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Old June 4, 2006, 10:57 AM   #1
wacki
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Most expensive shotguns?

Just curious, what are the most expensive shotguns?

I guess we can list them in two categories:

1) ostentatious yet new- paying $50,000 just because it's name, it's a collector piece, etc. Stuff from the 1800's don't count

2) utilitarian - Where every dollar you spend gives you something that effects performance.


In category two

I know these guys can get expensive http://www.ljuticgun.com/

I saw one at my club that was 13K but I'm not sure what brand name it was.
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Old June 4, 2006, 11:56 AM   #2
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I love looking at nice shotguns. Check out gunsamerica.com, Shotguns/Misc/Italian

www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976617520.htm

"F.lli Rizzini R-1, 410 ga., 27 1/2" 3/10 & 7/10, 3" chambers, straight grip, 1 7/16 X 2 1/8 X 14 1/2", checkered butt, weight 5 lbs., Fantasy engraveing by Manrico Torcoli, up graded wood, cased, new, email or call for Quote on shotguns built to your specs. & engraving. Delivery 2 1/2 years. "




$250,000
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Here's an older one. Only $45,000.

www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976716135.htm

"ENGRAVED BY BREGOLI MADE 1980 28" 029 AND 040 2 3/4 DOUBLE TRIGGER W/HINGED FRONT EJECTORS SPLINTER FOREARM ENGLISH GRIP NEW CONDITION 6LB 9 OZ X 2 X 1 1/4 X 14 1/8 TO CHECKERED BUTT"



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Edited to add a pic of a Perazzi I posted on an earlier thread.

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Old June 4, 2006, 06:38 PM   #3
wacki
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Wow, that certainly hits the ostentatious mark. That engraving is expensive! Absolutely amazing though.


So far this is the most expensive on the utilitarian side I've found

http://www.silverseitz.com/

Base price $11,900.00

and it goes up from there.

It's really easy to spend 20K there on a gun that has no engraving or gold.
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Old June 4, 2006, 10:34 PM   #4
Dave McC
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Bosis, Fabbri and Piotti all run into 6 figures. Holland & Holland's not far behind.

I handled a 28 gauge Purdey recently. Made in 1953, it was nicely inlaid with gold birds. The owner paid over $50K and thought it was worth much more.
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Old June 5, 2006, 12:32 AM   #5
revinkevin
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i was watching a program on either history channel or a&e or discovery or something about hand crafted shotguns from europe, maybe italy. anyways very very high doller and some of them only make like 30 guns a year and are so detail oriented id be scarred to even hold one!
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Old June 5, 2006, 01:39 AM   #6
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At the local Walton League range, the conversation drifted to this topic last Fall. Holland and Holland ended up the consensus "most expensive gun," but it seems there are ones that surpass even that ...!

Here are some quick H&H pics:









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Old June 5, 2006, 03:21 AM   #7
guntotin_fool
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Most expensive i have ever seen was one destined to go an Arab state, supposed price after engraving etc was to be a quarter million. It was at a shop that does incredible engraving. The guy doing the engraving was not there but i was allowed to look thru a loupe at some of the work being done around the forearm release and it was all arabic and all inlaid, it was stunning.

Most expensive i have shot, was a one of a matched pair supposedly that belonged to Lord Mountbatten, cousin to Queen Elizabeth II. It was a Purdey 12 guage, but used short (i think 2 1/2 inch shells)chambers, busted two clays with it. then handed it back before i did something stupid and had to sell my house to have it fixed.

I remember reading about someone paying a 1/2 mill or more for a shotgun at an auction last year or the year before. IIRC, owned by someone american and famous, world class pedigree and provenance and history and absolutely finest kind of gun work to boot. trying to find the email that had the link in it, Maybe Pattons model 21 winchester or parker, not sure but it was a name like that. might have been a movie stars gun or maybe TR's. I just remember looking at the gun and going WOW> Not as high as a Colt in the same auction that went for $825K or so, a 1849 NIB engraved, never fired, maybe one of six ever made like it, none in its condition.
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Old June 5, 2006, 05:12 PM   #8
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I saw on I think it was paxton arms a new K20 that had a price of 80k and I saw a used k80 at a bass pro for 65k. The most expensive I have ever shot was a super x that was all engraved and gold inlaid. I think it was one of 5 and it was worth 50+. I wold ask for whole story but he is a guy who will talk you until you are deaf. He also has a k32 crown grade that was engraved and given to JFK.
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Old June 6, 2006, 09:19 AM   #9
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Quote:
Ljutic Mono Gun #1 has fired approximately 1.5 million shots and is still in perfect shooting condition!
So someone shot 10 boxes of shells per day (250/day), every single day of every year, for 16 and a half years? Or was it 100 shots per day (4 boxes) for 41 years, or 500 shots per day (20 boxes) for 8.25 years? Ermmmm, helluva project...I suppose it's possible though.

