Guns International #: 103190588
Seller's Inventory #: 25-019

Category - Shotguns - Italian Double - Siace Shotguns

Category
Shotguns - Italian Double
Siace Shotguns

S.I.A.C.E. model A Boniotti Best Quality SLE, with 3rd bite, 20ga., engraved by Mario Terzi, 99% with case

Description:
SOLD  **  S.I.A.C.E. A.Boniotti Best Quality Sidelock Ejector, engraved by Master Mario Terzi – 20ga  – cased, Mint  
 
Description:
S.I.A.C.E. di Gelmini, Gardone, Val Trompia, Brescia, Italy. This gun is featured with a 40 minute video at rogerrule, on YouTube, “Special Guns with Roger Rule,” Episode 28. The “A.Boniotti SideLock Ejector” is a best gun, 20 ga, SxS, 27 ½" chopper-lump barrels, 2 ¾” chambers, with flat matted rib and brass bead front sight, double gold-banded at breech, choked modified & full.

This Purdey-type action is made up of twin seven-pin bar-action sidelocks, with cocking indicators, bushed strikers with retaining screws, and locks up with the tried and true Purdey double underlug system and a hidden third bite in the receiver face.

Other features include two triggers (the front is articulated), automatic Holland & Holland Southgate selective ejectors, a manual safety and the action lever is checkered for either the right hand or left hand shooter. While the sidelocks are coin finished, other parts are blue: demi-block barrels, trigger guard with lower tang and top lever. The remainder of the engraved metal work is coin finished.

The stock is fully figured European walnut with a straight-hand English grip with classic comb, a splinter forend with an Anson push-button-release, fine classic point-pattern checkering with teardrops. The forearm is meticulously inlaid with the gold SIACE shield. The stock work is as amazing as the metal work. Both the upper and lower tangs are painstakingly inlaid into the stock at fine points. 

Fully engraved by the renowned Mario Terzi with five grouse flushed in a farmland scene on left, another four flushed in a mountain scene on right, and a cock pheasant flushed on the underside---all surrounded with very fine English rose and scroll. Just examine the incredible engraving and all the engraved screw heads.   

Inscriptions: Two inscriptions are on the left side of the barrel: “Siace di Gelmini Made in Italy” and under that, “A. Boniotti,” the model for the company founder (see below). On the underside hidden from view: Acciaaio Sreda for the type of steel; Demi Bloc for chopper lump barrels; and Cam 70 for 2 ¾” chambers. The water table is marked S.I.A.C.E. and together with the barrel flat, both have the stamping BM in circle for 1999 and the founder again.  On the left side of the trigger guard is “M.Terzi”  for the Superstar engraver.

Dimensions: 14 3/8" length of pull to checkered butt, 1 3/8"drop at comb, 2 1/4" drop at heel. No cast. Weight: 6lbs, 2 1/2oz.

Condition: 99% blue. Tight and with excellent bores. Ejectors are in time and barrels ring like chimes. In maker’s tan pigskin leather motor case with maker’s label.

About the Price: SIACE’s MSR Superlight RB $10,950; their SLE (handmade) $14,950; the A.Boniotti model (handmade – bushed strikers, retainining screws, Purdey double underbite and third bite, cocking indicators, checkered butt) $ 17,250, with Mario Terzi bulino engraving, add $4,500.


Price: $21,750.00 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.  (Terzi book not included) 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.


About the Engraver:
In the book, The Italian Gun, by Smith & Morrow, the authors list Mario Terzi in their list of Superstar Italian Engraver, 1st Ed., p. 211. They make a statement on p.131 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, Consorzio Incisori, with six other engravers as a partnership. He worked as Chief Designer and spent countless hours drawing and creating designs. 1n 1982, Terzi resigned the 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.

About the maker:
S.I.A.C.E. di Gelmini, Giuseppe e Ivano & C. s.n.c., via G.Matteotti, 125/127, 25063 Gardone, Val Trompia, BS Italy, The current owners, Gelmini brothers -- Giuseppe and Ivano, were born in Val Trompia where they still live with their families. When they were children they started to show a great interest in guns and hunting following an old family tradition.

Back then a very lively network of subcontractors worked for the gun industry in Gardone Val Trompia and the brothers had a chance to train in local gun workshops. Giuseppe decided to specialize in wood work and become a master stocker, while Ivano specialized in metal work.

In 1990 after many years of work and experience they took over Fabbrica d’Armi SIACE, a 40 year old company owned at that time by the founder, Angelo Boniotti aka Bafo, a high-quality gunmaker which was already known for building best guns under the SIACE brand.

Being avid hunters with a great passion for side-by-side shotguns, Giuseppe and Ivano have devoted their entire careers to continue the company’s high reputation of producing fine hammer and hammerless side-by-side shotguns in all gauges. Almost all their guns are entirely custom made and feature elegant stocks and fore-ends and fine hand engravings executed by the best master engravers from Brescia, such as Mario Terzi here.

Thanks to the Gelmini brothers’ efforts, dedication and desire to implement new technologies without giving up craftsmanship and traditions, S.I.A.C.E. has kept growing and in 2002, Ivano's two sons, Ferdinando and Daniele, joined the workshop; while Giuseppe's daughters, Veronica and Benedetta, began running the business.

The enthusiasm, energy and creativity, combined with new technology and the experience of their elders, has led to the creation of new models like the hammer and hammerless double rifle side-by-side, and the brand new over and under shotguns; yet keeping to tradition, they still build their hand-made sidelocks as bespoke guns in their Custom Shop.
 
The results have been the continuation of high quality products, strong and reliable but still light in weight, precise and beautiful, and nothing short of a credit to the expectation -- for being guns built in Gardone, meeting the world’s highest standards. George Bush owns three of their guns.
 


Price: $21,750.00