Beretta’s SO-series over-and-unders are one of the world’s great shotguns. They’re also one of the most influential doubles of the 20th century. Introduced around 1935, the sidelock SO was built by Beretta’s as their answer to Browning’s new Superposeds.
Tullio Marengoni, Beretta’s famous in-house firearms designer, considered Browning’s O/U “..very high, heavy and ugly.” He set about to create an over-and-under that was more like a Boss or Woodward, but that could also be mass produced in a factory like Beretta’s.
Beretta has also made a lot of SO-series shotguns, so finding a decent one is not that hard. What is hard to find is a decent one that has been color case hardened. like the SO-5 you see here. Here’s the seller’s description of the gun:
BERETTA S05 SPORTING 12 GAUGE: HARD TO FIND CASE COLORED FRAME 29 1/2″ VENT RIB 2 3/4 WITH COLONIAL SCREW CHOKES SINGLE SELECT TRIGGER EJECTORS FIELD FOREARM PISTOL GRIP EXCELLENT CONDITION IN MAKERS CASE 7LB 14 OZ X 2 1/4 X 1 1/2 X 14 1/2. Price: $12,900.00
