Guns International #: 102945719
Seller's Inventory #: 25-008

Category - F.lli. Rizzini Shotguns - Rizzini Shotguns

Category
F.lli. Rizzini Shotguns
Rizzini Shotguns

F.lli Rizzini R2E 12 ga., 28 1/4" bls., engraved by Walter Patelli, featured in Rule's Episode 31, RARE, cased

Description:
F.lli Rizzini R2E, Boxlock Ejector, Walter Patelli engraved, Best Gun 12 Ga., 28 ¼” Bls., Upgrades, 1979 but 99% New and RARE.

F.lli Rizzini, Gardone, Val Trompia, Italy. This Model R2E is a boxlock ejector side-by-side, engraved by Italian Master Walter Patelli, 12 ga., 2 ¾” chambers. This gun is featured with a 40 minute video at rogerrule, on YouTube, Special Guns with Roger Rule, Episode 31.
 
Choked IM/F, it has a single non-selective Boss trigger, with well-struck chopper lump chrome-lined barrels made in-house by the Brothers Rizzini.  It is fitted with a hand-filed level cross-hatched flat rib with silver bead front sight.
According to the Blue Book of Gun Values and other sources, the Model R2E is described as a boxlock ejector side-by-side, available in 5 bore sizes, select walnut, with TWO triggers, a detachable bottom inspection plate, various barrel lengths, WITHOUT sideplates and WITHOUT engraving.  Last MSRP was $25,000 for this plain-jane version.
Rare as a model, this particular shotgun listed here is even rarer still with three upgrades: SINGLE trigger, built with SIDEPLATES and ENGRAVING by the Italian Master, Walter Patelli.
With these three upgrades, this gun is one of the rarest F.lli Rizzini models ever offered.
The receiver has a bright coin finish with a rose bouquet and scroll motif but in a pattern that is much more robust than typical English engraving, as would be expected by the famous Italian Master. He signed his name on the trigger plate. The lower tang and trigger plate have three locking screws, a sign of a handmade gun. Four additional locking screws can be found on the receiver and one on the top lever is checkered for either the right or left hand.

Metal: The R2E is built with the highest traditional quality. According to the Blue Book of Gun Values: F.lli Rizzini manufactures some of the most technological advanced rifles and shotguns in the world. They make their own barrels in–house, and use their patented mechanism. Besides Purdey’s tried and true double underlug system, Rizzini has added many features which include: long trigger plate tang that terminates in a sculptured point, beaded fences, F.lli Rizzini’s patented automatic ejectors, a manual safety (to give the shooter control) and, of course, what this model is known for, its removable inspection plate on the bottom of the receiver (another F.lli Rizzini patent).

Stock: Made of Carpathian walnut (a high quality English walnut): the buttstock has stunning colors with rich marble-like figure in the classic style with classic fluted comb and English straight-hand grip that matches in color and figure with its semi-beavertail forend (usually preferred by F.lliRizzini over the splinter forearm), with Anson push-button release intricately inlaid. Wood to metal fit is perfect. It is finished with a French polish, a hand-rubbed oil finish that takes many coats.

The hand checkering is generous wrapping around the forearm and grip, and coming together in a pattern over the wrist… all perfectly executed with 32 lpi diamonds with a pleasant combination of single and double borders. Measurements: 1 7/16” DAC, 2” DAH, Length of Pull 14 ½” to the center of its ¾” leather-covered black recoil pad. Weight: 7 lbs. 4 oz. and wonderfully balanced.

Inscriptons: On the water table, F.lliRizzini and the serial number, 1665. On the barrels flat, AE for 1979, F.lli Rizzini, 1665 and on the under side of the barrel: Puccinelli Rizzini.

Condition:
Virtually New, with perfect screws, perfect mechanics and strong well-timed ejectors, the bores are “as new” and the barrels remain tight on face and ring like chimes. Lockup feels like shutting a vault door. The blue, wood and checkering is 99.9%.  Check out the video.

Includes maker’s leather trunk case with accessories.

Price: $17,450.00
Seller is the author of The Rifleman’s Rifle (Winchester pre-64 Model 70s), is liquidating his collection 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, buyer contributes $100 shipping 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.

About the maker:
F.lli Rizzini, via X Giornate, 9 – 25063 Gardone, VT, Italy, located in the heart of the well-known “firearms makers district” of Val Trompia, the mecca of the best Italian gunmakers. F.lli is an abbreviation for Fratelli and the name Fratelli Rizzini translates to the Rizzini Brothers, and there are two of them, Guido and Amelio.
 
            What’s in a name?  According to William Larkin Moore in his interview with the authors of The Italian Gun (Smith and Morrow), when asked if Piotti was on par with Purdey, Moore stated, “I’d rank Piotti as one of the best gunmakers in the world, the others, of course, being Purdey, Holland & Holland, Fabbri, F.lli Rizzini, and Luciano Bosis in Italy (pp 153-154).
            Later in the book, in the chapter entitled F.lli Rizzini, the authors state, “No Italian gunmaker is the best. There are three: Ivo Fabbri, F.lli Piotti and F.lli Rizzini (p.156).” The authors go on to explain that Amelio Rizzini is the craftsman (an incredible craftsman) and Guido Rizzini is the inventor, having patented many improvements for sidelock guns and his removable inspection plate.
            The authors explain that some gunmakers are guild makers and some are handmade gunmakers. They put Bertuzzi, Purdey, and Holland & Holland in the class of guild makers, while Fabbri, Bosis, and F.lli Rizzini are handmade gunmakers.
            The few Italian guild and handmade gunmakers that qualify together as best gunmakers, typically build three models: an Anson & Deeley Boxlock Ejector side by side with a fancy back, a Holland & Holland sidelock ejector model for their side by side and the amazing Boss over and under for their sidelock stacked barrel models. (Fabbri only builds over and unders today).
Any of these three models are best guns when made by these best gun makers.  The exceptions are F.lli Rizzini which makes additional models using Guido’s own patents, and Beretta, as a high production company, also has a special custom department that is in this ilk of best gunmakers with their Beretta Gran Lusso, ASE, SO9, and SO10 along with their in-house engraving department comprised of superstar engravers.
From Best Guns, by Marco E. Nobili, in describing F.lliRizzini, the author states:
“It is important to note that whilst for other important gun makers the fact of realizing a side by side shotgun of the Holland & Holland type remains a reproduction of mechanical schemes, F.lli Rizzini went beyond that. They patented their own locks and a single trigger system with automatic ejectors. Therefore, F.lli Rizzini  guns – as far as some basic components are concerned – are original …besides these patents, F.lli Rizzini’s side by side shotguns stand out for the perfection of their mechanical execution, which is totally hand made. Their guns are extremely streamlined, elegant, and suitably engraved.”

About the Engraver: Walter Patelli

Although Walter Patelli was an Italian Master Engraver, we know very little about him. Since every reference of him that I could find, connects him with the Brothers Rizzini, it might be a safe speculation that he was actually a F.lli Rizzini in-house engraver. The one representation of his work in The Italina Gun, by Smith and Morrow, shows in Color Plate III top photo, and the caption reads “Gunmaker: F.lli Rizzini, Engraved by Patelli”

In the book, The Best Guns, by Marco E. Nobili, the author includes Patelli in his list of Italian  master engravers so we know he reached the status or rank of Master Engraver.
 

Price: $17,450.00