The most exceptional sporting arms are offered in Rock Island Auction Company's August 15-17 Premier Auction in Bedford, Texas, including high-end shotgun brands representing the finest names in the world of Italian, British, and American gunmaking.

Each of the examples featured here can be examined in person on August 14th during Preview Day, the day prior to auction, including the breathtaking trio of Manrico Torcoli engraved Fabbri 28 gauge shotguns pictured above and the exceptional pair of Brown Brothers engraved Purdey 20 gauge shotguns highlighted below.

Italian Shotgun Brands

In the world of high-end shotguns, few names command the reverence of Ivo Fabbri. Celebrated for their quality, precision, and spectacular fantasy engraving, this premier Italian gunmaker has set a high standard for exceptional over/unders.

Italian master Manrico Torcoli's expert execution of the bulino engraving technique, a style that emphasizes detailed shadows and photorealism, is demonstrated in the breathtaking Fabbri shotgun trio offered below. All three guns are thematically similar, though each exhibits its own unique design centered around nude models set amongst a host of avian companions. Fabbri shotguns are functional artwork in every sense of the word, and nowhere is this better illustrated than the Torcoli engraved trio offered this August.

Before branching out on his own, Ivo Fabbri got his start in a joint partnership with Daniele Perazzi. The venture combined Perazzi's traditional Italian craftsmanship with Fabbri's experience in modern precision manufacturing. The two gunmakers focused on quality over quantity, producing 300 shotguns over the next five years, including the 1964 manufactured example below.

Three more examples of Italian over/under excellence can be found in the consecutively serialized Renato Caem shotguns pictured below. The trio is engraved and gold inlaid by Creative Art, a world-renowned guild started by Italian masters Giacomo Fausti, Ugo Talenti, Giovanni Steduto, Valerio Peli, and Armando Piardi. Creative Art has earned a reputation for excellence, and each of these three shotguns embody the sporting arm as a canvas for exceptional artistic achievement.

Founded by the Rizzini brothers, Fratelli Rizzini is the definition of an exclusive high-end Italian shotgun brand. With just 20 guns produced annually, and each taking over 1,000 hours to complete, each firearm is an exceptional rarity. A Rizzini pair is even more scarce, and the 16 gauge R1-E sidelocks below are one of only two such pairs completed by the company in this gauge.

In 1967, Mario Abbiatico and Remo Salvinelli founded Fabbrica Armi di Mario Abbiatico e Remo Salvinelli, now more commonly known as FAMARS. One of the truly artisan examples of high-end shotgun brands, this Italian maker made a name for itself creating some of the finest bespoke guns ever built. The company is known as much for their technical ability as for the aesthetics of their guns, exampled by this bespoke quattrocanne four barrel .410 shotgun with 1989 dated proofs.

A more recent name among Italian shotgun brands, Caesar Guerini has quickly earned a global reputation for crafting quality over/unders. As the Brescia-based company proudly states, their shotguns are ideal "for those who want an elegant shotgun without sacrificing performance." Each Caesar Guerini shotgun features hand-engraved receivers, premium Turkish walnut stocks, and precision-engineered barrels made in collaboration with Fabarm.

Beretta, officially Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A., stands as one of the oldest and most revered names in high-end shotguns, with roots tracing back to 1526. Beretta offers sporting arms at every price point, including some of the finest over/under examples on the market that showcase intricate engravings, premium walnut stocks, and unparalleled attention to detail, appealing to collectors and discerning sportsmen alike.

Founded by Luciano Bosis, a master artisan with decades of experience, his namesake company specializes in creating custom over/under and side-by-sides that embody the essence of exceptional Italian craftsmanship. Luciano Bosis got his start in gunmaking with Galesi and Perazzi before setting out on his own in 1977 and has gone on to establish his firm as one of the truly high-end names in shotgun making. Models like the Luciano Bosis "Queen" are tailored to the owner’s exact specifications and offer a flawless balance of performance and artistry.

British Shotgun Brands

Bespoke British sidelocks are among the most desirable arms in the collecting pursuit, with high-end shotgun brands from the U.K. like Holland & Holland, Purdey, W.W. Greener, and Boss offering some of the finest in the field. August's auction offers a stunning pair of Purdey & Sons engraved by the Brown Brothers, two of the most renowned masters of their trade.

