The Investarm 100L
Unpretentious practicality is what the Investarm 100L is all about, says Charles Smith-Jones
Once upon a time if you were shopping for a new shotgun on a budget and wanted an alternative to the ubiquitous Baikal, there was an affordable and somewhat lighter option. Investarm, an Italian manufacturer, provided that option.
Investarm shotguns have never been at the forefront of the UK market but they are still around, even if they have been eclipsed by the growth of the Turkish shotgun industry. And Investarm’s parent company, Salvinelli, continues to produce higher-end firearms. Though Investarm’s guns have been less in evidence of late, its website shows it continues to manufacture a range of over-and-under and single-barrelled shotguns, as well as blackpowder rifles and shotguns and a breakbarrel single-shot hunting rifle.
Good build
The example pictured is the basic 100L model. While it is not a clumsy gun like some of its early forward-heavy competitors — and it does have a certain understated style about it — Investarm shotguns have never had any pretensions of being something that they are not. Instead they are practical, reasonably well balanced and are produced with performance rather than looks in mind.
Do not be deceived by the presentation, though, these are well-put-together guns with a surprising degree of hand finishing involved in the manufacturing process. The rather slab-sided receiver contains a straightforward boxlock action, which has little to go wrong. A single trigger and automatic safety are usual, although double triggers may also be encountered.
The chokes are fixed and the mechanism is set to fire the bottom barrel first with no selector facility to change the order.
CHARLES SMITH-JONES SAYS:
“Being a true folder, the fore-end plays no part in the cocking process”
These guns are non-ejectors and have simple lifters that extract the fired cases far enough out to be removed by hand. The barrels are steel monobloc with little variation on a standard 28in length with 2¾in or 3in chambering.
Some even feature combination barrels, such as a 20-bore over a .410, but these only rarely show up in the UK.
You will be unlikely to come across any carrying proof for steel shot as they tend to be made only to special order.
Plain and simple
The exterior of an Investarm is largely unremarkable: the metalwork plain or perhaps bearing some engraving featuring game scenes and scrollwork. The woodwork is a standard grade of walnut or beech, simply oiled and finished with chequering at the grip and on the fore-end. These guns tend to be light, which could make them an excellent choice, especially in a smaller calibre, for a younger person or a light-framed adult.
Being a true folder, the fore-end plays no part in the cocking process. Instead, the top-lever engages the sears once pushed all the way over — rather further than would be normal with a conventional gun — and you will hear the mechanism click into position as this happens. The hinge joining the stock and action to the fore-end and barrels plays no other role and is solid and reliable; though do check for excessive play on a well-used example.
Whether or not you are attracted to a folding shotgun is very much a matter of personal taste. It is true that the feature greatly helps with reducing the length of a firearm for storage or transport but the same can be achieved by simply breaking the gun down by separating stock from barrels. To those who need the convenience of an easily transported gun that can be brought into use more quickly, however, a folder could have its attractions. As such it may hold a special appeal to gamekeepers and vermin controllers, who often have larger amounts of equipment to carry around.
Don’t disregard an Investarm should you come across one; even their basic nature is a positive feature because there is so much less to go wrong. These are robust and dependable guns, which, though a little unsophisticated, are not unattractive and offer sound practical performance as well as being an ideal first gun for a beginner or youngster. For a very sensible price, it is possible to end up with a solid all-round shotgun that will not let you down.
* Investarm’s UK importers are the Saddlery & Gunroom of Westerham, Kent, who also undertake Hushpower conversions of these.