Eagle Shotgun?

Eutycus

Eutycus

Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2024
Messages
288
I got rid of my 12ga. shotguns due to a Rotator Cuff injury. I found this 20 ga. in the back of a closet.A 20 ga. I can handle. I got this one in a trade many years ago. It was in terrible shape with a busted stock and a broken firing pin. I think I traded a case of beer for it. I tinkered with it 35 years ago and got it in working condition. Is anyone familiar with the brand EAGLE? It has a large "trigger" to break it open and it folds all the way open. 17149155271348404167573785255857.jpg
 
Last edited:
I "fixed" the broken stock with some long screws and JB Weld. I made the firing pin from a grade 9 bolt on a lathe. Very amateurish but it works.I realize this is just a cheap single shot and am considering shortening the barrel. I think it would make a good "companion" to my other home defense guns. Afterall who argues with a shotgun.And this is a "Companion".
 
I am almost disappointed, I had hoped to gain a little knowledge about this particular model. I'm guessing there are not many out there.
 
I had a bolt action .410 that was labeled as an “Eagle Arms”. I believe it said made in Spain. I assume they were an importer.
 
I called it Eagle but I think that's just the name of the importer. It was actually manufactured by Gardone.
 

Attachments

  • 17152273037269124742013205980265.jpg
    17152273037269124742013205980265.jpg
    116 KB · Views: 12
I have one of those in 12 gauge 3" magnum. I think "Gardone" is the location in Italy where it was made, not the manufacturer, but I could be wrong. I have heard some were made by Beretta, don't know if that is true. I "think" they were made by more than one company.

It is an excellent gun, mine is in excellent condition. I cut my barrel down so that it doesn't stick out past the stock when folded. Also made the pocket in the fore-stock for the trigger guard deeper, so it folds more, or all the way in half. I use it for/as one of my trekking/exploring/map and compass/wilderness roaming guns, when I want the least amount of weight with the most power. Mine weighs five pounds. With 3" magnum slug loads, the recoil is beyond brutal, but I believe it will stop anything. For small game survival I carry a chamber insert that shoots 410 shot shells. I can carry a lot of those compared to 12 gauge shot shells.

Yes, those are neat guns and under appreciated. I like mine very much. I have never found much information on them. Also been told they were intended as skeet shooters.
 
Ugly Sauce said:
I have one of those in 12 gauge 3" magnum. I think "Gardone" is the location in Italy where it was made, not the manufacturer, but I could be wrong. I have heard some were made by Beretta, don't know if that is true. I "think" they were made by more than one company.

It is an excellent gun, mine is in excellent condition. I cut my barrel down so that it doesn't stick out past the stock when folded. Also made the pocket in the fore-stock for the trigger guard deeper, so it folds more, or all the way in half. I use it for/as one of my trekking/exploring/map and compass/wilderness roaming guns, when I want the least amount of weight with the most power. Mine weighs five pounds. With 3" magnum slug loads, the recoil is beyond brutal, but I believe it will stop anything. For small game survival I carry a chamber insert that shoots 410 shot shells. I can carry a lot of those compared to 12 gauge shot shells.

Yes, those are neat guns and under appreciated. I like mine very much. I have never found much information on them. Also been told they were intended as skeet shooters.
Click to expand...
I was not aware they came in 12 ga. Maybe that's how they were supposed to be a favorite of Mobsters who folded them under their overcoats.I like that chamber insert. I almost bought one once, now I wish I had.Oh mine also is a "Magnum". So you found the barrel to be "too long" too?
 
Last edited:
Eutycus said:
So you found the barrel to be "too long" too?
Click to expand...
For what I use it for, the longer barrel was no advantage. For a light weight wilderness survival gun, the shorter barrel was better as it would just be used to stop an angry critter from scratching or biting me at very close range. If I were to use it for small game, with the 410 loads, that would also be very close range. So for that kind of use the barrel was a bit "too long". Cutting it even with the butt-stock still gave me more inches than the 18" legal limit. I think it came out to around 20", but I forget. It also fits completely in the back-pack I usually use, although I don't really foresee ever having to put it in the pack. But if I did, I could.

It pretty accurate with the 3" slug loads, would be quite deadly on big game at 50 yards for sure. But again the recoil with the 3" slugs out of a five pound gun....!!! It's no joke. Now that I have it sighted in for them, I'll never shoot another unless it's an emergency. I also have a 12 gauge round-ball (.690")load over 110 grains of black powder, for my older shotguns, it's not so bad on recoil out the "Companion". Not "gentle", but nothing like the 3" shells.

Ha ha I didn't know they came in 20 gauge. !!!! On chamber inserts, "Little Skeeters" makes them for 20gauge/410. That would be gentle on your shoulder. I have them for both my 12 gauge guns and my 20 gauge guns. They pattern quite well with them.
 
Last edited:
I had a wilderness survival gun in mind for this one. What did you use to shorten the barrel, just a hacksaw? Or were you a little more "professional"?
 
Ugly Sauce said:
I have one of those in 12 gauge 3" magnum. I think "Gardone" is the location in Italy where it was made, not the manufacturer, but I could be wrong. I have heard some were made by Beretta, don't know if that is true. I "think" they were made by more than one company.

