then sanded and oiled. Which is a good thing other than it made it a slightly diff color than the fore end now.. Nothing that a bit of sandpaper and oil cant fix.. great looking case coloring on the gun as well as great bluing.
The other one is a 20ga. SXS boxlock with a IC and M barrels. It was also made by Rizzini and was made in 1966. Overall a great looking gun other than the usual wear and tear from being lightly used! Great bluing and case coloring as well.

So, have any of you guys ever owned or shot an AF shotgun?? If so, let me hear how you felt about the gun you shot. I'd like to get some opinions on the guns from some others before I decide on buying either one or both of them.
Thanks guys!

Well, got the call from the seller of the SXS in PA that the gun had sold this morning.. bummer! I was hoping to pick that one up for sure.
If any of ya'll hear of a good AF SXS in either 20 or 28ga., let me know!!!

Good luck in your quest. Back in the late 70's I put toe and heel plates of buffalo horn with widows peaks into a set of 28 and 410 guns and got the chance to shoot them. They were incredible and are high on my list.

Michael J

Scotty,

Sorry you lost out on your potential purchase.

I'm familiar with A&F, their history and current market niche.

If you are serious about Rizzini Shotguns as opposed to A&F then you should take a look at Rizzini's website and enquire as to who is importing them to the US at the moment (sorry, no idea).

IMO Rizzini is currently picking up a great deal of momentum here in Europe with a solid range of shotguns at reasonable prices.

Some of the top shooters in my area are using them with great satisfaction and I continue to observe their offerings (always looking for an excuse to fit another one in the already overflowing gunsafe) for an opportunity.

Good Luck in your endevour.

Rizzini or the family (there are several different Rizzini gun companies) started in the early 1980's so I don't see how they would ever have been connected to A&F.

Custom,
google Rizzini and A&F and then get back with us on that one... You'll find out really fast that you are wrong.

You are right. I bought a Rizzini about 5 years ago and the information about the rizzini brothers or cousins at that time made it sound like they had started in the 80's. Evidently there was a dad, or uncle that preceeded them.

There are in fact a few different company's with the name Rizzini and it can be confusing.
F'Illi Rizzini is I believe the original company and if you look at them you will see they are head and shoulders above the others in what they offer. Pretty much along tne lines of Perrazzi in quality but more intuned to field guns of Brittish best gun style. They are a joy to handle.
Michael J

Well guys, here she is.. Finally got her in the mail on Monday. I have to say, the gun is in better condition than I had hoped for..Still plan on stripping the fore end and bringing the wood back to a more neutral color.. Also plan on getting a new recoil pad put on. Can anybody here recomend a local gunsmith in the Tucson area? In addition to the pad, I need him to loosen the screws as well. I am afraid to strip them.

Now, all I have to do is wait the 5 LONG months till Mearns season opens!!

Very nice case colors. I don't know what you paid, but it looks like a very fine lower end (of their line, this is not a disparaging remark, just stating facts) gun and in excellent condition. Good find.

Speaking of F'illi Rizzin, I found this page while searching for engraver information.....yep, they make some nice guns......

click thumbnails to view engraving

Gato,
no disrespect taken!! That's exactly what it is and exactly what I was wanting.. a great looking gun that I can take out and hunt with, and not feel too bad if I put a new ding or scratch into it..

Fits like a glove too!

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:
.......

Now, all I have to do is wait the 5 LONG months till Mearns season opens!!

Congrats....beautiful shotgun.

Now just keep it away from MY mearns..

quote:

Originally posted by AzGuy:

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:
.......

Now, all I have to do is wait the 5 LONG months till Mearns season opens!!

Now just keep it away from MY mearns..

Nice try, but I pretty much LIVE down there from Thanksgiving til Feb!!
Maybe I'll catch up with ya down there..

If you are looking for some Vintage (I use the term loosely) F. Rizzini SxS guns from the A&F era, I know of a great matched pair; 28 & .410 guns that are excellent. They are single trigger guns, or I'd have already bought them.

PM if you want to know more,

JW

That is a beautiful weapon. I am impressed with the Italians workmanship. I bought a Sile a while back. I thought it looked good but yours puts mine to shame.

Scottyboy:

Enjoyed reading your comments about the real Abercrombie & Fitch. Yeah, I'm an old New Yorker (79) who used to haunt A&F beginning at about age 10 -and always was welcomed and even allowed to handle firearms.(My mother came to the store once and wanted to apologize if her son was bothering anyone. The Gun floor manager, Mr. Arens, as I remember, told her jokingly "Are you trying to take away my best customer of tomorrow?", as my mother herself told me when I was grown. (I bought my first rifle,a Rem.721 and first pistol, a S&W K-22 there and shopped there for years) I only have one criticism of your remarks - You referred to the store as being in "downtown NYC". It was at 45th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan - and very definitely in midtown Manhattan. I'll forgive a Texan for being a little off about NYC geography. (I have to, even if I am a damn Yankee. Some of my mother's people were from Texas (Mundy,north of Waco) (I think there are a few places in Texas I might have trouble locating)

Thanks Gerry! Thanks a great story for sure.

I sure would have loved to been in the product of those days.. Safaris in Kenya and Sudan for BIG ele bulls, tiger and guar hunting in India with a big Nitro double, etc.. those were the days!

But hey, life ain't bad today! It sure beats the alternative!!

I sure would have liked to have seen and been a part of the A&F of those days.

And hey, I've only been to the big Apple a couple of times.. mid-town, up-town, down-town.. it's all the same!! Great place to visit, couldn't live there though!

Thanks again Gerry!

Scottyboy:

It worries me for any future trips by you to NYC { BTW,real New Yorkers hate the term "Big Apple"} that you refer to uptown, midtown, downtown as "all the same!". I can only hope that you don't fall into the clutches of any unscrupulous NYC cab drivers! (Glad you enjoyed hearing an old man's memories about A & F)