Franchi ad from the pages of 1960s Shooter’s Bible.
Even before World War II, most European gun-makers were beginning to target the United States as their main market places. With the end of World War II, it became quite apparent to all concerned that the U.S. was the main market place for sporting guns. Europe had suffered destruction from the war and economic recovery was not something that was taking place right away. Germany was divided and its gun making center Suhl was located in the eastern, communist zone. Still, before the appearance of the “Iron Curtain” and the rise of the Berlin Wall, Suhl gun-makers were trying to make sporting guns for the U.S. market. England was never into mass producing sporting arms, and their traditional gun-making business had taken a severe hit during the war and was very slow in recovery. Only Belgium seemed to have a ready market in the United States by way of Browning Arms Company which resumed importing FN manufactured shotguns, the Superposed and the very popular autoloader that came to be known as A-5 after the war. The Spanish continued to make copies of English doubles, but the early imports were cheap and had a shoddy reputation.
Franchi ad from the pages of 1960s Shooter’s Bible.
The Italians, three gun making companies in particular, decided to zero-in on the U.S. market. The Italians were also quick to realize that the repeaters were the shotguns of choice in the U.S. The largest and oldest gun-maker, Beretta, came up with a pump gun and a gas operated semi automatic shotgun, but they did not fare well in the U.S. The other two, a large industrial outfit Breda and a smaller family owned gun-maker Luigi Franchi, concentrated on producing modern versions of the very popular Browning autoloader on the long recoil system. Breda came out with a finely made, unique long recoil operated autoloader in 1946. The firm of Luigi Franchi came up with a lightweight, modernized version also on a long recoil system which they called 48 AL (the numbers are for the year of design and the letter A for automatic and L for light).
Like most Italian gun-makers, Franchi (pronounced Frahn - kee) felt that the semi automatic was the shotgun of the future. At the conclusion of World War II, when the company resumed its normal operations, the Director of the company, Dr. Mario Franchi, who was also its chief gun designer, set to work designing a new auto-loading shotgun. The result of his efforts was the unveiling of their new gun, model48 AL in 1948.
Franchi ad for their Custom Grades – President Eisenhower was presented with the top grade, the Imperial Monte Carlo.
The basic mechanism of the new Franchi was the same as the Browning autoloader after which it was patterned. However, the Franchi was simplified in many ways and the sharp, angular lines of the Browning receiver were softened considerably on the Franchi. Franchi’s trigger group could be removed by simply knocking out two pins that held it in place in the receiver. It did not require special screw drivers to remove the trigger group like with the Browning. Interestingly, the very same system was employed by Remington for their new autoloader and pump gun, the 11-48 and the 870, both guns also designed in 1948 like the Franchi!
Aside from several other changes that simplified and modernized the gun’s mechanism, Franchi’s receiver was made of lightweight aircraft alloy. The receiver retained the semi humpback look, because Franchi found that streamlining the rear of the receiver like Remington made it longer, and they wanted to keep the gun compact. The alloy receiver reduced the weight of the gun considerably. Initially Franchi did make some models with steel receivers for waterfowling which they called “Super-Range” Model, mainly because they weren’t too sure how the Americans would take to an alloy receiver. But those guns weighed about the same as the Brownings and did not sell and were dropped without ceremony within a very short time.
Current production Franchi 48ALs imported by Benelli only in 20 and 28 gauges. Top or left – Deluxe Model, bottom or right – Standard Model. The Deluxe Model was imported as a standard grade in the past and the Standard Model was called the Cadet and sold only in Europe in the past.
The main selling point of the new Franchi was its exceptional light weight, an upland hunter’s delight. The new gun which was at first made only in 12 gauge weighed around 61⁄4 pounds! To allay the fears of Americans who might be suspicious of alloy receivers, Franchi advertised theirs as “million dollar” receivers and guaranteed them for life. The Franchi 48 AL with its compact receiver and 26 inch barrel had the same overall length as a Browning Superposed with 28 inch barrels. For upland gunners who were concerned with length, Franchi made for an ideal choice. It was light and short. There was nothing quite like it from any of the other gun-makers, domestic or foreign. Imported by Stoeger’s beginning in 1949 the new Franchi became a hit with upland gunners immediately. However, it was not cheap. The plain, basic model, which was called the Deluxe, with a ventilated ribbed barrel cost $176 at a time when a Browning A-5 cost $131, and the equally new Remington 11-48 was still cheaper at$ 110. Not everyone bought the new Franchi. But those who wanted something lighter, more modem than the old hump-backed Browning, didn’t hesitate to pay the extra money.
Franchi 1960s vintage Eldorado Model (top or left), current Deluxe Model (bottom or right).
