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Renato Gamba Prince Extra, RARE Best Gun, 12 Ga., 27 1/2" bls. ST, 10 Briley chokes, 99% maker's case Guns International #: 102226987 Seller's Inventory #: 23-010 Category: Renato Gamba Shotguns - Shotguns - Italian Double Seller's Information When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com Seller: rcrwin70 Member Since: 9/26/07 First Name: Roger State: Hawaii Country: United States Platinum Seller Number of Active Listings: 1 Seller: Private Seller Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns. 3 days Payment Types Accepted: cashiers check or money order or pay pal plus 3% Description: SOLD  ** *  Renato Gamba Best Gun BLE  Model 24 Prince Extra engraved by Italian Master Vasco Revera, 12 Ga. 27 ½” bls, Single Trigger, 10 Briley chokes  99% with case RARE model, not imported in USA, Nearly Impossible to find another here. Description: Renato Gamba of Val Trompia, Italy, a best maker (read on), built this gun, their highest grade boxlock, using the proven Anson & Deeley ejector side by side design. Engraved by the Italian Master Engraver Vasco Revera, this 12 gauge includes 10 Briley chokes that fit either barrel. This rare gun, never sold in the U.S., is the quintessential Italian boxlock ejector system, the same action design that nearly all the Italian makers, including Luciano Bosis, adapt for their boxlock ejector action.* Read below about the maker’s intention to change his business model to produce “gentlemen’s guns” with hand work, leaving production behind. This gun is certainly an example of that. The joining, shaping and finishing were done entirely by hand with the utmost attention to detail. With 2 3/4” chambers, the 27 ½” steel ejector demi-bloc barrels are fitted with a level file-cut rib with a single front silver bead. Features include a Boss non-selective single trigger (gold for the Prince Extra), the tried and true Purdey double underlug locking system, automatic ejectors, and a non-automatic safety.  The receiver is mated to the stock with a scalloped fancy-back (perfectly inletted) and notice the photos show how the wood is inlaid into the top of the receiver with a scallop pattern, instead of butting up to it. With deep blue chopper lump barrels, the receiver is finished with the maker’s coin finish which best accents the Prince Extra’s incredible gorgeous deep-cut acanthus scroll and rose engraving by Master Revera, looking more like carving than engraving, especially on the deeply chiseled beaded fences. The top lever is not only pierced but also intricately sculptured into a hunting hound design.  A close examination shows two engraved locking screws, one on the first lower tang screw and another on the inside of the forearm iron; these are signs of handmade gun. This may be a boxlock but it is truly a “best gun.” Stock: The Turkish walnut stock is shaped with a classic comb, an English straight-hand grip with English splinter forearm with an inletted push-button Anson release. Checkering patterns are classic English, hand-executed with two point patterns on the grip. It’s rounded in the Boss tradition without panels and drop points, checkered 32 lpi coming together over the wrist and perfectly surrounding the long lower tang. Notice the fancy checkering detail on the toe line of the grip (patterns coming together, not cut short like you see on Merkels). The lower tang, with a two-screw tie-down, is fully engraved and terminates with a fine inlaid spear point. The checkering on the forearm has a clean diamond shape and is more pleasing than full wrap-around checkering and just as hard to do with perfect symmetry. The wood is Turkish walnut with rich marble-cake figure on right side planned in the correct area for display but chosen for the grain in the right direction for strength through the pistol grip. Similarly, this worked out for the left side as well with nearly sunburst fancy dark streaks running from the pistol grip to the leather-covered recoil pad. All screws are engraved. Disassembled, the barrels have another inscription hidden from view by the forearm when assembled.  The inscription reads “Model 24 Prince Extra” in the same script font of the other inscriptions that are exposed when assembled. Also, the barrel flat has the “BH” stamp, the Italian code for 1996.  This is typical Italian “best-gun” craftsmanship, the finest Italian boxlock double from one of the world’s best makers, to meet the demanding status of only best guns as built by Renato Gamba since 1991. Dimensions: DAC 1 5/8” DAH 2 5/8” and LOP 14 3/8” with neutral cast. Weight is 6 lb, 9 oz. Includes maker’s case. Condition: This is a 99% condition with a few slight handling marks, only seen in some light conditions. It is tight as new, the barrels ring with an excellent chime and the bores and chambers are new. You would never know this gun manufactured in 1996 -- you will not find a nicer, higher quality gun anywhere for this price. According to the Bluebook of Gun Values Overflow pages, the list price for the Model 624 Prince Extra was 19,760 Euros or nearly the same in todays dollars: $20,962. Last photo is a page from the Bluebook of Gun Values Overflow listing the full model line of Gamba as of 1996 showing which models were built for production quantities and which were singled out to be handmade for Renato’s “gentleman’s guns.” The Prince and Ambassador were only available in Italy, a rare chance for you to own this fine example of a Prince Extra. Priced here to sell:  $8,250.00 allowing for the 99% condition. Seller is the author of The Rifleman’s Rifle (Winchester pre-64 Model 70s) and will furnish a Letter of Provenance that this gun is from his collection.  Please check out author’s feedback on ebay under rcrwin70roger.  3-day non-firing inspection for full refund, shipping is $60 to buyer’s FFL, payment by MO or certified check or wire transfer. *from The Italian Gun by Smith and Morrow, Luciano Bosis p.130 About the maker: Renato Gamba (Societa Armi Bresciane) via Artigiani, 93  25063 Gardone, VT, Italy, located in the heart of the well-known “firearms district” of Val Trompia, the mecca of the best Italian gunmakers. While he has only been making guns since 1967, the brand has become well known as they were mass producing 20,000 guns a year from the late 60s through the ‘80s.         With the devaluation of the lire (which affected both domestic and international trade), a volatile political atmosphere, and a plunge in Italian hunting… many of the small boutique Italian makers folded. On a smaller scale than Beretta, but just as Beretta did, Gamba was able to weather the storm and in 1991, turned his attention to his passion of making only best guns, abandoning his forte for mass production and ascending with a new desire to build fine handmade guns with limited production, which he called gentleman’s guns. Focused only on premium guns made for the elite sportsman and sportswoman, he chose to build a best Anson & Deeley boxlock side-by-side (labeled Model 24 Prince and in its “best-gun grade”, the Model 24 Prince Extra with master engraving and a gold trigger) and a best sidelock side-by-side with his own patent, producing his Ambassador Executive; and with these side by sides, he added his Daytona series of over and unders with drop-out trigger assemblies. In the book, The Italian Gun, by Smith and Morrow, about Renato’s premium guns, they wrote: “These are elaborate guns, featuring all the bells and whistles – gorgeous wood, elegant engraving, [sometimes] lots of gold. Renato Gamba is, in our opinion, the most quintessentially Italian gunmaker in Italy. His style is all his own. The lines of his guns are classic, and although they are English-inspired, they speak with an Italian accent.” Still today with talented gunsmiths, and joined now by his son and daughter, Gamba produces as many as 500 guns a year, far more than most of the Italian gunmakers, but with no less quality.               SOLD Manufacturer: Renato Gamba Model: Prince Extra Barrel Length: 27 1/2 Bore: 12 Chambers: 2 3/4 Ejectors: yes Metal Condition: New Wood Condition: 99% Bore Condition: New Triggers: Single Stock Dimensions: 14 3/8 x 1 5/8 x 2 5/8 Weight: 6lb 9 oz Chokes: 10 Briley chokes