Guns International #: 102946477
Seller's Inventory #: 25-009

Category - Shotguns - Italian Double - Shotguns - Duck & Goose or Turkey 3"

Category
Shotguns - Italian Double
Shotguns - Duck & Goose or Turkey 3"

Lucchini SLE, Best Gun, 12 Ga, 3" F, M Cremini engraved, featured Rule's Episode 33, MINT

Description:
Lucchini Sidelock Ejector, Best Gun 12 Ga. 3”  28” bls. F, M
Claudio Cremini engraved, featured in Rule’s Episode 33, Cased, Mint

Sandro Lucchini’s defining design, this is an improved H&H Royal sidelock side-by-side adapted for his shotguns and double rifles. This gun is featured with a 40 minute video at rogerrule, on YouTube, Special Guns with Roger Rule, Episode 33. With trun handmade 7-pin twin-sidelock ejector action, this one is engraved by the superstar* Claudio Cremini.

Description: 12 Gauge, 3” chambers, choked Modified (.019) and extra Full (.042), classic double triggers, demi-bloc or chopper-lump chrome-lined barrels with raised hand-filed matted rib, deep rust blue barrels (actually 28 ¼” or 72 cm.) with small silver front bead. Bores measure .723 right and left.

For this gun, Lucchini chose the classic English pattern with straight hand grip and splinter forearm, and coin finished receiver to enhance Cremini’s superior engraving.
 
Metal: This Lucchini has all the traditional features of the highest quality gun with beaded fences, chopper-lump chrome-lined barrels, automatic ejectors, H&H high-grade double seared 7-pin sidelocks with double triggers (the front trigger articulated), H&H Southgate ejectors, intercepting sears, bushed strikers (with engraved locking screws), gas escape valves, cocking indicators, a manual safety (to give the shooter control) and a rolled trigger guard for the right hand shooter. The top lever is engraved with scrolls with minute checkering for firm grasp. These are features generally found on Boss's, Purdey's and Holland & Holland Royal grade guns which new cost between 100K and 200K!

Finish is Lucchini’s beautiful polished coin-finished receiver which is preferred for master-quality engraving, which this gun has. The pleasing figure and great color of the Carpathian Walnut contrasts stunningly with the clean polished coin-finished frame and deep rust blue barrels.  

Inscriptions: There are three: “S. Lucchini Italy” in gold script on the left top side of the left barrel; the serial number in script on the trigger tang, and the engraver’s name: “C. Cremini” at the left side of the trigger bow. “AN” stamped on the water bed shows the gun was made in 1985, but you would never think so looking at the immaculate condition.    

Engraving: Cremini frames his scenes as vignettes, using meticulous tiny scrolls, and the scenes themselves, could be enlarged and adapted into beautiful paintings: On the right sidelock is an oval with an outcropping of dense trees on the left, a hill slope in the foreground, a meadow or field beyond that and a ridge of mountain peaks in the background. Foremost are two very detailed woodcocks in flight.

On the left, again an oval framed with tiny scrollwork, are seven ducks—two very detailed in the foreground and five others in different distances in the background. They are flying over a lake with cattails on the left, tall grass on the right, the lake line of the horizon is shown with a thicket and the sky above shows cloud lines.

On the bottom, another oval showing an English Pointer coming down a steep slope and spooking a mountain quail, with a partial tree and ground cover of highland thicket behind and below the hound, with mountains in the distance, and three lines of clouds overhead. The lower portion of the oval is formed with symmetrical acanthus scrollwork.

Besides these scenes, the entire action is engraved with scrollwork in several different patterns, and two triangles of scroll work over the barrel chambers in the bluing. This is truly a masterful work of Claudio Cremini and why the authors of the book, The Italian Gun, include Cremini as one of the superstars of Italian engraving. 

Stock: Stocked with outstanding Turkish walnut (the highest quality of English walnut today), with near-exhibition figure and rich colors with contrasting dark lines.  

The hand checkering is generous wrapping around the forearm and coming together in a pattern with V border over the wrist. It is executed flawlessly by hand in point pattern, 32 lpi – with double borders and the forearm has a delicately inlaid Anson forearm release in the forearm tip escutcheon. The flawless hand checkering surrounds the coin-finished inlaid lower tang (two-screw tie-down) that ends with a spear point inlaid with perfection. Rub your finger over the area and you cannot tell where the metal ends and the wood starts.

Other “best gun” features include sidelock drop points, an inlaid vacant stock oval, and locking screws.

Measurements: 1 1/4” x 2 1/8” x 14 3/4" front trigger to checkered butt with neutral cast.  Weight 7 lbs 7 oz. Includes maker’s leather trunk case.

Condition:
NEW: Although built in 1985, this is a new gun.  There are no signs of handling and everything (wood and metal) appear absolutely new. The bores are “as new” and the barrels remain tight on face and ring like chimes. Lockup feels like shutting a vault door.

Price: $15,750.00
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 Engraver, Claudio Cremini: In the book, The Italian Gun, by Smith and Morrow, the authors explain in detail how Italian engraving has taken gun engraving to a whole new level. They describe how some have emerged as superstars with even English makers, like Purdey, seeking their talent.
On page 211, they show a list with the title: “The Superstars of Italian Engraving.”  Claudio Cremini is listed as one of 18 superstars. On page 224, a small bio is given: “He has engraved for Bernardelli, Renato Gamba, Renato Telo, F.lli Bertuzzi,…” (and) “Cremini is a master of banknote scroll engraving. Very few engravers today exceed his tightness of scroll and consistent uniformity. His game scenes are a stark contrast to his scrollwork. He changes style completely using a much freer stroke, as if he held his graver like a pencil. He does not practice bulino and depends upon the points of his tools to create his designs without utilizing the fine crosshatching effects used by other master engravers.”

Plates of his engraving are shown in the book on pages 225 and 226. A British regal lion is shown on one and a Claude Monet nude is shown on the other, both surrounded by his famous signature scrollwork.

About the maker: Sandro Lucchini & C., via Petrarca 75, Sarezzo, 25068 (Brescia) Italy, one of Italy’s premier gunmakers. From the book, The Italian Gun, the authors say Sandro was practically born in his late father’s gunshop (the family quarters are upstairs). Unlike his father, Sandro focuses on making a few fine guns, mostly side-by-side sidelock ejector shotguns and double rifles (about 10 to 20 guns a year). They are handmade and are as good as some of the best handmade operations (makers).” The authors go on to describe the man as personable, with boundless energy and a catchy sense of humor, who loves interesting people.”




 

Price: $15,750.00

Manufacturer: Lucchini
Barrel Length: 28 1/4
Bore Info: 12
Chambers: 3
Ejectors: Auto
Condition: Mint
LOP: 14 3/4