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Carlo Casartelli, Africa 375 H&H, Takedown, Mario Terzi engraved, Mint Guns International #: 102641850 Seller's Inventory #: 24-003 Category: Rifles - Italian Sporting - Fine Rifles 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: Carlo Casartelli, Africa 375 H&H Takedown, Terzi engraved, the “Stradivarius” of Mausers1 New Carlo Casartelli, Concesio, Brescia, Italy…called by some as the Stradivari of gunmakers.1 If “best gun” can be applied to a Mauser bolt action rifle, this one is a best gun in every sense of the words. It is easier to list all of its top-drawer features, than it is to write a description, just look at this incredible list: Description: Italian Master Gunmaker, Carlo Casartelli 375 H&H Mag caliber Full coverage deep chisel and bulino engraving by Superstar Italian Master Mario Terzi   Action Finely-tuned True Waffenfabrik Berlin Mauser action which Casartelli has improved with a C-ring2 and pillar bedding3 Takedown action (Holland & Holland design)  Engraved bolt handle with Oak leaves and checkered bolt knob with 25 rose-petal knob. Custom single-stage fully adjustable trigger stamped, “C Casartelli Armi” Model 70 style 3-position safety with secondary button to free 3-position motion. Four-round magazine with hinged floorplate and straddle release inside trigger guard   Barrel 25” tapered round barrel Front sight ramp engraved with sixteen oak leaves to break up glare, with detent button for folding hood Full-band-mounted front swivel Integral quarter rib rear sight base with fine cross hatching and stylized transition-ramp to barrel, engraved with eight oak leaves in descending size and fitted with 1 standing and 2 folding express sights. Inscribed, “CARLO CASARTELLI CONCESIO BRESCIA 375 H&H MAG”   Other Engraving             On the floorplate is a vignette showing a white rhino in the bush with a bird flying overhead, a very detailed bulino engraver by the Italian master. Just under the oval border are the words: “Inc. M. Terzi.” “Inc.” is an abbreviation for incisore, the Italian word for engraver. On the pistol grip is a head of an African lion with mane and open mouth.   Stock Richly figured English walnut stock with beaded pancake cheek piece West African Cape Buffalo horn forend tip Classic wrap-around point-pattern hand checkering immaculately cut with tasteful combination of single and double borders on both the forend and the grip. Heavily engraved steel pistol grip cap with trapdoor for spare front sight (included). Nickel stock oval vacant, awaiting owner’s initials. Rear sling swivel Classic leather-covered ¾” recoil pad Weight: 9 lbs 3 oz without scope, LOP: 14 1/4” Accouterments Zeiss German Diavari-ZA 1.5-6x42 T scope in Quick Detachble German claw mounts Restored maker’s leather takedown case In 2020, Sotheby’s Spring of Fine Modern and Vintage Sporting Guns offered a Casartelli African in .458 Win Mag engraved by Mario Terzi. Sotheby described it: “It is built in the style of the Holland & Holland Takedown bolt rifle.” It sold for $30,500.00 Condition: New as built in 1985 Priced to Sell: $28,750.00 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 $100 to buyer’s FFL, payment by MO or certified check or wire transfer. Questions, call Roger 808-989-1863 Hawaii time zone. About the Engraver: In the book, The Italian Gun, by Smith & Morrow, the authors list Mario Terzi in their list of Superstar Italian Engravers, 1st Ed., p.211. They state on page131 that guns built by Bosis have been engraved by masters such as Giancarlo Pedretti, Angelo Galeazzi and Mario Terzi.  On GunsInternataional, a Fabbri is listed engraved by Mario Terzi.  Who is Mario Terzi?  A 232-page book, entitled Mario Terzi Master Engraver by Stephen Lamboy and Elena Michelli covers the life and art of Terzi with beautiful examples of his engraving. That book has become a collector’s item and is quite valuable because of its very limited production. Mario Terzi was born in the Brescia region in 1944. As much as he loved art and drawing, he equally disliked school and at age 14 left to begin an engraving apprenticeship under Master Engraver Guido Pasolini in Val Trompia, Italy. At age 21, Mario decided it was time to start his own company, called Consorzio Incisori with six other engravers as a general partnership. He worked as Chief Designer and spent countless hours creating and drawing designs. 