GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
HANDMADE "TOP OF THE LINE" BERETTA 451 EELL SIDEPLATE EJECTOR SINGLE TRIGGER SIDE BY SIDE GAME SHOTGUN WITH ROSE AND SCROLL ENGRAVING BY BERTASI, WITH LEG O' MUTTON CASE.BERETTASXS 451 EELLH001912GAW/LEGO CASEMODERN(1970) Cal. 12 ga. 28" Mono-bloc bbls with matted low-profile ventilated rib are marked "BOEHLER * ANTINIT STEEL" and "P. BERETTA - Gardone V.T." and "MADE IN ITALY" on left bbl. Bbl flats are stamped with 1970 Italian nitro proofs with makers name, grade, SN, and "CHOKE". A sling loop is screwed to bottom rib. Coin finished sideplate action features gold plated single selective trigger, non-automatic safety (S in gold), and disc set strikers. False pin ends are gold plated. Action is engraved with nicely cut semi-relief rose bouquets in a field of nicely cut scroll, all within geometric borders. Makers name and address are in arched device on bottom. Bouquets on fences are in a bit higher relief. Top lever has pierced thumbpiece, and inlaid gold crown. Engravers signature "G. Bertasi" is on trigger plate, and SN is on blued trigger guard tang. Very nicely marbled and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock with slight swan neck, measures 14" over fully checkered wood butt. Point pattern checkering is at grip, and a sling loop matching that on bbls, as well as a gold oval engraved with monogram "JGR" (?), are on toe line. Beavertail ejector forend has matching, but more extensive checkering, and Anson type release. Bore diameter: left -.728, right - .727. Bore restrictions: left - .032 (full), right - .012 (lt mod). Wall thickness: left - .036, right - .032. Drop at heel: 1-15/16", drop at comb: 1-9/16". Cast: neutral. Weight: 7 lbs. 3 oz. LOP: 14". Gun is accompanied by what appears to be its orig tan leather leg o' mutton case. CONDITION: Very fine to excellent, showing limited field use, retaining nearly all of its orig blue on bbls. Coin finish of action remains bright. There is silvering on thumbpiece, safety, and edges of trigger guard bow, some wear to gold plating on trigger, and numerous light marks and scratches in wood finish, with some deeper marks on right side of butt. Finish worn through at top rear of left side. Checkering is very lightly worn. Bores are excellent. Mechanically excellent with possible hitch in trigger, as it sometimes does not need recoil to set up for second shot. Case is fine. This fairly rare shotgun currently retails at over $18,000.00. 53022-3 mgm2 (7,500-12,500)