I notice that there is a nice looking Franz Sodia drilling for sale in the classifieds.




Does anyone know the history of the Franz Sodia firm?

Do they still make drillings? Double rifles also?

500,

That is a wonderful drilling! I owned one years ago in 20ga and 7X65R that was probably the finest drilling, if attention to detail is the criteria, that I've ever held.

I don't know the firm's history, but I do know they would build you about anything you wanted. I saw and held a DR in 9,3X74R a few years ago that was a graceful DR, to say the least. I tried to buy a veirling a while back, but the owner knew what it was worth.

The only negative said about the firm's drillings came from Lee LeBas one day while I was at his shop. He said they were hellish to re-regulate. I have no idea as to whether this is fact, but he was inventing words when I left.

Dan, I looked at that drilling the other day.
It seems like a nice one.
All the FS guns I have seen have been very nice.

there have been two Sodia's that I know of in the Ferlach gun community. I'm not sure how they were related but it was ether father and son or they were brothers. Franz Sodia is still alive as far as I know. He has been retired for more than ten years and is up there in age. The guns made by Anton Sodia are a little more dated so he may be the father but I've been told they were brothers by a un reliable source.

Franz Sodia's guns were fairly top grade but at a time when standerds were lower than today.

I have a .338 double rifle by Franz Sodia that is very nice but has a couple of annoying little flaws.

.338 seems like a problematic calibre for a DR.

In brief:
- 1869 Anton Sodia (welder) moves to Unterferlach - 1870 he establish gunsmith work
- 1910 Franz (son) is born
- 1935 Anton dies and Franz takes over
- during WWII they were integrated into armament industry
- in May 1945 partisans seize the firm, but after agreement with Brits the firm continue to produce pellet guns (after some years they continue with production i bigger calibers)
- 1951 large economic upswing
- 1961 establishment of a weapon specialist shop in Salzburg and in Pölten in the year 1971
- 1973 those 3 places divide and are led by Franz's 3 sons
- 1974 they are exporting 70-75%
- 1981 they celebrate 110 anniversary
- 1982 Franz dies and his grandchildren Werner & Reinhold resume the tradition with company headquarters in Salzburg

Check them here (German only): Sodia

Mouse, thanks for an excellent summary.

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
Mouse, thanks for an excellent summary.

Seconded!

No problem guys you are welcome – just a thought about Ferlacher guns in general.
Ferlach (Borovlje - Slovenian) in Carinthia (Koroska - Slovenian) also represent the cradle of Slovenian gun making (some good smiths here, that attend their school). Also many of their makers were/are Slovenians as well (Borovnik,Koschat,Michelitsch,Wernig, not sure about Fanzoj tho).
In the beginning they were making military guns until app. 1870, when Austro- Hungarian military orders dried up. Only then, they start with hunting guns making. It is interesting that at first (before WWI) they were known for making a reliable “middle class†guns that were the main opposition to mass import of Belgian guns. If you were wealthy then, you would rather buy a gun from one of the Vienna’s manufacturer like Springer (Johann Springer’s Erben, Wien) or similar…

Mouse,

Good data!

Who makes / has made "full" ejector drillings in the past? I've never seen one, but heard rumopr that "Christophe Funk" once did.

The reason I ask is that I'm involved in a gun development program at this time and am looking for examples of such. I am designing "All 3 bores" ejector Tri-bore 28 ga shotgun.

Thanks,

Jeff

Any insight appreciated,

Jeff

Mouse- Thanks for haveing the good data on the Sodia family. I had been told by a Ferlach local that Franz had been an instructor at the class for her hunting license back in the early 90's. My guess is probably one of his sons. Might be a Franz Jr?

Viglllinus - The .338 has not been a problem. Perhaps the long term life of this double will be slightly shorter but for those here that will have you belive that a high pressure double will be of face withen the first 50 rounds I can only say that it has not been true at all with mine. It has also never failed to extract or fully eject not once.

Jeff Wemmer- Thats a good question about ejectors on a drilling. I'll be curious to see any replies on that. I once had a bbf by Funk. That gun had extractors but I'm sure there are drillings out there with ejectors.

full ejector drillings - no idea - Peter Hofer made a shotgun 20/20-76, with hidden barrel between in 17 HMR, that had ejectors for the two shotgun barrels and extractor for the rifle barrel...



Hofer 20/20-76, 17 HMR

I have handled and shot AKshooters Frans Sodia
338 double rifle.
I hope to shoot it again before I leave Alaska.
I will give a full report on it when I get back home, but I will say this. It works, and it is one of the nicesest handling doubles I have ever touched.

I've got a Franz Sodia lightweight drilling (aluminium action, disced strkers) in 12ga/12ga/303 British. It handles beautifully, not quite as well as my WR droplock but similar to my Beretta U/O. The rifle barrel shoots into 1 1/2" at 100m every time (6x Kahles in claw mounts, factory fitted)and has taken several fallow deer and dozens of goats and pigs. Quite a few rabbits have succumbed to the shot barrels.

Mine was a special order from the '60s(not for me) and fit and finish are on par with my WR droplock (made just before WW1).

Hope this helps.

mike

i had a beautiful sodia o/u in 300 H&H. really a work of art, except that it wouldn't shoot. i think i tries something like 67 different load combos and never could get it to shoot within 10" at 80 yards (either barrel or combination) so i traded it off, but did so with a tear in my eye

mouse

i owned a german made 16 ga ejector shotgun with a 22 bbl in the rib as shown in your picture.

sorry, i can't remember the maker.

what can you tell us of nowotny ?