Need info on a gun

Question
HI, I dont have the gun with me i am still paying on it I should have it the first of the month. I just put it on layaway last week. The only thing I know is that it say made in brazil on the side of the barrel and the stock of it is like a light tan and has fishlike scales on the stock. I hope this might help any.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

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hi, thanks for answering my question so quickly. But whats kind of wierd is  that this gun has a 28 in barrel.wonder why?
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi, Paul, I bought my husband a double barrel shotgun side by side for Christmas. He don't have know idea that i am getting him this. My question is do u know anything about f.i.e. brand shotguns and if this is a good gun to use hunting and or to collect and how much u think the estimated value is. It is about 20 years old and in good condition.
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F.I.E. went out of busness in 1990. These were inexpensive (read cheap not quality made)
Brazillian imports.
The only side by side  import was called the
"Brute"  it was made in 12 gauge, 20 gauge, & bore .410 it had a 19" barrel. It was dropped in 1984.
It has no collectors value, the barrel really way too short for most hunting or clay target games. You could use it as home defence weapon (I would not bet my life on it)
or possibly in some Cowboy action shooting games. Its Worth $200 in Excellent condition, very good condition $125, good condition  $100 down to $50 in poor condition.
If you want to get him something
to hunt with trade that one in on  Balkal  side by side available in  12 gauge,  16 gauge and 20 gauge with 28" barrels.
They have single selective trigger or double triggers.
The have screw-in choke tubes that come in Cylinder,
Improved Cylinder, Modified, and Full. They made in Russia inported E.A.A. and Remington under the Sparton brand name. Its a much better gun, I bought one in 16 gauge and using it for skeet. They Sell for $300 to $400.
If your looking to get something collectable look for
American Made name Brands, Winchester, Savage, Stevens, A. H. Fox , L C Smith, Cresant Arms, etc.

Sorry I had to give bad news on the FiE.
feel free to ask follow ups.

-----Answer-----
Hi again,
This isn't what I thought it was if it has 28" barrels. The F.I.E. Brute was the only F.I.E. branded side by side double. They also had
an onder/over and single barrels with only  the F.I.E.
brand name on it. All were made in Brazil.
They did import other shotguns made in Italy and Germany. It should have the Importer name & address
(F.I.E. Hialeah, Fla.)
and Manufacturers name and address.
(such as L. Franchi Brescia, Italy)
Can you supply all the writing on the gun?
If it isn't the Brute model there should be a manufactures name, and a model name or number, place of maunfacture, its gauge and the choke .   Places to look is the barrels, side plates,  or under side infront of the trigger guard.
reply via follow-ups and sorry about misidentification.
I should have asked for all the marking.

pez


Answer
Hi again,
If it was definately made in Brazil and imported by
F.I.E. it can only be Boito shotgun. It should say Boito on the underside or side plate.  Call the store and ask them if it has that name on it.
Over the years they were imported by K-Mart, Sears  F.I.E. and Stoeger the current importer.
http://www.stoegerindustries.com/
Boito website here
http://www.eramantino.com.br/English/indexen.html
It had 2 different frame sizes.
SIDE BY SIDE LARGE FRAME ?br> SIDE BY SIDE SMALL FRAME
and 3 different models, BR2, BR7, and BR8.
They had 28" inch and 26" barrels.
They were offered in 12 gauge, 20 gauge and bore .410.  The gauge of the shotgun  should be on reciept.
The store should be able to tell you what the choke of each barrel is. Gauge (the size of the shell) and the choke (constriction at the end of the barrel) will determine what it can be used for.

Its worth $200 if absolutely perfect.
It can worth as little as $50.
New Stroeger Uplander (same gun)
$325 to 425 new in the box.
(the newer ones 2000 to now usable no frills guns)

The older ones were the Saturday Night Special of shotguns. They poorly made. Here are various
opinions on them.

http://www.e-gunparts.com/forum/readit.asp?qt=36892&cat=22
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=13463

This is over view of what goes wrong with these.
Doubling is both barrels fireing at once.
not cocking is the hammers do not go back when the guns opened.  The safety can go on after first barrels fired as well.  They also been known to slam fire.
(fires when you close it)

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=10394

https://198.65.239.172/forum/searchreadit.asp?qt=53914&cat=22
https://198.65.239.172/forum/searchreadit.asp?qt=51208&cat=22
https://198.65.239.172/forum/searchreadit.asp?qt=36892&cat=22
https://198.65.239.172/forum/searchreadit.asp?qt=44691&cat=22

If this is Boito cancel the layaway and get your money back.

If you want to get a double barrel look for Russian made gun.
You should be able to a Baikal used for $250 to $275
Here is a history of the company
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/long_guns/bear_simplicity/

Here are reviews of them
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-6601.html
http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/What_is_information_on_Baikal_shotguns
http://www.shootingtimes.com/longgun_reviews/spartan_SPR310_032906/


The were imported by European American Arms.
Those have the Baikal brand name on it.
Now they Called Spartan Gun Works.
They are now imported by Remington Arms.
Remington called big green the oldest gun maker in the USA. They don't sell junk.
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/SPR_models/SPR210_side-by-si
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/SPR_models/SPR220_side-by-si

Dicks and other chain stores sell them new for $350
They don't sell suggested retail price like on the website.


If you do not need  to be a Side by side double
consider the Mossberg 500 pump in 12 gauge
Made in USA.
http://www.mossberg.com/
You buy for a little over $200 at Walmart.