Repairs for Odd Shotguns.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

It's not just foreign shotguns, but some domestic as well.....I have an Ithica M51 semiauto shotgun that I bought at a pawn shot....figured if it had an "Ithica" on it, it should be good. Took the gun to the range and ran some rounds through it...had a few jams; figured it just needed a good cleaning. Took it apart and found that the action bar assembly carrier (I think) had a crack in it. So I thought "No big deal....I'll get one from GPC". Looked the part up on GPC, and found that it was $200!!!!! Which is more than I paid for the whole dang gun! Found out later that that particular part was the 'weak link' in the gun's manufacture, and everyone basically needs that part.........
The gun now sits in my closet collecting dust.

Had a similar issue with a WWII Walther P-38...broken firing pin. Took it to two different gunsmiths, who said that they couldn't get the part. I found the part at GPC (then Numrich arms) and had them mail it to me. Bought a book on repairing pistols and did the job myself.

[dovehunter]

Originally Posted by Mr. 16 gauge

...Had a similar issue with a WWII Walther P-38...broken firing pin. Took it to two different gunsmiths, who said that they couldn't get the part. I found the part at GPC (then Numrich arms) and had them mail it to me. Bought a book on repairing pistols and did the job myself.

I had that same problem with my P-38 and took it to a local gunsmith. He whipped a catalog (I couldn't see the name) and ordered a new firing pin. I had the gun back repaired about a week later.

I too have experienced problems with replacement parts on old and/or foreign made guns (and not just shotguns). Fortunately most of the gunsmiths around here do a pretty good job of making parts and don't charge excessively either. I guess maybe I have just been luck so far in that the parts that I have had to have made weren't too complex or difficult to make.

[skeet]

Finding parts for european guns has always been tough. Don't count on Beretta being better just cause they own some other companies either. I have always found Beretta very hard to deal with..but not as bad as Browning.. I have an older Franchi O/U Pigeon Gun and even though I don't shoot it very much I know if it breaks parts will be non-existant. Only place I know to get it fixed in a hurry is at the World Pigeon Championships...They always have good support at that shoot..Even Franchi. European guns predominate there anyway. I had a Krieghoff break at the World Skeet Shoot one time..They fixed it in under 5 minutes. Had only put about 80,000 shells through it too. Oh well. Even Krieghoffs break.

[Gil Martin]

I bought a lovely used Franchi over/under 12 gauge at a very reasonable price and showed it to my gunsmith. He admired the gun and told me if anything broke to be prepared for a very long wait for parts. He showed me several Franchi shotguns sitting on the racks in his shop waiting for parts for over six months. He was not given any delivery dates for the parts. The next week, i traded the Franchi. All the best...
Gil