Franchi Alcione

     Notes: The Alcione over-and-under shotgun has been built since 1959.  At first (known as the Alcione 97.12) it was made for 12 gauge with 2.75” chambers, and with either a single selective trigger and barrel selector/safety or a double trigger, and with or without automatic shell ejectors at the buyer’s choice.  The barrels are equipped with Franchoke interchangeable chokes (in the 26 or 28-inch barrel models) or fixed chokes of the customer’s choice (in the 24, 27, or 28” barrel models).  In 1980, another version was added which uses 3-inch chambers.  The top barrel has a sighting rib, and the barrels are internally coated with a layer of hard chrome.

     In 2000, Franchi introduced a whole new line of the Alcione shotgun.  The Alcione S and SX (differentiated only by the fanciness of the side plates) have 2.75-inch chambers and a plethora of barrel length choices.  They have fixed chokes of the customer’s choice or Franchoke interchangeable chokes.  In 2002, several new Alcione models were introduced (again differentiated primarily in the fanciness of the wood and the artwork on the side plates): the Alcione L, G, SP, SX, and SL.  All of these guns have 3-inch chambers, and the 24-inch barrel version has a lower rifled barrel and an upper smoothbore barrel.  All these guns are identical for game purposes.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Needless to say, the new versions (those introduced in 2000 or later) do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Franchi Aristocrat

     The Aristocrat was designed to be an "affordable deluxe" over-and-under shotgun, meant for hunting, birding, and trap use.  It has a true box lock with side plates, a top break-open lever and barrel selector and safety.  It is hammerless, and has automatic ejectors with a single trigger. The 24-inch version has Cylinder and Improved Cylinder chokes; the 26-inch version has Improved Cylinder and Modified chokes; and the 28-inch and 30-inch versions have Modified and Full chokes. The metalwork is blued and the semi-pistol grip and fore-end are checkered. The but has a recoil pad.

     The Aristocrat Trap has only 30-inch barrels and a Monte Carlo stock.  The Aristocrat Skeet has 26-inch barrels and a Skeet choke for both of them; The Aristocrat Silver King is a deluxe version of the Aristocrat.  For game purposes, they are otherwise identical to the Aristocrat.

     Many owners of Aristocrats have had problems with the stock cracking at the tang and on the fore-end.

Franchi Falconet

     Notes: Introduced in 1968, this over-and-under shotgun was developed as a lighter, less expensive counterpart to the Alcione.  The breech is made from a strong yet lightweight alloy which keeps the weight down, yet is nearly as strong as steel.  The barrels are of chrome-moly steel, and different barrel lengths may be exchanged.  These barrels all have a ventilated sighting rib above the top barrel, and the barrels may be had with fixed chokes of the customer’s choice of Inchok interchangeable chokes.  Until 2000, there was only one version, a simple 12 gauge with 2.75” chambers – the very earliest had 27 or 28-inch barrels, and the slightly later Falconet 97.12 had 27 or 28-inch barrels for fixed-choke versions or 26 and 28-inch barrels for interchangeable choke versions.  (The interchangeable chokes were known as Franchoks at the time, but the name was later changed to Inchok.)  Both these guns are more or less identical for game purposes and are placed together in the tables below.

     A new range of Falconets was produced starting in 2000.  The Falconet 2000 was introduced with a choice of a selective single trigger or a double trigger, but the double trigger option was deleted in 2002.  They have more barrel length options.  They have 3-inch chambers instead of 2.75-inch chambers.  The barrels are equipped with fixed chokes or Franchok interchangeable chokes.

     An even newer version, introduced in 2002, is the Falconet C.  They have 2.75-inch chambers as standard, but exchange barrels with 3-inch chambers are also supplied.  The barrels have Inchok interchangeable chokes  or fixed chokes.  They are slightly lighter in weight than the earlier models.  The side plates are engraved with stylized dog’s heads inlaid with gold, and the stock and fore-end are of select European walnut.  The Falconet HT Techwood is similar, but the wood is of lesser quality (but protected with a thin plastic layer), and has only 3-inch-chamber barrels.

     The Falconet L and SL are the most deluxe versions of the Falconet. The Falconet L has 3-inch chambers, and the rear of the breech has a special titanium layer to enable the shotgun to withstand repeated firing of heavy shotgun loads or even “hot” loads.  The Falconet L can also exchange the barrels for a set of 24.375-inch barrels with one smoothbore upper barrel and one rifled lower barrel. The Falconet L has a silver-colored breech with engraved floral patterns and birds, inlaid with gold.  The Falconet SL version is the same, but more deluxe, with a stock of select European walnut which is oiled and polished.  It is a little heavier than the Falconet L.

