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Fausti Merlin

Garlands have entered the sporting shotgun market with the Fausti range. Mark Stone tests the 20-bore Merlin to see what it’s all about

Fausti, a name to conjure with if the title of their new Merlin 20-bore shotgun is anything to go by. Never heard of them? Then you’re definitely showing your years or lack of them. Fausti was a name that was around quite a while ago but for some reason never quite made it to the English market place although it’s been one of the Brescia major players since 1948.

Founded by Cavaliere Ufficiale Stefano Fausti (the grand sounding Italian title the equivalent of our OBE), the business is now housed in an all-new facility in Val Trompia. What set Fausti apart today is that the company is now run by Stefano’s three daughters Elena, Giovanna and Barbara, whilst the marriage of Barbara to Fabio Rizzini now sees the combination of these two great gun-making dynasties

Entry Level

Now imported into the UK by Garlands as part of their ever expanding range, the Merlin seen here was developed specifically for the English market. It’s the smaller calibre alternative to the larger 12-bore Falcon and it is set to hit the dealers’ shelves priced at £950. Intended as an entry level shotgun, it’s presumed that most expensive and elaborate versions will eventually appear tempting original buyers to upgrade themselves as and when these alternatives appear. But it’s the entry level looks that could actually count against the Merlin, the gun’s overall appearance is maybe not everything it could be. Conversely the handling is everything you’d wish for from a smaller calibre double-barrel, Fausti’s vast array of the latest CNC machinery ensuring that the finest tolerances are maintained.

Everything you need to get going is provided in the black and gold-lettered travelling case, including the velvet sleeves that add that little extra protection for the action and barrels. Starting at the muzzles, you have the option of five short multi-chokes that’ll provide you with sufficient restriction for most circumstances. A neat brass bead crowns off the 6mm vented top and middle ribs. The 29” barrels themselves are well blacked culminating in 2¾“chambers and traditional lumps, although flushness to the fences isn’t all it could be, the inaccuracy of the tolerance measurements being visible to the naked eye.

The first aspect of the action that stands out is that the mechanically applied engraving’s relief doesn’t allow it to enhance what are relatively undistinguished sides. Close inspection revealed pheasants and scrolls complimented by the Fausti coat of arms and slightly more elaborate scroll work to the base plate. Given the price it may have been better had Fausti elected to reduce the quantity but increase the definition of the finish. The only area where the decoration makes its mark is along the top strap, top lever and the underneath of the trigger guard.

Strange Phenomenon

Inside the finish is just about acceptable although the face of the action is slightly coarse to the touch and is susceptible to scoring from chambered cartridges. A rather strange phenomenon is that no matter how much oil or grease you might apply, it all seems to be absorbed into what appears to be a consistently dry action. Equally numerous applications of aerosol lubricant failed to eliminate the top lever’s propensity to stick open.

Now a familiar sight in most manufacturers’ ranges, Fausti has elected to follow the weather-proofed wood coating route. This means that what is wood at heart looks synthetic whilst the laser cut chequering is as precise as you’ll find anywhere. Interestingly the chequering is also soft to the hand, a rarity in this usually rather sharp mechanical adornment. Where the furniture suffers is in the fore end latch. A traditional Schnable design, the rather sharp, narrow lever was positively vicious on the finger end whilst lacking any form of decoration.

Down at Coniston SG, choked as wide as possible and loaded up with Eley’s CT20 competition rounds, Skeet birds became a joy to shoot. However, because you have to slam the Merlin closed it compromised my ability to make high scoring rounds. Skeet is the ideal discipline to determine a shotgun’s balance and ability to shift the muzzles left and right and back again quickly and smoothly. With the 6 ½ lb Fausti proving more than agile in its ability to do so.

Game at Heart

Unusual for what at heart is a game gun, the manual safety is a good, full sized slide to the rear of the top lever, the centrally located transverse barrel selector is firm and crisp in application. On the same lines, the simple gold-plated trigger blade is comfortable, exhibits marginal take up and breaks predictably and cleanly.

Transferring to the ESP layout,  and the Merlin continued to exhibit a wand-like ability to shift from target to target, whilst Eley’s CT 20’s dramatically reduced the smaller gauge’s deficit.

If the Fausti exhibited any particular trait it was that it shot slightly high to aim requiring a modification to my own style of muzzle bead placement. The Merlin also proved itself popular with two lady shooters along with a junior currently having lessons, two prime examples of where this gun could possibly make its inroads.

If you sized the Merlin up on looks you’d probably leave it alone. Given my reservation, the £950 starts to look, in my opinion, a fraction expensive. However, once you’ve actually used one, it becomes more of a viable option.
It wouldn’t take a great deal to improve the Merlin’s cosmetics and bring it up to speed and make it a serious competitor to the market’s current range of 20-bores. However, what must not change at any cost is the handling!

At heart the Merlin is a sound, competent shotgun let down by attention to detail, something that Fausti themselves should and could have rectified by studying the market and reacting accordingly. Shotgun manufacturing isn’t rocket science nor is getting the product right.

Technical Specifications
Name	Fausti Stefano Merlin
Calibre	20 – bore / 2¾” Chambers
Type	over & under
Barrels	29” multi-choke
Price	£950

All Prices Are Guides Due to the Changes in US & European Exchange Rates

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