For over 200 years the name James Purdey & Sons has been synonymous with quality, class, and an unwavering pursuit of excellence, all qualities represented by another exceptionally engraved Purdey pair for sale this August at RIAC. Each gun is signed three times by "A. L. Hunt," daughter of the legendary Ken Hunt and an elite engraver in her own right.

Like Purdey, Holland & Holland has been a leader in the fine arms industry since the early 19th century and has produced for kings, heads of state, and the wealthiest celebrities and business leaders. The 1965 true pair of factory engraved and gold inlaid Holland & Holland Modele De-Luxe shotguns featured below certainly fits the quality and artistry that earned this storied London gunmaker its lofty reputation among the most revered high-end shotgun brands in the world.

Holland & Holland is another legend in the industry, a high-end shotgun brand with a long history of building arms for influential and important people. The pair of London-proofed, factory engraved, Royal De Luxe sidelock double barrel shotguns highlighted below was built for legendary Formula One driver Nigel Ernest James Mansell and features the breathtaking game scene bulio engraving of Phil Coggan, a true master of his craft.

In his 1991 book "Sidelocks & Boxlocks, The Classic British Shotguns," author Geoffrey Boothroyd declared that Boss & Co. produced the finest British over/unders and wrote that "the Boss O/U is not just a shotgun, it is a work of art." Few Boss over/unders were completed after WW2, making this 1951 manufactured factory engraved example particularly rare.

Established in 1829, W.W. Greener, remains an iconic name in the world of high-end shotguns. Today, the company produces a limited number of exhibition guns for collectors and enthusiasts, a tribute to the legacy Greener enjoyed with its exceptional 19th and early 20th century officers. Below's example of a factory engraved Imperial Best Grade side-by-side from 1931 represents Greener during the height of British innovation, with features like the company's patented scalloped boxlock action with the sturdy Facile Princeps crossbolt.

American Shotgun Brands

Rock Island Auction Company frequently features a lineup of the finest factory engraved classic American side-by-sides, and August's auction is no exception. Collectors, shooters, and sportsmen look back fondly at the doubles produced by American companies during the nation's early 20th century golden age, and few examples embody that era more handsomely than a Premier Grade "Sweet Elsie."

When it comes to high-end shotguns from vintage American manufacturers, the Parker Brothers stands tall. "The Old Reliable," as the company dubbed their guns, referenced the hand-assembled precision and quality craftsmanship offered by these iconic side-by-sides. These traits are skillfully exhibited in the gorgeous example pictured below, a factory engraved 28 Gauge DH Grade shotgun, one of only 85 built in this configuration.

Advertised as "The World’s Finest Shotgun," A.H. Fox side-by-sides were crafted using high grade materials and first-class workmanship. This next example of golden age American gunmaking features near full coverage XE Grade pattern engraving consisting of leafy scroll surrounding three oval panel game scenes depicting a pair of quail in flight on the left, a pair of mallards in flight on the right, and an alert fox on the underside.

The name Winchester embodies American gunmaking at its finest, and the Winchester Model 21 is widely hailed as one of the finest American boxlock double guns ever manufactured. Although technically a production gun until 1960, each Winchester Model 21 was custom-crafted in terms of workmanship, configuration, and attention to detail.

While Remington may not be the first name that comes to mind when comparing high-end shotgun brands, top tier examples of the Model 1100 undeniably showcase the company’s ability to craft standout works. Produced in limited runs through Remington’s custom shop, the D Grade and Tournament Grade feature exceptional engraving and hand-fitted parts, providing a more refined shotgun for performance and aesthetic alike.

High-End Shotguns for Sale

These spectacular shotguns represent a small sample of the lineup offered at Rock Island Auction Company. From golden age craftsmanship to modern works from the most elite shotgun makers across the globe, find your dream gun this August in Bedford, Texas.

For more gun blogs and gun videos on the finest historic and modern sporting arms, subscribe to the weekly Rock Island Auction newsletter, where we cover classic names like Abercrombie and Fitch, Marlin, and Savage, specialized arms like the drilling, the cape gun, and other specialized combination guns, and the giants of African hunting like the .375 H&H, the Black Powder Express, the Nitro Express rifles, the mighty 4 bore, and more.