Lanber over-under shotgun review

By Mike George

Thursday, 16 August 2007

Find out why this Spanish-made shotgun has become a best-seller in such a short space of time.

Fancy an Animo Express, anybody?

No, it's not a new, exotic coffee from Starbucks, or even a turbocharged Noah's Ark, but a gun which should be familiar to you under another name. It's a Lanber.

More than 30 years ago the gun was briefly imported from Spain under the aforementioned ghastly name, and for a time it was also known in the UK as the Eibargun.

Then along came Gunmark (the former name of Beretta importers GMK), who had the good sense to give it the name its makers intended.

To describe GMK's acquisition of the importing rights for the brand as a success story is a huge understatement.

Between 1977 and 1997 they sold over 20,000 guns to British shooters, and it is still a top seller.

The reasons for this success are simple. It is, and always has been, affordable by most beginners. It is tough and reliable, well designed, and it points and shoots nicely. It is widely available through the extensive Beretta dealership network, and if things do go wrong it is easily repaired with readily available spares.

With all those guns sold in the UK there are a lot of them around on the second-hand racks, and some of them might be a bit long in the tooth. Those looking for a real 'cheapie' might do well to avoid pre-1982 guns, although the few failings they had should have been put right by previous owners.

The first multichoke sporter came out in 1983, and the very few Deluxe Skeet and Trap models date back to 1984/5. The sporter with woodwork designed by sporting champion Barry Simpson came out in 1987. Current models are the Field Deluxe, the Sporting Deluxe, and the Gold Deluxe. All are multichokes.

TECH SPEC

Simple, low-profile action with barrels hinged on stub pins.

Hammers, driven by coil springs on guide rods, are hinged from the bottom of the action, while sears hang from the top strap.

All guns have single, selective triggers, with the barrel selector incorporated in the safety thumb catch.

Barrels are built on the monobloc principle, and early multichoke guns had a visible flare towards the muzzle.

Woodwork has varied a bit dimensionally over the years, but late-model guns generally have 14.1/4in stocks, with drops at comb and heel of 1.1/2in and 2.3/8in respectively. Early woodwork was varnished, but it is now oil-finished.

WHAT'S GOOD?

Proven design over more than 30 years.

Affordability.

Reliable importer.

Availability of spares

WHAT'S BAD?

Beware of very old guns - they may have fired countless thousands of cartridges.

WHAT TO PAY?

Recommended retail prices for new guns are £660 for the Field Deluxe, £735 for the Sporting Deluxe and £795 for the Gold Deluxe, but most dealers undercut these prices.

For second-hand guns, a very long importing history means that condition is absolutely everything. You should get a good example for around £400.

UK IMPORTER
GMK Ltd, Fareham, Hants. Tel 01489-579999 or view their website at www.gmk.co.uk or view the Lanber website at www.lanber.net

Read a review of the Lanber Sporter

Read a review of the Lanber Sporting De Luxe

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Comments

ron s

Sun, 1st Jan 2012 03:42:33

my previous said my gun was a lanber like your web page.it a lamber mod 101

ron s

Sun, 1st Jan 2012 03:29:41

my wife bought me a ou lanber 12 ga at a k mart store in the early 70 dys.serial no 239040 12-70.beautiful gun very tight .all the numbers i have seen are different from these.is this gun very early.i have only shot about 300 rds out of it.great gun wonderfull engraving.original cost 400$

Ger Xiong

Sat, 2nd Jul 2011 22:21:43

can you help me to find the best choke to my lanber shotgun 12gauge for dove hunting in 9-1-11. thank you

Ted R

Sat, 27th Nov 2010 03:06:23

I have a Lamber 12 ga. serial number 1303-05966-99-1276. can you tell me how old it is and and current value. It is in perfect condition and shot under 500 rounds.Also is there a webste to get manuals and other information from.

John Perring

Fri, 12th Nov 2010 11:48:35

My wife bought me a Lanber multichoke sporter for my 50th bithday in 1991. Best gun I ever owned, still going strong, mainly used for clay shooting but it has been pigeon shooting and wildfowlng. It fits well and is comfortable which is all you can ask of a gun, the rest is up to you. Cost new in 1991, Â£399. What a bargain, and still is at todays prices. Affordable quality. Barry Simpson should be proud. Muy gusto.

luka

Sat, 30th Oct 2010 07:59:08

hello. i have a lanber 12g shotgun and the nembers i found on it are. LG106185 12-70 1550 are you able to tell me the manufacture date of the gun please.. tank you luka

j g coetzee

Mon, 22nd Mar 2010 08:36:54

bought lamber model 87 fieldgun in 1982 and used it for hunting,ata trap,dtl trap shooting.it broke last month for the first time in 28years after about 30000+ rounds.it was oiled regularly but cleaned only twice a year.one thing i can say is they are affordable and spares is redily available and tough.

Maureen

Wed, 18th Nov 2009 15:17:40

Sir, I have just purchased a 2nd hand Lanber 12 bore Over and Under, and wondered if you could advise the year of build. I know the previous owner had it for about 13 years but due to ill health has used it very little. In fact it is still in its original box. The label says:- Mod. CONQUEST Canna cm 28" Matricola 24111 serial number. 273259 Any Information would be useful. Many thanks

seb from reggio calabria

Sun, 23rd Sep 2007 16:09:33

UN FUCILE DI BUONISSIMA QUALITA' NON COSTOSO E FACILE DA USARE PERFETTO PER COLORO CHE INIZIANO LO SPORT DA POCO E PERCHE NO ANCHE PER COLORO ESPERTI VERY HAPPY TO SHOOT WITH LAMBER

Richard

Tue, 4th Sep 2007 15:20:32

I've had my Lanber for just over two years and I have had no problems with it. I use it for clays, pigeon, rough shooting and for inland goose shooting using 3 inch Hevishot cartridges. Its fine, the only little draw back was the front plastic bead sight came off when taking in and out of the gun sleeve, but other thatn that its a good gun.