"We only go through life once, why not shoot Fabbri?" Hollywood screenwriting legend John Milius opined on the famed Italian shotgun brand.

If any firearms can be described as technically perfect, Fabbri shotguns would fit the label. Widely hailed as some of the finest over/unders in the world for their exceptional engineering and breathtaking fantasy engraving, each shotgun from Fabbri represents the height of quality, exclusivity, and luxury. Some of the finest examples of the genre can be found at Rock Island Auction Company.

An exceptional consecutive pair of factory Creative Art signed and fantasy engraved Ivo Fabbri O/U shotguns.

Ivo Fabbri Finds his Calling

Ivo Fabbri was born on December 4, 1928, in the Emilia-Romagna region, a center for Italian industrialization and home to prestigious automakers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati. From an early age, Fabbri developed a love for hunting shotguns and engineering, and he constructed several shotgun prototypes of his own.

As a young man, Ivo Fabbri moved to Brescia, Italy’s gunmaking heartland. He joined the army as an artillery officer, and after his military service Ivo found work with Officine Meccaniche, a subsidiary of FIAT Group at the time, which specialized in manufacturing industrial vehicles. This position introduced Fabbri to the world of Computer Numerically Controlled tools used to automate precision machining.

A Laboratories Armi Desenzani sidelock double barrel shotgun with 1940 dated Italian proof marks, featuring barrels with near full coverage scroll engraving. Available this May.

The first luxury shotgun Fabbri ever purchased was an Armeria Desenzani from a similar era as the example pictured above. In author Marco Nobili's 1992 book, 'Fucili D'Autore', or 'The Best Guns,' Ivo Fabbri reflects on his experience shopping for that gun, noting, "Since I was trained to recognize precision executions at first glance, I saw various defects in the shotguns of the different brands he showed me."

The seller told Fabbri that if he wanted a shotgun that lived up to such lofty standards, he'd have to build it himself. Ivo took that comment to heart. As Fabbri researched the trade, a barrel maker introduced him to Daniele Perazzi, a young gunmaker in nearby Botticino. Perazzi showed Fabbri an O/U shotgun made by Lebeau Courally of Belgium built on a Boss action. In Perazzi's opinion, it was one of the finest examples on the market. Fabbri thought he could do better.

A factory engraved Boss & Co. sidelock O/U shotgun manufactured circa 1955. Available this May.

Perazzi & Fabbri

In 1960, Ivo Fabbri and Daniele Perazzi formed a partnership, combining Perazzi's traditional Italian craftsmanship with Fabbri's experience with modern precision manufacturing. The two gunmakers focused on quality over quantity, producing 300 shotguns over the next five years.

In 1964, an Italian trap shooter named Ennio Mattarelli acquired one of the Perazzi & Fabbri shotguns. Mattarelli had been using a Browning, the leading brand in the competitive shooting world at the time. With the Tokyo Olympics on the horizon, Mattarelli was searching for an edge, and he decided to partner with Perazzi and Fabbri to design a gun specifically for the Olympic Games.

A factory Rene Doyen signed and engraved Belgian Browning Grade V "Diana" superposed skeet shotgun Manufactured in 1956. Browning dominated the competitive shooting scene in the mid 20th century. Available this May.

What would become known as the Fabbri-Perazzi MX8 sidelock shotgun was completed in two months and helped Mattarelli become the first Italian to win a Gold medal in the 1964 Olympics with his world record score of 198/200 in men's trap. Perazzi rocketed to fame in the competitive shooting community and decided to focus his efforts on catering to this market niche. Ivo Fabbri had different ambitions.

A gorgeous pair of factory L. Vibrioni signed and engraved Perazzi 20 Gauge SC3 O/U shotguns with case. Available this May.

Ivo Fabbri Shotguns

In 1965, Ivo Fabbri sold his shares back to Perazzi and dissolved their partnership. While Perazzi specialized in competitive shotguns, Fabbri was interested in creating exceptional pieces to rival the finest London designs. His company was officially founded in 1968 as Armi Fabbri. Located in Concesio, Brescia, Fabbri initially employed 15 skilled craftsmen who produced only a couple of shotguns per month.

Included with each gun in this Fabbri set is a matching numbered and engraved pair of 28 inch barrels in 28 gauge. A factory wood and leather takedown case houses each gun along with its extra barrel set. Available this May.

After studying numerous designs, Fabbri concluded that the side-by-side arrangement suffered slightly more barrel distortion during the firing process than an over/under. He concentrated solely on the latter configuration, embracing space-age metallurgy and computer innovations when constructing his shotguns, a philosophy more akin to a supercar designer than his more traditional competitors.

In 'The Italian Gun' by Steve Smith and Laurie Morrow, the authors describe how Fabbri "set out to develop super-advanced technology that would take parts production to the highest degree of mechanical precision; and when the machines could do no more, when the ultimate in mechanical perfection was realized, then and only then would the gun enter the final stage, the human process."

Armi Fabbri produces some of the finest shotguns in the world.

Fabbri Shotgun Quality

Fabbri has always made their shotguns entirely in-house, from the smallest screws to the barrels, actions, and stocks. Each gun is a custom work designed by the client from the ground up. Ivo Fabbri believed that the surest guarantee against breakage and misfunctioning was mechanical simplicity and employing the finest materials available.

