Who made the Charles Daly Diamond Skeet in Italy?

Answer 1

Please, I realize this question was asked a couple months ago... but not by me. The answers were non conclusive so I would like to hear more If possible.

This is about a Charles Daly Diamond Grade Skeet shotgun with serial #97496. (12ga, 26" fixed choke, Sk/Sk) The gauge and chamber length are not indicated anywhere on the barrels. "Made in Italy" is alongside the trigger guard. The receiver is engraved Silver and the wood is certainly an upgraded walnut.

I first thought it was made by Beretta, but now I have reason to believe it made by Sabatti. Looking at the Sabatti Fulgor Skeet, and the Artemide Skeet, the forearms are the same configuration as the Daly. In fact the Artemide pictured on Sabatti's website, given a 26" barrel, would pass quite well as a Daly Diamond Skeet. I have not found a better matching photo. The Daly action appears slightly different and the trigger is not the same as the Sabatti. The barrels on the Sabatti are 30" but everything else, in appearance...almost... matches! This might be a knock-off made only for Daly. On the side of the lower barrel, in front of the chamber is marked CAM 70 and Skeet. On the upper barrel, in front of the chamber i marked GI420 and Skeet. Both barrels have fixed chokes. It has a single selective trigger but does not use the inertia system to activate the second barrel. The second barrel can be fired even if the first barrel misfires.

I found a Sabatti Gardone O/U shotgun with exactly the same proof marks on the bottom of the barrel monoblock. ( These are the same on both shotguns: "PSF" with two individually circled stars above it, "+SFG+" and "FINITO" with one circled star above it), along with two stamped numbers, one of which is the serial number without prefix and the other is simply the number 7514(these numbers are not on both shotguns). , The Sabatti has a stamp "B1" (or perhaps BL-in a box), and the Daly has the stamp "AL"-in a box. Another stamp almost indistinguishable is what appears as a feint crossed X inside a box with the same circled star above it. The Sabatti has a higher serial number. The Sabatti is not engraved but the Daly is engraved with a Spaniel carrying a pheasant on the left side and on the right side is a pair of ducks in flight . The engraving is not ornate but much better than basic.

I do not know how to post a photo here but you would agree, it looks to be a quality engraving.

At a glance, the action could pass for a Perazzi-mx2000 however the Perazzi is bulkier at the top rear as the Daly is more refined. It is also roughly similar to the actions on the Daly NRA Diamond Grade shotguns... but, not the same!

So far i have found that Daly guns have been imported from: Italy,Prussia,Germany,England,Belgium,France,Italy,Brazil,Korea, Japan and Turkey.

The water is muddy!

Aside from the challenge of identifying this shotguns manufacturer. . . i would like to know it's value. It could be anywhere from $250 to $8000. It is in mint condition and, at this time, has no handling marks or scratches... It was imported by Outdoor Sports, Dayton

Any Charles Daly fans out there? ...with a clue? Please post it here or call

I can be reached at 307-245-3148/ thanks!

I think what you describe sounds exactly as a Marocchi. Marocchi manufactured Winchester 1001 and the NRA Diamond Grade shotguns, and the latter was available in four versions. Later, Marocchi continued to manufacture these guns under its own name, and called the model "Golden Snipe". It was available until 1998, and closely resemble Marocchi's current 03 model. You can find out more on www.marocchiarmi.it. Cheers OzPete