According to experts, the price of a hunting rifle directly depends on how well it is made. However, the cost of a rifle unit is also affected by its history. For the opportunity to become the owner of a rare weapon, some wealthy people are willing to pay huge amounts of money. Mostly for such a consumer, weapons are just a hobby. Such owners of rifle units will not use them for their intended purpose. Most likely, they belong to separate communities of rare firearms lovers, and keep their collection in reliable safes. What is the most expensive gun in the world? At auctions, the cost of one such rifle unit can reach several hundred thousand dollars. Nevertheless, in an effort to add the most presentable model to their collection and beat their competitors, the rich do not skimp. The top most expensive hunting rifles in the world are presented in this article.
IVO Fabbri 12 G
Judging by the reviews, this is a true work of art. It is noteworthy that this rifle unit is completely made by hand. According to weapons experts, the model is equipped with a complex and advanced mechanism. During production, craftsmen from the Italian company Fabbri use a unique vacuum-thermal technology. To increase the service life, the technology provides for the use of a special diamond coating, which is applied to the barrels. In addition, the gun comes with an elaborate case. These guns are made to order.
If the client has a desire, he can personally be present during the manufacture of this weapon, choose the design himself, and also discuss with the master all the questions that interest him. The owners of such models are the Spanish monarch Juan Carlos and Steven Spielberg. The IVO Fabbri 12 G is not the most expensive gun in the world. Costs from 190 thousand US dollars. The only drawback of this rifle unit is not its high cost, but the fact that the customer has to wait several years.
Single-barreled shotgun
This is the simplest of all types of hunting rifles. Usually inexpensive, but at the same time very reliable and with a good fight
The gun is quite light in weight, which is very important. Easy to disassemble for cleaning and maintenance
The main disadvantage is that in case of a miss, the hunter does not have time to fire a second shot due to the need to reload the gun. However, these guns are valued by experienced shooters who believe that a hit should be made on the first shot.
Single-barreled shotgun MP-18 MN
Caliber - 12/76 Weight - 3 kg Manufacturer IZHMEKH Barrel length - 71 cm Stock - wood Price from 7500 rubles
Due to its simplicity and reliability, it has a high degree of security. The trigger mechanism mounted in the gun box is characterized by a simple design and high reliability. The mechanism for locking the barrel bore with a swinging lever is also very simple and convenient, it ensures quick reloading.
The gun is equipped with an ejector - a mechanism for automatically ejecting spent cartridges, which can be easily turned off if desired. When the barrel is reopened, the ejector turns on automatically. The gun has excellent balancing and therefore it is very flexible, that is, you can quickly take aim with it offhand.
MP-18 12/76 can be considered the most successful of the Russian single-barreled shotguns, popular both in Russia and abroad. Produced since 1964, it has undergone several modifications, but is still rightfully considered one of the best in its class.
This gun is suitable for hunting various birds: goose, duck, pheasant, hazel grouse, wood grouse, small and medium-sized animals: hare, fox, arctic fox and other game for which hunting is permitted in our country. When used, the bullet can also hit large animals: wild boar, deer, jackal, wolf. However, it should be remembered that for safety reasons, it is better to hunt wild animals with a double-barreled or repeating shotgun.
Single-barreled shotgun made in Türkiye Hatsan Optima SB-W cal.20/76
Manufacturer Hatsan Turkey Caliber 20/76 Model Optima Type - Single-barrel fracture Barrel 71 cm. Choke constant choke. Stock - walnut. Full length 111 cm. Weight 2.5 kg. Sight - rail with front sight. Receiver - chrome plated. Price from 12,000 rubles.
Turkish shotguns of the Optima series have long been recognized in our market. One of them, the Hatsan Optima SB-W cal. 20/76, is a classic single-barrel shotgun of fairly high quality at a relatively low price.
Of particular value is the fact that its barrels are made of steel with the addition of nickel, chromium and molybdenum. This greatly protects the gun from corrosion. The barrels are chrome-plated both inside and outside, which increases their wear resistance. The outer surface of the barrel is covered with black chrome, which, in addition to protecting against corrosion, gives the weapon an elegant look.