It is an excellent gun, mine is in excellent condition. I cut my barrel down so that it doesn't stick out past the stock when folded. Also made the pocket in the fore-stock for the trigger guard deeper, so it folds more, or all the way in half. I use it for/as one of my trekking/exploring/map and compass/wilderness roaming guns, when I want the least amount of weight with the most power. Mine weighs five pounds. With 3" magnum slug loads, the recoil is beyond brutal, but I believe it will stop anything. For small game survival I carry a chamber insert that shoots 410 shot shells. I can carry a lot of those compared to 12 gauge shot shells.

Yes, those are neat guns and under appreciated. I like mine very much. I have never found much information on them. Also been told they were intended as skeet shooters.
Click to expand...
So it is possible that I own a shotgun made by Beretta? Is the manufacturer's name or logo anywhere on that shotgun?
 
There have been several brands of that design, I remember it as a Beretta but if yours is not marked, it is likely from someplace else. Does it have Italian or Spanish proof marks?
 
Jim Watson said:
There have been several brands of that design, I remember it as a Beretta but if yours is not marked, it is likely from someplace else. Does it have Italian or Spanish proof marks?
Click to expand...
It does have "Made in Italy" on it.
 
Last edited:
Eutycus said:
I had a wilderness survival gun in mind for this one. What did you use to shorten the barrel, just a hacksaw? Or were you a little more "professional"?
Click to expand...
One doesn't just saw off part of the barrel. Mine has a rib on top of the barrel that has to be considered. Does the 12ga. have the rib as well? And how is the rib attached?
 
My 20ga. looks similar except it has a rib on the barrel like a Trap Shotgun.And definitely hasn't got the name "Beretta" stamped on it.
 
Eutycus said:
I had a wilderness survival gun in mind for this one. What did you use to shorten the barrel, just a hacksaw? Or were you a little more "professional"?
Click to expand...
Yes I've cut many a barrel down with a hacksaw...there's methods to do it right. I think I'm "quite good" at it. I am certainly not professional. !!! I'll have to dig it out of the safe and take a look at it, I forget exactly what the rib consists of. However, no doubt it's brazed on, but I don't know. Did not present a problem for me.

No, mine does not say Beretta on it anywhere. I've never really inspected it under the fore-stock or anywhere else for clues to it's manufacturer.
 
Gardone is the city where Beretta is located (also a few other manufacturers but not big shotgun makers). I would guess Beretta made those off-label with a lesser finish quality to meet a lower price point like a lot of US manufacturers did for Sears and department store brands years ago.
So it’s probably well made, but no one will scream blasphemy over your JB weld stock repair or if you trim the barrel down.

Just beware that 20 gauge isn’t instantly soft recoiling. Loads and gun weight matter a lot. I get a lot more felt recoil from a light 20 with 1oz field loads than a heavier 12 with 1 1/8 field loads. The 20 is just easier to carry.
 
Okay, I pulled her out of the safe, pulled the fore-stock off, there are proof marks and such, but nothing that means anything to me. If there is a manufacturer's mark it is in code.

I measured my barrel, it is 21.5" long. One has to cut the barrel (if your rib is the same as mine) at one of the little places between the vents, those are spaced ABOUT 1.5" apart. On mine, 21.5" put the muzzle even with the butt when it is folded.

I noticed that the stud that takes the screw that holds the fore-stock on is brazed. I'm assuming the rib is furnace brazed to the barrel. I can't imagine it separating from the barrel if you cut it down. Due to the very tiny attachment points between the vents, one does have to be extra careful to make a precise cut.
 
Ugly Sauce said:
Okay, I pulled her out of the safe, pulled the fore-stock off, there are proof marks and such, but nothing that means anything to me. If there is a manufacturer's mark it is in code.

I measured my barrel, it is 21.5" long. One has to cut the barrel (if your rib is the same as mine) at one of the little places between the vents, those are spaced ABOUT 1.5" apart. On mine, 21.5" put the muzzle even with the butt when it is folded.

I noticed that the stud that takes the screw that holds the fore-stock on is brazed. I'm assuming the rib is furnace brazed to the barrel. I can't imagine it separating from the barrel if you cut it down. Due to the very tiny attachment points between the vents, one does have to be extra careful to make a precise cut.
Click to expand...
Do you have or did you put a front sight back on the barrel?
 
Yes, I put the bead back on, but it shot very low with slugs/ball. So I made a small "hump" from aluminum and soldered it to the rear of the rib, about where a rear sight would be. It works well, I just center the bead on it, as if it's the rib, (it's flat, no notch) and she's zeroed for 50 yards. Could take a pic if you want.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
  • Locked
HD shotgun for the recoil-challenged?
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
Gordon
Gordon
F
  • Locked
Ithaca Shotguns
Replies
7
Views
2K
chas08
chas08
K
  • Locked
Fox Sterlingworth
Replies
7
Views
1K
rust collector
R
F
  • Locked
What Shotgun to choose...
Replies
10
Views
680
cdb1
cdb1
eastbank
two 70 year old winchesters shine at local trap range
Replies
4
Views
675
PapaG
P
Back
Top