1n 1982, Terzi resigned his partnership and opened his own studio and begun developing the geometric ornament which has made him famous and recognizable.  Any gun engraved by Mario Terzi is an heirloom and much more valuable than the gun itself. Footnotes: 1 From India’s largest guns, shooting and outdoor community, Indians for Guns, by firearms expert, Mehul Kamdar, article entitled, “Who Makes the Best Magazine Rifles?” Friends, Since you enjoyed the discussion on German-made Mausers, we have had much interest about magazine rifles from other countries, specifically Italy. Most of us know of Antonio Zoli’s fine Mauser, Perugini & Visini’s Professional is another in the forefront, but one of our astute readers, a well-known Italian collector who will remain anonymous, expressed his opinion:  Casartelli sta a Mausers come Stradivari sta ai violins,” which translates “Casartelli is to Mausers as Stradivari is to violins.”           Indeed, this is a singular high praise and testament. 2 C-Ring - An internalmachined in the front receiver ring to provide additional strength to the receiver at its most stress-bearing point, while also providing a stop for the barrel when screwed into the receiver and allowing positive control of headspace. It is so difficult to machine that most makers simply bore the front receiver ring straight through. 3 Pillar Bedding - a method of fitting a bolt action to a stock employing metal sleeves around the action screws as spacers, to precisely control the clamping dimension between the receiver and the bottom metal, greatly improving rifle accuracy. About the Maker: Carlo Casartelli was previously located Concesio Brescia, Italy, the heartland of the best Italian master gunmakers and master engravers. Carlo stood out as a best gunmaker second to none.  Raved by some as the Antonio Stradivari of gunmakers, Casartelli built bespoke ultimate quality magazine and double rifles, and side-by-side sidelock shotguns.  His bolt actions were made from scratch in all calibers and in the customer’s choice of action or using one of his in-house pillar-bedded, Mauser c-ring actions, magnum or standard, single or double square bridge. His quality of craftsmanship, fit and finish could not be improved and for the most part, his guns and rifles were engraved by renowned Italian master engravers. In the book, The Italian Gun, by Smith and Morrow, four of Casartelli beautiful guns are featured in the section of color plates of the finest makers: A side-by-side double rifle in .375 H&H in Color Plate II, a side-by-side sidelock ejector shotgun in Color Plate IV and a matched pair in Color Plate IX. It’s not just the engraving that is emphasized. Rose & Scroll, a dedicated to featuring only the finest-made firearms, headquartered Market Street, San Francisco, recently published the following about Carlo Casartelli:             The world of fine firearms is replete with the stories of master gunsmiths who have left an indelible mark on the art of gunmaking.  Among these luminaries, the name Carlo Casartelli stands out as a paragon of craftsmanship, elegance, and exclusivity. The exquisite firearms that bear his name are renowned for their impeccable attention to detail and unwavering commitment to quality, making them true works of art. Carlo Casartelli's legacy transcends the realm of gunmaking; it is a legacy of excellence, artistry, and an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship. His rifles and shotguns are more than mechanical instruments; they are expressions of his passion, his mastery, and his adherence to the highest standards of quality. Imported into the US until 2000, according to the Blue Book of Gun Values, his guns were offered in four “best gun” models:   African – bolt action, various heavy and magnum calibers, square bridge Mauser action, takedown, full coverage game scene engraving appropriate to the caliber, engraved by a master engraver, bespoke only.   Safari – bolt action in standard calibers, regular Mauser length action, full coverage game scene engraving appropriate to the caliber, engraved by a master engraver, bespoke only.   Kenya – Sidelock double rifle, offered in most standard and magnum calibers, elaborate game scene and/or scroll engraving by a master engraver, bespoke only.   Sidelock Ejector Side-by-side Shotgun – built as a clone of the H&H Royal, various gauges, elaborate game scene and/or scroll engraving by a master engraver, bespoke only. SOLD