Trigger mechanism of hammer type. The cocking of the hammer is almost silent. The trigger release when canceling a shot is very easy. Stable accuracy of shot of any size. Despite the fact that the single-barrel Hatsan Optima SB-W cal. 20/76 has a 20 caliber, since it is designed for the European market where 16 or 20 caliber guns are more often used, this is a quite effective weapon that allows you to hunt any bird and animal, including including duck, goose, pheasant, bustard, beaver, hare, fox, deer, etc.
Purdey
The hunting model is produced by employees of the Purdey weapons company. Hence the name of the gun. According to experts, this company has been supplying military products for 200 years. Rifle units from this manufacturer were made for many crowned persons. For example, the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II owned one of the most expensive guns in the world. Like the previous model, this rifle unit is also handcrafted to personal order. According to experts, Purdey's technical characteristics are inferior to guns from other manufacturers. However, this model is very skillfully made and, due to its sophisticated appearance, is quite expensive. You can become the owner of this small arms product for 195 thousand dollars.
TOZ-80
Representative of hammer-fired weapons.
Refers to 2-barreled hunting weapons with horizontally paired barrels. The caliber of the gun is 12 mm. Produced since 1986 in strictly limited quantities. Outwardly it is very similar to TOZ-BM. Technical characteristics are similar to the 66: barrels are 711 mm long, barrels and chambers are chrome-plated. Has detachable barrels and forearm. Triple locking - on 2 under-barrel hooks with a frame and a cross bolt. The barrels are made for paper cartridges.
The triggers are equipped with a release and have safety cocks. At this time it is not listed in mass production. Thanks to the necessary changes, the model became a good replacement for all its predecessors, leaving only the positive features of the past.
There was another arms factory in the Soviet Union with a good reputation. We are talking about the products of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. The advantages of this enterprise are the variety of products. Here they successfully produce single-barreled and modifications of 2-barrel shotguns with different bores.
Over-Under
Produced by the Italian company Fabbri. The peculiarity of this rifle unit is that it was made in only a few copies, which emphasizes its individuality. The gun is made exclusively from high-alloy Inox steel. To make pads, craftsmen use a special titanium alloy, which is pre-processed on expensive machines. According to experts, the leading detail in the Over-Under from Fabbri is the stock. The head of the company is present during the production of this element. Turkish walnut is used as a raw material for the stock. To purchase this gun, a collector will have to shell out $229,000.
Presidential fitting
This is the most expensive gun in the world in the top in second place. Manufactured by Holland & Holland. According to experts, the first model was made back in 1908 for Theodore Roosevelt. With this most expensive gun in the world, the President of the United States of America went to Africa on his first safari. In 1994, this rifle unit was put up for sale by the descendants of the head of state. According to reports, the fitting was sold for 550 thousand dollars. What is the most expensive smoothbore gun in the world? More about this below.
Brand IZH-58
Quite a popular gun, recognized by many professionals and hunting enthusiasts.
It is an easy-to-use tool that was especially popular in the mid-20th century. We are talking about a standard 2-barrel hammer gun. The barrels are horizontal and come in 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge. The most commonly produced weapons were 12 and 16 gauges. The 28-caliber gun was not mass-produced. The model was developed by Pugachev and went into production in 1958. Surprisingly, the device is still produced today, but in some modifications.
The model had a number of advantages, including: • the box is made of durable steel, which does not require additional heat treatment during assembly; • numerous external screws were replaced with convenient pins; • plates and springs are replaced by simpler screw designs.
Falcon Edition
According to smoothbore firearms experts, this is the most expensive gun in the world (a photo of the rifle is presented in the article). The model is produced by the Swedish company VO Vapen. This company was founded by master Viggo Olsson in 1977. Today it is the main supplier to the King of Sweden, Carl Gustaf XVI. In addition, the target audience for which the rifle unit was created are Arab sheikhs. The weapon was designed taking into account the traditions of falconry. Due to the fact that this model was made exclusively for sheikhs, this affected its cost. 820 thousand dollars is the price of the most expensive gun in the world. The photo shows how luxurious the rifle product looks.
Sports analogue of VPO-205 00-SP
The modernized version of the 12-gauge "Vepr" shotgun is one of the most expensive modifications of domestic production. The carbine is designed for a reinforced Magnum-76 cartridge, has a high level of reliability, and operates reliably in the most difficult operating conditions.
VPO-205 00-SP is equipped with a telescopic butt, a muzzle brake compensator, and an integrated Picatinny rail, which is used for mounting additional accessories. The design was developed taking into account the recommendations of professional athletes, has a quick magazine reload button and a double-sided key-type fuse.