"Each goes through the factory separately," Tullio Fabbri, Ivo's son and current CEO, said in an interview with the UK's 'The Field Magazine.' "Our barrels are made from aeronautical-grade stainless steel, which is 80% stronger than the carbon steel used in most guns. They are proofed to 1,370kg and the steel is so hard that you can fire Hevi-Shot or steel shot through them, full choke, with no damage whatsoever."

Each Fabbri shotgun in this set is fitted with a well-figured and multi-point checkered forend with bright finished and engraved fittings, a round knob pistol grip stock, and a fully checkered bare butt. Available this May.

With Fabbri's singular focus on quality, the company only produces 20 to 30 shotguns per year, and high demand has resulted in a nearly six year waiting list. Clients include Steven Spielberg, Tom Selleck, Eric Clapton, Tom Siebel, Francis Ford Coppola, and former Spanish King Juan Carlos I.

A sensational set of three factory master Claudio Tomasoni signed and fantasy engraved Ivo Fabbri sidelock O/U shotguns sold for $141,000 in RIAC's December 2023 Premier Auction.

Fabbri Shotgun Engraving

Fabbri shotguns are functional artwork in every sense of the word. The company has partnered with some of Italy's finest master engravers over the decades, including Gianfranco Pedersoli, Angelo Galeazzi, and Firmo Fracassi, as well as employing an exceptional lineup of in-house engravers.

Each of the two Fabbri shotgun sets for sale at Rock Island Auction Company this May displays stunning fantasy engraving by "Creative Art," a world-renowned engraving guild started by Italian masters Giacomo Fausti, Ugo Talenti, Giovanni Steduto, Valerio Peli, and Armando Piardi. The design featured on both of these examples evokes a Renaissance inspiration with exceptional floral scroll engraving erupting from the mouth of a reposed griffin on either lockplate. A Maltese cross within a shield decorates the underside along with a pair of bare breasted fairies emerging from either end of a bouquet in front of the triggerguard.

The barrels of both Fabbri shotguns included in the pair above are fitted to an exceptionally attractive brush bright finished action displaying stunning fantasy engraving, reminiscent of the classic pieces of the European Renaissance. Available this May.

Each Fabbri shotgun embodies the sporting arm as a canvas for exceptional artistic achievement. The trio of Torcoli engraved Fabbri shotguns pictured below, which sold at Rock Island Auction Company in 2022 for $402,500, demonstrates the expert execution of the bulino engraving technique by Manrico Torcoli, a style that emphasizes detailed shadows and photorealism. Most Fabbri shotguns can be instantly identified by their vivid engraving alone.

A consecutively serial numbered trio of Manrico Torcoli signed, fantasy themed, Bulino engraved Ivo Fabbri pinless sidelock ejector O/U shotguns sold for $402,500 in RIAC's September 2020 Premier Auction.

Fabbri Shotgun Cost

Not surprisingly, the quality craftsmanship and exceptional engraving offered by Fabbri comes with a cost. With a starting price ranging between $80,000 and $250,000, Fabbri shotguns have earned an exclusive status which is proudly embraced by the company.

As Michael Burnett, a former Fabbri dealer observed, most of his customers also saw Fabbri shotguns as potential investment vehicles. "They’re not going to lose money — they’re so sought after. You could probably make 10% year-over-year on a Fabbri."

A gorgeous factory Master Claudio Tomasoni signed and game scene engraved Ivo Fabbri sidelock O/U shotgun three barrel set sold for $129,250 in RIAC's August 2024 Premier Auction.

Fabbri Shotgun Legacy

In 2022, Ivo passed away at the age of 93. The company, known as Fabbri SNC since 1989, has remained a family operation, with Ivo's son, Tullio, now helming the business along with his wife and other relatives. The emphasis on technology is greater than ever before, with Ivo's other son coming directly from a computer programming background.

Early on, Ivo Fabbri started using vacuum arc remelting steel for his barrels, which is engraved at the breech of each example in this consecutive set for sale this May.

Today, Fabbri shotguns are brought up in numerous lists of finest guns and gunmakers, often mentioned alongside legendary English names like Purdey and Boss & Co. Despite their distinct approaches, with Fabbri's cutting-edge innovation contrasting with the time-honored traditions of its British counterparts, each design style has found continued success with sportsmen and shooters captivated by the impeccable artistry of steel and walnut.

Author Marco Nobili concluded Ivo Fabbri's success can be attributed to precision mechanics, enthusiasm, and sheer genius.

Fabbri Shotguns for Sale

On Fabbri shotguns, Tony Kennedy, one of the best-known gun dealers in the UK, concludes, "There is nothing better and never has been, so much goes into it, you have to see how it is made to understand."

With such a high demand and limited production numbers, finding Fabbri shotguns for sale at auction offers a rare opportunity to acquire one of these masterpieces without enduring the lengthy waiting period.

With fewer than 30 per year manufactured, finding two Fabbri shotgun sets for sale this May is a fantastic chance to own a pair of the finest sporting arms on the planet.

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A factory Master Morena Terri signed and engraved Perazzi MX28-BL O/U shotgun two barrel set with case. Available this May.