     The Peregrine is a later variation on the Falconet with true side plates and a box lock.  It has a checkered semi-pistol grip and fore-end, and is basically more substantial than the Falconet.  The Peregrine 400 is the standard model; the 451 uses an alloy receiver.  These were built from the mid-1970s to the late 1970s.  The barrels do not take interchangeable chokes, but the buyer can specify any chokes he wishes.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The newer models, produced in 2000 or later, do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Franchi Grand Prix 90

     Notes: Though the Grand Prix 90 was specifically designed for clay pigeon shooting, it is also used by a large amount of fowl hunters.  It is a basic over-and-under shotgun, with a single non-selective trigger (the bottom barrel firing first, followed by the top barrel upon the second pull of the trigger).  The breech block, barrels, and mechanism are largely built from steel – chrome-molybdenum steel in the case of the barrels, which are hard-chromed internally, and nickel-chrome-molybdenum steel for the breech block.  The barrels have a ventilated sighting rib above them, and a ventilated joining strip between them for cooling.  The barrels have fixed chokes of the customer’s choice or Franchok interchangeable chokes.  The stock and fore-end are of select European walnut.  There are two variations on the Grand Prix 90: the VL version, which has a trigger adjustable for length of travel, and the V version, which also has the same adjustable trigger, but no cooling rib between the barrels.  They are identical to the standard version for game purposes. This shotgun was withdrawn from production in 2001, replaced by the Sporting.

Franchi Highlander

     Notes: This is a traditional-style side-by-side shotgun made in three gauges.  It is a basic sort of double-barreled shotgun, with the 12 having either 27 or 28-inch barrels with fixed chokes of either Cylinder, Improved Cylinder, Improved Modified, Modified, or Full chokes (not interchangeable).  20-gauge guns can be had with 26, 27, or 28-inch barrels, with the same chokes available as for 12-Gauge guns.   The 28 gauge version comes only with either Modified or Fixed chokes, with 26, 27, or 28-inch barrels.  The stock is of the English style, (specifically, of the Prince of Wales style, with a checkered pistol grip-wrist) and made from select walnut.  The box lock is of the Anson & Deeley type, made of nickel steel and elaborate engraving on the sides.   It has twin triggers and extractors for the chambers.

     Franchi USA and its distributors do not offer as wide a selection of the Highlander that is available from Franchi Italy.  If bought from Franchi USA or its distributors, only 28-inch barrels are available for 12-Gauge guns, and 26-inch barrels for 20-Gauge guns, with no 28-gauge guns being made by Franchi USA.  Franchi USA offers a further finish for the box-lock – color-case hardened. Franchi USA guns have only a single trigger, with the right chamber always firing first, and with no barrel selector.

Franchi Instinct Catalyst

     Notes: Like the semiautomatic Affinity Catalyst, the Instinct Catalyst is designed for use by women.  The stock, LOP, drop, cast, and pitch are all sized for the average American woman.  The controls are spaced for the smaller hands of a woman, including the reach from the semi-pistol grip to the trigger and safety.  The stock is of Grade A satin-finished walnut, with a recoil pad, checkered semi-pistol grip and fore-end; the external metalwork is black Cerekote metalwork except for the casehardened side plates and brass trigger.  The space between the barrels is ventilated, and atop the barrels is a ventilated sighting rib with a fiberoptic sight at the end.  The Instinct Catalyst has automatic ejectors, a barrel selector, an automatic safety that actuates when the barrels are open, and comes with three interchangeable choke tubes.  The barrels are 28 inches.

Franchi Sporting

     Notes: This over-and-under shotgun was introduced in 2000, and by 2001 has replaced earlier shotguns such as the Grand Prix and Dragon Sporting.  The first version was the Sporting 2000; this shotgun was designed specifically for clay pigeon shooting but also makes an acceptable hunting weapon.  It has a molybdenum steel breech block and chrome-molybdenum barrels.  It uses 2.75-inch chambers and the barrels are equipped with Franchok interchangeable chokes and a ventilated sighting rib above the top barrel.  It is a rather heavy weapon, and has a thick recoil pad on the butt, both of which help cut felt recoil.  The Sporting 2000 was produced until 2002.

     The Sporting 2000 was replaced by the Sporting SL.  The breech block was improved, and made from chrome-molybdenum steel.  The side plates are interchangeable by the shooter to allow different artwork to be displayed.  The chambers were increased to 3 inches, and the barrels are equipped with compensator vents near the muzzle, further cutting recoil.  The barrels have a ventilated rib between the barrels to aid in cooling.  The barrels are overbored, which means they are wider than the chambers and shells buy a fraction of centimeter; this helps cut barrel wear, reduces deformation of the pellets, and slightly reduces recoil.  (Unfortunately, overboring has no effect in game terms.)  The SL is slightly lighter, and uses a stock of European walnut which is oiled and polished.  It is equipped with a single selective trigger, with the barrel selector incorporated into the safety catch on the neck of the stock.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These shotguns do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Franchi Veloce

     Notes: These over-and-under hunting shotguns are regarded as some of the most attractive and well-made shotguns on the market, with highly-polished, oiled walnut stocks and polished, light alloy receivers with a stainless steel plating and intricate engraved patterns.  It is also a lightweight, easy to shoot weapon.  Several versions are available: the Veloce 20, in 20-Gauge; the Veloce 28, in 28-Gauge; and the Veloce Squire, with a 20-Gauge top barrel and a 28-Gauge lower barrel; and the Veloce Inglese 20 in 20 Gauge 3-inch.  Most of these guns have conventional stocks made from European walnut which is oiled and polished, but the Veloce Inglese has an English-style stock and is somewhat lighter. All have a ventilated sighting rib above the top barrel, as well as Inchok interchangeable chokes.  The Veloce is primarily meant for hunting fowl, but some people use it in certain competition shoots.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist.