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LOT 510
Scarce Factory Engraved Gold Inlaid Bertuzzi 28
Gauge Venere Sidelock Ejector Side by Side Shotgun -
Serial no. 5847, 28 gauge, 28 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish,
walnut stock. A name synonymous with high quality and
beauty, each Bertuzzi is a made to order arm, and only
40 to 50 guns were produced annually, until 2009 when
brothers, owners, and sole work force, Elio and Remigio
Bertuzzi retired, thus ending four generations of a family
tradition of gun making. Blue steel, chopper lump barrels
with chambers proved and measured at 2 3/4 inches,
automatic ejectors, single steel bead sight on the hand
matted concave rib marked “F. LLI BERTUZZI” in gold inlay,
gold inlaid bands around the breech, modified/improved modified
chokes, and standard Italian proofs on the flats dated 1987. Fully blued receiver and locks with bushed firing pins, single non-selective trigger, manual sliding tang safety, and standard proofs on the water table. The receiver and locks have subtle engraving around the screw holes and gold wire inlaid border accents with each lock marked “ARMI F.LLI BERTUZZI” in gold inlay. Highly figured, checkered Turkish walnut pistol grip stock and forearm with gold inlaid fittings, rolled trigger guard, Anson latch, and checkered bare butt. With leather bound takedown case with Bertuzzi interior label, and snap caps. Barrel and stock measurements are: bore diameter at 9 inches from breech proofed at 13.9 mm (.547) and measured at .540; choke constriction .010/.016; drop at comb 1 1/4 inches; drop at heel 2 1/2 inches;
length of pull 14 1/2 inches.
CONDITION: Excellent with 99% original blue finish on the
barrels, scattered light handling marks, and complete
gold inlays. The receiver and locks have some very small
surface scratches, but are otherwise excellent. The wood
is excellent with attractive, dark figure, crisp checkering,
and some small scattered dings and pressure marks.
Mechanically excellent. Case is good with some surface
cracking and scuffs, patina on the fittings, and worn
interior label. An excellent example of a bespoke limited
produced Italian small gauge double, illustrating beauty
in simplicity.
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500
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