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LOT 1511
Magnificent Cased Pair of Factory Master Claudio Tomasoni Signed and Goddess Diana Theme Engraved Ivo Fabbri Sidelock Double Barrel Shotguns -A) Ivo Fabbri Shotgun - Serial no. 3321, 12 gauge, 27 15/16 inch solid rib bbl., blue/coin finish, walnut stock. Ivo Fabbri got his start in firearms along side one of the most well-known names in the business Daniele Perazzi. After they split, Perazzi went on to create arguably the world’s
finest sporting guns, and Fabbri perused his dream to built the finest guns
in the world, with this pair being true to that end. Fabbri only builds some
30 guns a year, each is hand crafted from the ground up by some of Italy’s finest craftsmen, making guns such as these scarcely offered at public sale. Each gun is built with blued “VACUUM ARC REMELTING STEEL” chopperlump barrels featuring a single nickel bead sight on the matted flat solid rib which is marked with a gold inlaid “1” or “2” at the base respectively, “IVO FABBRI ‘THE PROFESSIONAL’” marked in gold on the left, chambers marked 2 3/4 inches with automatic ejectors, and 1978 dated Italian proofs on the flats. The guns both have coin finished sidelock actions with masterfully executed floral scroll engraving surrounding “IVO FABBRI” signatures on either side, a
gold “1” or “2” on the toplever, and a trio of scenes depicting the Diana, the goddess of the hunt. The left side shows Diana and four maidens at rest in
a garden with her dogs, the right has Diana and two maidens on the hunt with her dogs, and the underside depicts Diana alone with one of her dogs. Both the left and right scenes are signed “inc. C. Tomasoni” for Italian Master Engraved Claudio Tomasoni. The pair was featured on the cover of “American Shotgunner” not once, but twice, for the April, 1981 issue as well as in June, 1986. The guns both feature a single non-selective trigger and a manual tang mounted safety. Both guns are mounted with an exceptionally well figured beavertail forend with gold pigeons at the rear, engraved fittings, and a gold “1” or “2” on the Anson button release as well as a pistol grip
stock with inscription plates (absent on “A” gun) and a red rubber recoil pad. Included is an oak & leather takedown case that houses both guns. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech both proofed at 18.4mm (.724 inches) and measured .726/.727 inches; choke constriction .036/.040 inches; minimum wall thickness .031/.029 inches; 1 3/8 inch drop at comb; 1 3/8 inch drop at heel; 14 9/16 inch length of pull; weight 7 lbs. 8 oz.