Cecchi (Acqua Fresca) gunmaker family, Bargi Italy, information wanted

[Jim Kibler]

I am seeking information on the Cecchi (Acqua Fresca) family of gunmakers.  Perhaps some might have a more complete set of reference than I have.  Specifically I am interested in makers marks used by members of this family.  If you can offer information, I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks,
Jim

[Majorjoel]

Good morning Jim, I have been all through my book "Brescian Firearms" by Nolfo di Carpegna and come up empty handed with the name Cecchi. Do you know what part of Italy the family hails from? I do have reference to "Cocchetti" not even close. I've had this giant volume around for several years and sure would like to find more use for it! It is full of family crests, makers marks, and a lot of drawings of fine locks and barrel signatures and markings. Not much help with your inquiry however.......Joel          Oh, Bargi Italy...from your subject title! Just noticed it.

[Jim Kibler]

Majorjoel,

Good morning to you as well.  Yes the family is from Bargi, Italy, a small town near Bolgna.  Several famous guns exist from this family.  One is is the Met, a pair of others are in the Musee de l'Armee in paris.  Searching online I have found a few other examples as well.  I have found a reference to the makers mark used by the family in "One Hundred Great Guns" by Merill Lindsay.  It's not exactly clear which members of the family used this mark, however.  I have a gun with this mark and would of course like to find a much material I can.  I know there are are some other more definitive references on makers marks so perhaps they may help. 

Thanks,
Jim

[Majorjoel]

Jim, I'd love to see pictures of your gun. I will look through some other books in my library when I get done working this afternoon. I have another idea that something may come out of my picture book from the "Hermatige" museum in Russia. I have been facinated with Italian workmanship for a long time. My wife's family hails from Sicily! The guild system in Bresica and Gardone have been alive and well for many hundreds of years. I have found  references that place members from the Germanic lands working with the Italians very early in the 18th century. I kind of think of it in modern terms like an "exchange student" program.  The German peoples have had some kind of a hold on Italy way before the Second WW.