the road to cortona

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LUCA RIZZINI, CURRENT PRESIDENT OF F.A.I.R. 1971 WAS A GOOD YEAR Not only was it the birth of a ‘certain journalist’, but it also saw the creation of F.A.I.R. (Fabbrica Armi Issodoro Rizzini), founded in the heart of the Val Trompia gunmaking region. From the very start, the decision was made that the business would combine the latest technologies with the traditional gunmaking skills that have been handed down from generation to generation in this, the gunmaking heart of Italy. This ethos still rings true today as a wander around the factory floor FACTORYVISIT quickly confirms. Yes, there are still the old benches equipped with a multitude of chisels, oils and gunsmiths tools, but they now sit alongside advanced engineering equipment, such as CNC machines, that can produce 200 components in 24 hours without any human intervention. Go to a similar factory in any other industrialized nation and you might find an equal or even greater level of technology being utilized – however, you wouldn’t find the same human touch which is indicative of the Italian culture and especially its gunmaking tradition. The mood in the factory is businesslike – but with that relaxed, casual, humorous but still intense character that the Italians do so well. A joke is called across the factory floor in Italian, no doubt referring to one of the Italian male’s favorite passions – soccer, fast cars or women. A gentle approving laugh is its answer. F.A.I.R. President, Luca Rizzini, is typically Italian and chatting to him in the showroom it is apparent that gunmaking runs in his veins. His passion is obvious. He has been at the factory since finishing college some 20 years ago. The founder of the company, his 62 year old father, now works on the THE SPECIFICATION OF THIS CORTONA LEGEND MAKES IT A POPULAR CHOICE. SPORT MODEL SPECIFICATIONS MANUFACTURER: F.A.I.R. MARCHENO, VT ITALY IMPORTER: KALISPEL CASE LINE CUSICK, WASHINGTON GUN TYPE: MODIFIED BOSS STYLE BOXLOCK RECEIVER: STEEL CNC MACHINED GUN WEIGHT: 7 LBS 15 OZ. LENGTH OF PULL: 14.75" DROP AT COMB: ADJUSTABLE DROP AT HEEL: 2.40" CAST OFF: 0.150" TOE OUT: 0.20" OVERALL LENGTH: 47.75" WITH 30" BARRELS BARRELS: 30" & 32" BORE: 0.726/0.726 CHAMBERS: 2.75" TRIGGER: MECHANICAL SET AND ADJUSTABLE LOP TRIGGERS TRIGGER PULL: 5.5 LBS AND 6.5 LBS SAFETY: MANUAL TOP TANG SINGLE SELECTIVE RIB: VENTED 10MM CENTER RIB: VENTED CHOKES INCLUDED: FIVE EXTENDED 3 /4" CONICAL PARALLEL LENGTH: 2.75". CYLINDER: 0.730" IC: 0.010" MODIFIED: 0.020" IMP. MODIFIED: 0.033". FULL: 0.043" OTHERS AVAILABLE AT EXTRA COST. factory floor – always at his happiest when working on one of the benches. The 40 staff here enjoy their work and take pride in what they do, good news for the company and better news still for the customer – product is backed by a
72 CLAYSHOOTINGUSA AN ADJUSTABLE STOCK COMES AS STANDARD ON THE 12 GAUGE MODELS. lifetime warranty on workmanship, material and defects. According to Al Hague of Kalispel, they have yet to have a warranty claim since the guns were first imported to the States in 2005/6. (The factory trained service team is based in Victorville, California.) HEALTHY EXPORTS F.A.I.R. is the second largest exporter of O/U shotguns in Italy, making between 12,000 - 15,000 pieces per year. As a result, the basis for the Cortona’s action is tried and tested. However, the company’s expertise in production goes further than that and is acknowledged by other manufacturers, many of which purchase their own components from F.A.I.R. In fact, you may already have shot with a gun much of which was produced by the FACTORYVISIT factory without even knowing it! They are also one of the few gunmakers in Italy producing genuine small bore guns on scaled actions. Both wing shooting and clay busting guns leave Gardone to every corner of the globe with the US being the largest single market. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the Cortona is just another Italian gun taken straight off the shelf and shipped to the States. Far from it. Back in 2005 Mark Taverniti of Kalispel went to Italy to ensure that the guns would suit the demands of the US market. He certainly achieved that goal – ported barrels, a good sized palm swell and an adjustable comb are the kinds of features rarely found on a European spec sporting clays gun. That tailoring of the product to fit its buyers needs explains why the guns have proved to be such a MONOBLOC’S WAITING FOR THEIR BARRELS. FASTIDIOUS QUALITY CONTROL EXPLAINS THE ABSENCE OF WARRANTY CLAIMS. success – despite difficult trading conditions resulting from the current exchange rate against the Euro. FURTHER EXPANSION That positive growth curve is reflected in the decision of Luca Rizzini to expand the size of the factory in Marcheno, from its current 55,000 sq ft to well over 60,000 sq ft. This will allow for the increased size of the finishing, quality control and manufacturing departments. A sound investment considering that the company is one of only a handful who produce all their components in house – except for stocks and forends. Rigorous quality control is a must for any company that manufactures so many parts and at F.A.I.R. this is an integral part of
Page 1: THE ROAD TO CORTONA A FEW MONTHS AG
Page 5: THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS. FACTORYVISIT

the road to cortona

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