Can you help me identify a gun?

Question

My dad left two guns to my son. Now the kid is curious as to what they are. I have NO CLUE. I am having a really hard time finding info through web searches because I don't know if this is a shotgun, rifle, whatever...I don't know what any of the marks mean.

Anyhow...here is what I can see.

~It's a long gun
~There's some kind of doo-dad that looks like a trigger that you pull to open the barrel to load it
~One side says: GARDONE V.T. ITALY - M.A.V.I. and COMPANION Pat. n. 45382-54476
~The other side says: 410 GAUGE 3" and EAGLE ARMS N.Y.N.Y.
~Both sides have a coat-of-arms-looking symbol with a knight's head on top and inside: ARMS AMMUNITION and J L G

Any information...or even steering me toward useful websites much appreciated.

Thanks for letting me know it's a shotgun. And also kiss my ****. Just because I don't know how to identify a gun, doesn't mean I'm a raving idiot. "the kid" isn't going to shoot either one until he is grown and living on his own...I just happen to be in charge of them until he moves out on his own. I asked for GUN advice, not parenting.

*****Oops! There are two guns...but I only described one...the other one is much more descriptive on the barrel :-p

Answer 1

Well you have a 410 gauge shotgun made in Italy (a country with a long tradition of gun making BTW) sold in the US under the brand of Eagle Arms which was a Store Brand name of a Dept. store. Having a 3" chamber mean that it will handle 3" shells which have become standard. 410s have more popularity for informal skeet shooting these days as steel shot has made them obsolete for hunting many types of game. The coat of Arms thing means it passed a pressure test in Italy using an over powered cartridge to be sure it was safe. This is required by law in almost every country. The marks differ from nation to nation.

It was designed for hunting small game and dealing with nuisance animals such as snakes. In rural areas of the South people tend to keep one handy just for snakes, a poisonous snake in the backyard does tend to ruin your day. 410s were also popular as a kid's first shotgun as they have very little recoil and are comfortable to shoot. As with all older guns, that have not been fired in a while, it is best to have a gunsmith check it out before shooting it.

These guns do not have a great deal of monetary value as almost every farm house had one tucked away in some corner of the Kitchen for dealing with some unpleasant creature under short notice.

Answer 2

Take them to a reputable firearms dealer and get them to check the guns out for you.They will have all the info you require and more. I strongly recommend getting a sturdy lockable firearms cabinet and in staling it properly. That's where I keep my guns. Makes it hard for people to steal them, and also my kids can't get to them. (that, by the way was not parenting advice, just advice) as for web sites check out www.winchester or remmington or even gardone. At least you will be able to see some pictures.
Have a nice day.

Answer 3

Eagle Arms Companion

Answer 4

they both sound like shotguns to me,the one that says 410 gauge on it for small game hunting like squirrels and birds.

Answer 5

probably old breach loading shotgun with custom engraving.
i really can't tell by what they say on it. if you can get a photo and upload it somewhere like photobucket someone might recognize it.

Answer 6

ok first thing ill tell you is keep the guns away from the kid untill he is grown 'responsible' adult. Second it sounds like a shot gun you should take them to a gun shop and have them look at them and also put gun locks on both weapons...please make sure u lock the guns