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Beretta Model SO GRAN LUSSO, 12 ga., Two Bls (28,26) Hand detach locks, Briley Chokes, Massenza engraved, cased, NEW
Guns International #: 102500521 Seller's Inventory #: 23-026
Category: Beretta Shotguns - O/U - Shotguns - Italian Double
Seller's Information
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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:
Beretta Model SO GRAN LUSSO, 12 ga., Two Barrel Set, Hand Detachable Sidelocks, Briley Chokes, Master Engraver – Domemico Massenza, Factory Cased, As NEW
P.Beretta SO Gran Lusso Sidelock Ejector, exquisitely engraved by master engraver Domemico Massenza for Beretta, two-barrel set 28” and 26” ventilated rib Boehler Antinit Steel barrels, with 5 Briley Thinwall chokes, 2¾” chambers, single selective trigger (gold with a checkered face), game forend. pistol grip stock, hand detachable sidelocks with beaded fences, pierced top lever with gold crown, jeweled forend iron on the inside and the barrel sides.
This is the highest grade available, made by Beretta in 1970. Full scroll engraving with five gold birds. Breech and muzzle polished to mirror finish, signed by the master to the right of the trigger guard and inscribed “Gran Lusso” to the left of the trigger guard. When Giulio Timpini became the department head for Beretta’s master engraving team in 1970, he singled out Domemico Massenza as his top engraver, comparing his skill to that of Angelo Galeazzi.
In their popular book, The Italian Gun, by Steve Smith and Laurie Morrow, the authors show a close-up photo on page 91 of a beautiful Beretta Gran Lusso and the caption reads: “The legendary Beretta Gran Lusso. They don’t get much better than this. Engraver: Incisioni de Beretta, Courtesy of P.Beretta.” In their Color Plate VII, they show another one.
With full coverage deep relief acanthus scroll engraving by Master Engraver Domenico Massenza and signed as such (see R.L. Wilson’s book), this SO Gran Lusso is a fabulous piece in perfect condition throughout. On the receiver’s right side, look closely for two fingernail-opening hand-detachable locks along with 4 gold pins and a gold partridge and gold duck in flight as sculpted by the master Massenza. On the left side, the four gold pins show again with a gold woodcock and a gold pheasant in fight. On the underside is a gold capercaille. With all the SO Gran Lusso features and the engraving by Master Massenza with the additional gold inlays, this is a magnificent example of the highest grade Beretta – not only their best gun, but also truly a world renowned Best Gun.
Authors Smith and Morrow give us a complete picture of the Beretta SO in the Olympics up to their writing: “Beretta completion shotguns took gold, sliver, and bronze medals for trap and skeet in the following Olympic Games: Melbourne (1956), Rome (1960), Munich (1972), Montreal (1976), Moscow (1980), Los Angeles (1984), Seoul (1988), Barcelona (1992), and Atlanta (1996).
Other Features:
It has Turkish walnut in EELL grade with excellent color and contrast of deep brown and black colors with outstanding figure, finished with a hand-rubbed oil finish. The Gran Lusso engraving is 100% coverage executed masterfully in a heavy bouquet/ floral design with intertwined vines with masterfully depicted birds in gold. This piece has 4 retainer screws which secure key screws on the frame and forend iron, not counting those of the replaceable locking shoulders on the barrels.
The Gran Lusso Turkish walnut stock has a Prince-of-Wales pistol grip with horn grip cap with an engraved screw, and perfectly executed hand checkering in point patterns on the pistol grip and in a generous full wrap-around pattern on the matching forend (wood figure and color).
Checkering is 28 lpi. Dimensions are LOP 14 1/4” to its hand-checkered butt; DOC 1 ½” and DOH 2 1/8” and its weight is 7 lbs 2 oz. Neutral stock for the right or left hand. Both “SO3EELL” and the serial number, 3710X, are marked on the receiver walls and the water table and the serial number is inscribed again on the trigger tang.
Condition:
As New, the original wood finish remains at 100% condition, the checkering remains at 100% with diamonds sharp to the touch, the original barrel blue is still at 99% for both barrels. The trigger guard and tang still have 100% blue. The bores remain new as they were when made. This gun appears as if it has never been in the field or on the range as it looks new inside and out.
Although built in 1970, it is 99% of the condition when it left North Italy .
Comes with Beretta’s presentation oak and leather case as has been used by Beretta for their Gran Lussos and any SOEELL ordered with additional engraving beyond the EELL pattern.
Price $39,750.00
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 $75 to buyer’s FFL, payment by MO, certified check , wire transfer or personal check with wait for validation. For questions, call (808) 989-1863 and ask for Roger.
Footnote:
The SO’s Place in History:
When Browning’s Superposed over/under became the first factory-manufactured over/under and was met with success, Beretta’s head of design, Tullio Marengoni (pictured here), was not impressed by Browning's design, finding its under-slung lumps clumsy and inelegant. In a thinly veiled side swipe at the rival gun the Browning is described in an early Beretta catalogue as 'very high, heavy and ugly', an insult that the Italian trade continued to use against the Browning for the next 70 years! To reduce the height on his design Marengoni rejected conventional lumps and instead turned to a system used by Boss of England, mounting the barrels low in the action body on stub pins. This, however, had been expensive to make, as it was only a handmade proposition.
In 1932, Marengoni re-worked the design so that it needed less handwork and added his locking design with a cross bolt that emerged from the upper left side of the receiver. Further security was provided by trapezoidal barrel shoulders that engage cut outs in the action walls, a feature that has become a Beretta signature. The SO's other distinguishing feature is that it was designed from the outset as a true sidelock. Recognising early on that this would be an expensive gun to build, Beretta opted for a premium specification.
At the time, Marengoni’s idea was considered radical and risky; however, we can of course see the system is still in use today, in all the current SO models. The first Olympic Gold Medal won by an SO was in 1956, with an SO3EELL. Since then, many gold medals have been taken with other SOs and recently Russell Mark of Australia has won multiple gold medals using his SO5.
The SO10 is a different gun, it is a Boss clone.
SOLD
Manufacturer: Beretta
Model: Gran Lusso