F.A.V.S. "Stradivari" Single-Shot Bullpup Hunting Rifle
F.A.V.S. is an Italian firearms manufacturer, which is best known for its Stradivari rifle. It is a single-shot bullpup rifle, with a falling-block action. It looks pretty unusual, especially for a hunting rifle. Nevertheless, it is one of the most efficient bullpup rifles with overall length only 2 3/4 ” longer than the barrel length. As the name suggests, it is named after the famous Italian violin maker Antonio Stradivari.
F.A.V.S. was established in 1957 by an Italian hunter and firearms designer Francesco Guglielminotti. He designed the Stradivari rifle in collaboration with his son Ali. Since 2003 the company is run by the sons of the founder – Ali and Edi.
In order to work the falling-block mechanism, the shooter must pivot the buttstock upwards, thus lowering the block. At this position, the gun extracts and ejects the spent case and is ready to be loaded with a fresh round. Stradivari rifle is also advertised to be very safe with four different safeties.
The rifle features Lothar-Walther barrels and several wood options and finishes. F.A.V.S. offers the gun in three configurations with three barrel length options. The three models are called mod. K, mod. M and mod. L with 19.7″ (500 mm), 24.8″ (630 mm) and 29″ (740 mm) barrel lengths respectively. The overall length of the gun varies from 22.45″ (570 mm) to 31.9″ (810 mm) depending on the barrel length. The weight of the gun also differs from 6 lbs to 7 lb 13oz.
Stradivari rifle is chambered in one of the following calibers: .222 Rem, .243 Win, .25-06 Rem, .270 Win, 7x64mm Brenneke, 7mm-08 Rem, .308 Win, .30-06 Springfield and .357 Maximum. The MSRP of the rifles in Europe is from € 2490 to € 2888, which roughly converts to $2620 to $3040 by today’s rates. Unfortunately, there is no information concerning the availability of this gun in the USA. For more detailed pricing information you can take a look at the price list on manufacturer’s website.
Contacts
Website: www.favsarmi.com
Address: Via Nazionale 35 – 10050, Villar Focchiardo TO, ITALIA
Phone: ++39 011 9645006
Managing Editor Being a lifelong firearms enthusiast, Hrachya always enjoys studying the history and design of guns and ammunition. Should you need to contact him, feel free to shoot him a message at Hrachya@TheFirearmBlog.com
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That is a very good rifle. My friend Marco Rigido of www.newsystemarms.com in Italy, too, has built an even shorter bullpup than the FAVS Armi design. There's a lot of gunmaking talent in Italy, though we don't get to see many of the more innovative designs stateside.
PS A long time ago, I had introduced Steve to my friends at Steinkamp Waffenbau when they introduced their O/U bullpup double rifle. The design worked very well, but it's radical nature and appearance meant it was a commercial flop, and Steinkamp went out of the gunmaking business altogether. The article might still be on TFB somewhere.
I'm sure the rifle is very functional and safe. However, at first sight I am not warmly disposed.
Price around $3,000.00 U. S. dollars? As Maynard G. Krebs would say, "Oh, come now!"