P. Bondini Firearms

[bprevolver]

"P. Bondini Firearms"
I have noticed several postings over the years for black powder rifles and pistols with the name P. Bondini. Is this a distributor or a manufacturer? I would like any info available about this company. Also, did they ever distribute or manufacture percussion revolvers?

 

[Mike OTDP]

They are a manufacturer. Can't find a Web site for them. To the best of my recollection, they never made revolvers.

 

[arcticap]

The Italian data base of "Gunsmiths in Italy 1945-1980" lists the following name, place and year of his registration as a gunsmith:

Bondini Paolo Cesena 1973

http://www.earmi.it/armi/database/armieri.htm

Here's a picture and some info. about Cesena, Italy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Panorama_di_Cesena_e_le_sue_colline.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesena

Cesena, Italy is located in another region of Italy pretty far away from the major gun manufacturing center of Brescia.

 

[mykeal]

Bondini was an upper echelon Italian gunmaker, currently out of business. Their guns were imported by Hoffman in NH, House of Muskets in CO and Austin-Sheridan in NY. They made some interesting single shot pistols, including an underhammer design, plus a Schuetzen rifle and a shotgun. I've never seen any reference to Bondini making a revolver.

I own a Hawken style pistol in .50 cal:

 

[Acorn Mush]

Very nice-looking pistol, Mykeal. Looks like it has a single-set trigger. How does it shoot?

 

[Bluehawk]

Classic looking and I love the checkering!

 

[mykeal]

The single trigger is not a set trigger; the adjustment screw takes up free play.

It really shoots quite well. I don't have any data for it but it's very much like a Lyman Great Plains Pistol to my hand.

The checkering is nice; it's factory checkering. The ramrod is one of those pivoting designs that stays attached to the gun:

 

[bprevolver]

Thank all of you for your input. I recently acquired a CSA Commemorative Remington New Model Army brass frame that was only marked P. Bondini on the butt along with their logo, a star, and the serial #136. I am trying to find out if they made other percussion revolvers as well as rifles and pistols.

 

[rusty from italy]

Articap, i like you show my town

Cesena, Italy is located in another region of Italy pretty far away from the major gun manufacturing center of Brescia.

I live acually in a small village 8Km from Cesena
The oldest men in my shooting club remember the Bondini Pistol, there is one Lepage pistol in the club safe with stock in olive wood very fancy, but was made by Armisport-chiappa and only named by Bondini.
Talking with a member of Chiappa family he remember the 200 pistol stock in olive wood he produced back in the year, because is a very hard to work wood

I think bondini doesn't make arms, he putted his name on arms produced by other factory
ciao
Rusty

 

[arcticap]

So it sounds like Bondini was an exporter that "out sourced" sort of like Navy Arms used to do with various Italian gun makers.

Hey Rusty, you have some beautiful weather over there in Cesena with temperatures between 67 - 82 F everyday (17 - 30 C).
There's an exclamation that some Italians say over here: "Manga America!"


http://www.knowital.com/weather/forlicesena/

http://www.weathercity.com/it/cesena/

 

[rusty from italy]

It's hard to say after 30 years what really mr Bondini really makes, i think at the time nobody knows really if it makes it's own arms or resell other "shadow" manufacturer, or a mix of both, for sure he buyed the all the barrel and may be the lock from Gardone Val trompia area! Back in the '70 information was slow to circulate
And yes, now here is a good weather, but this year we doesn't have a real spring, too abundant rain and cold up to two weeks ago, sea water is still cold for good sundays on the beach
ciao

 

[rdstrain49]

If I had a camera, I'd show you a pic' of my P. Bondini "Le Page". It is a work of art and equal to or better quality than Pedersoli. (love my Pedersoli's). Did I mention it is unfired ( at least until I get to the range