Although the sales of the Franchi did not set any records, apparently the sales were good enough that Franchi introduced a 20 gauge version in 1954, scaled for the smaller gauge and not just a 20 gauge barrel stuck in a 12 gauge receiver as some manufacturers were prone to do. The new 20 gauge was a success with quail, grouse, and woodcock hunters. It was listed at 5 Y4 pounds! Franchi had been advertising its autoloaders as the world’s lightest, and at that time they were indeed the lightest available. Initially, the Franchi was available as a Deluxe Model with just a bit of engraving and as a Super-Deluxe with about 75 % of its receiver surface engraved with Italian Florentine scroll. The receiver of a 12 gauge Franchi has about 75 % of its surface flat. The upper part of the receiver from about the bottom edge of the ejection port (about 25%) is rounded, and this portion was left un-engraved on the Super-Deluxe Model.
With the appearance of the new 20 gauge, the model designations began to change and different variations were made. There were three models, the standard, which had a plain black receiver, the Hunter, which had line engraved game scene on a black receiver, and the old Super-Deluxe which was now called the Eldorado Grade because all of the scroll was filled with gold! A bit gaudy for some folks tastes. The 20 gauge version ended up with 100% coverage because the receiver surface was completely flat. Only the bottom and top of the receiver were un-engraved on the 20 gauge Eldorado.
Superb Florentine style hand engraving on a 1960s vintage 20 gauge Eldorado Model. Later models (late 1970s) had acid etched engraving, no more expensive hand engraving!
A year after the appearance of the 20 gauge version, three new Custom Grades were introduced. These were lusciously engraved models ranging from the Crown Grade, which had gorgeous coverage of receiver with game scene, followed by Diamond Grade that had 100% scroll coverage which was inlaid with silver, and finally the most expensive, the Imperial Grade with a complicated gold inlaid game scene. By the way, all of the engraving on Franchi guns was done by hand, even the least expensive version, the Hunter Grade was line engraved by hand. The Hunter Grade received a new look when it started to appear with a brushed, silver finish with game scene and the Eldorado Grade lost its gold filling in the scroll work. Late 1950s were the best years for the Franchi. The late President Eisenhower, who was in the office at the time, received a specially engraved Franchi Imperial Grade autoloader as a gift from the company. Eisenhower was quite impressed and declared that it was the most beautiful shotgun he had ever seen. Ike, as he was fondly called, was not just an avid golfer as the press liked to portray him, he was an equally avid bird hunter!
Through the 1960s, the Franchi autoloader held its own with competition. In 1965, to cater to the upland gunners’ obsession with short barrels for brush shooting, Franchi introduced a 24 inch barrel in 12 and 20 gauge. This made the 48 AL as short and compact as an average double gun with 26 inch barrels. Also the same year, Franchi reintroduced the steel framed version which used to be called “Super-Range,” now re named as “Dynamic-12” made only in 12 gauge. But as time went on, gas operated autoloaders seemed to be the guns everyone wanted. Even the old Browning A-5, which was a best selling autoloader for a long time, was losing ground to the newer gas guns. Franchi came out with a gas operated model, but ironically, it was still the 48 AL that was their best seller.
A 12 gauge Eldorado Model (top) and 1 20 gauge Eldorado Model (bottom). Note that the 20 gauge model has more engraving coverage due to the shape of its receiver.
Luigi Franchi finally sold out in the late 1970s and the company went through several ownerships, several different importers in the U.S. When Luigi Franchi sold out, Stoeger’s stopped importing Franchi guns which they had been doing since the end of World War II. After several different ownerships and importers, Beretta became the new owners and the Franchi autoloader is still available today, imported by Benelli (which is owned by Beretta). However, it is basically available only in two versions and two gauges. It is available in standard grade with a dull finished receiver and a deluxe grade with a glossy receiver and better wood. The guns are available only in 20 and 28 gauge. The last 12 gauge was made around 2001. There is the high grade Fenice with a game scene engraved receiver with birds that are gold plated. The Fenice normally has excellent wood. There are also commemorative issue guns such as Duck’s Unlimited, Quail Unlimited,etc. They are usually heavily engraved with gold birds and very good wood. However, the new high grade Franchi’s are but a pale shadow of the former hand engraved Eldorado and especially Custom Grades.
The new guns are all roll or mechanically engraved, and although it is done nicely, it cannot compare with the old hand engraved guns. Incidentally, under the old Luigi Franchi ownership, the guns were always hand engraved until the final years. Franchi started to use roll and etched engraving on their “Falcon” series of over/unders in the early 1970s, and by the mid 1970s the 48 AL also started to appear with etched engraving when engraving motifs were changed on the Hunter Grade and the Eldorado. Although nicely done, it wasn’t the same. Ironically, the Hunter Grade with the new etched engraving actually appeared to be an upgrade. The new engraving pattern was much more attractive than the older line engraving. Once ownership changed, all Franchi’s started to receive mechanical or etched engraving.
The “World’s Lightest Autoloader” title no longer belongs to the Franchi. The new Franchi’s, although still very light, tend to be a bit heavier than the older guns because of thicker barrels (necessary for choke tubes). Benelli has the Ultra Light 20 gauge Montefeltro and the new 28 gauge that is even lighter than the Franchi. But still in all, the Franchi 48 AL is a superb upland gun if you are looking for an autoloader.