If your gun can't git er done for under $5K, it don't need doin. The doubles are beautiful, though. So are $2-$3k Berettas, OTOH.

So 270, how much would that H&H there set you back?

These two from Ljutic look like they were hammered out in someone's garage:

http://www.ljuticgun.com/imagelib/si...g&target=_self
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Old June 6, 2006, 05:29 PM   #10
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2 1/2 years. wow

www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976617520.htm

Anyone know what is the approx number of man hours it takes to do this? Surely that 2.5 years isn't pure work time.
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Old June 6, 2006, 09:40 PM   #11
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Lemme get this straight: That's $250K withOUT the barrels?

Quote:
Anyone know what is the approx number of man hours it takes to do this? Surely that 2.5 years isn't pure work time.
No, of course not. You put 1/2 down; they take an extended European & Asian vacation for 2.0 years, then spend the last 6 months making your gun, to get the other half upon delivery.
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Old June 7, 2006, 07:04 AM   #12
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Fratelli Rizzini makes 25 guns a year. IIRC correctly, the gun itself takes 500 to 600+ hours of actual hands-on work. That's not counting the time waiting for multiple coats of hand-rubbed oil finish or barrel bluing to dry, etc. Why does it take 2.5 years to get one? Demand. In addition to the waiting list to have a gun custom made, there's the long wait for a world class engraver. They won't let you specify just any old engraver on one of their guns.

John

"Fratelli Rizzini, the distinguished gunmaking firm in Magno di Gardone, is dedicated to but one purpose: the production of the world's finest double barrel shotgun. The result is that they produce only 25 guns a year, each to the highest standards humanly possible." - from the William Larkin Moore site
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Old June 7, 2006, 07:09 AM   #13
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More pics of expensive guns at http://www.thehighroad.org/showthrea...hlight=rizzini including this Bosis.

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Old June 7, 2006, 10:05 AM   #14
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The most expensive, nonengraved "shooting" gun I've seen or shot, was the Beretta SO-5 series O/U. I believe they retail in the $15,000 range.
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Old June 7, 2006, 02:58 PM   #15
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I just googled up a blurb from an old Time magazine article on the Beretta SO-9 Premium guns.

"The premium line is vital to Beretta's appeal, and artisanal engraving is part of the essence of the guns. Typically, 350 hours of work are needed to execute the postcard-size surface of a receiver. Luca Casari, 35, like only a few who are still working in the studio, learned the art as a boy. "Sure, we could be replaced by laser," he says, "but doing it by hand gives the gun its real value.""

According to the article, Madonna spent about $100,000 on 2 of them for her husband.

Here's a used one in mint condition on gunsamerica for $29.950.

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Old June 7, 2006, 05:58 PM   #16
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Quote:
"Sure, we could be replaced by laser," he says, "but doing it by hand gives the gun its real value.""
I honestly would like to know why more people aren't doing this.
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Old June 17, 2006, 11:50 PM   #17
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As I understand it from recently published articles there are three Parker 'Invincible' grade shotguns that are so rare and sought after that they are considered to be literally 'priceless'. One can routinely find in the Gun List and Shooting Sportsman magazines Purdey SxS for about $75,000 to $100,000.
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Old June 19, 2006, 08:37 PM   #18
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Galazan has a poster of the three Parkers for $250.

"First time in history all three Parker Brothers Invincible’s are together. 30” x 40” photograph, framed."
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Old June 19, 2006, 08:46 PM   #19
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First Freedom,
It must have belonged to Tom Knapp....

I have heard that he shoots 200,000+ yearly....
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Old June 20, 2006, 08:40 AM   #20
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Wow. Those are some true "works-of-art".
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Old June 28, 2006, 03:19 PM   #21
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This is the most expensive I have seen lately is at www.gunbroker.com Parker DHE 20ga. 26" Skeet In/Skeet Out SST buy it now is 36,000.
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Old June 28, 2006, 06:49 PM   #22
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Approximately $32,000, George Hoenig Round Rotary Action double rifle. Opening the receiver is like looking at a fine Swiss watch movement... a 1/4 turn and push forward to open the action. Available as a double shotgun or rifle.


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