About the trunk
These exclusive hunting rifles are equipped with octagonal barrels. According to master Viggo Olsson, VO Vapen are the only guns in the world in which this element is made entirely of Damascus steel.
In the design of this hunting rifle, the Swedish manufacturer uses a unique patented system, thanks to which the owner can change the caliber if necessary. The Swedish company produces truly high-quality guns that will not only decorate the collection, but will also be effective if the owner wants to use them for their intended purpose. Of course, the possibility cannot be ruled out that the fired projectile will not hit the target. But as the master assures, this will not happen through the fault of the rifle unit.
What affects the cost of a gun?
To understand why a gun can cost a million dollars, you need to understand the pricing policy for collectible firearms.
- First of all, the price of any antique is influenced by its age in relation to its condition, as well as its integrity at the time of sale. For example, a rare model that is still in working order and in its original assembly (parts have never been replaced) will cost significantly more than the same model that has been restored and its parts replaced with non-original parts.
- An important factor is the history of the weapon. Let's say it was used in some famous battle. Or the copy belonged to a famous person who used it for its intended purpose.
- In addition, the price is determined by the presence of a master gunsmith's mark. This point most likely applies to more “adult” antique weapons or guns that were made to order. The mark of a famous workshop will increase the cost of a weapon by 50–70%, since it almost always guarantees the quality of the model, as well as its exclusivity.
- The price is affected by the design. The appearance of a weapon also determines its high cost. Whether it is an ordinary smooth-bore gun “with age” or a beautiful specimen with an elegant design on the butt - the difference is noticeable. Richly decorated examples are of great value to collectors, as they not only provide aesthetic pleasure to the owner, but also demonstrate the painstaking handwork of the craftsman and the exclusivity of the gun.
- If the weapon is decorated using precious materials, this will further increase its price.
Quite often, restored models passed off as originals become the subject of machinations by unscrupulous sellers. Therefore, collectible weapons should be purchased only at special certified auctions or from private owners if you have all the necessary expert opinions and documents confirming the historical value of the items being sold.
Butt
The barrel looks harmonious with the butt, for the manufacture of which the best walnut root is used. The wood is selected personally by the master himself. Further processing is carried out manually. The tree must reach the desired condition. Therefore, according to Viggo Olsen, before starting to make the stock, the wood is aged in special conditions for three years. To make the weapon convenient to use, the client can independently select the workpiece at the initial stage. In an effort to give the gun a more impressive look, Swedish craftsmen apply exquisite designs to the butt. Traditionally, decorations are represented by images of falcons. The final finishing of the stock and polishing of the most expensive smoothbore hunting rifle in the world lasts for five weeks.
A little history
To understand the true value of collectible weapons, it is worth delving a little into history. The evolution of firearms began with the discovery of gunpowder in China from approximately the 7th to the 9th centuries. ad. Initially, this invention was used as an incendiary or explosive mixture, as well as for launching fireworks at holidays.
Later, when they learned about it in Europe, gunpowder found another use - in the 15th century. The first firearm was invented. Heavy and inconvenient, it was first used at the end of the Hundred Years' War, which ended in 1453, but even after that it did not gain widespread popularity, and for this there are reasons:
- too slow;
- difficult to use;
- dangerous for the owner himself.
The first “guns”, or rather, they were cannons and bombards, had to be loaded manually before firing:
- lay down gunpowder;
- pour cannonballs and bullets on top;
- aim correctly;
- set fire to the fuse, which heated the gunpowder in the gun barrel.
Taking into account all these manipulations, the frequency of shots reached three or four per hour, which made the invention virtually useless on the battlefield and was used only for the destruction of fortress walls.
Obviously, with such difficulties in operation, it was impossible to even think about special accuracy and precision of a shot, and plans for the further use of firearms during the war were shelved. Later, European gunsmiths began to thoroughly modify the bulky bombards, changing their size, weight and appearance.
This is how the first guns and pistols began to appear:
- The “great-grandfather” of modern guns was the Spanish arquebus. From a distance of 40 m it could pierce through a knight's armor, which brought the troops many victories on the battlefield.
- Later, the arquebus was replaced by a musket, which for quite a long time remained the only firearm in all of Europe.
The improvement of weapons did not stop there. Further modifications and experiments resulted in various improvements:
- weight loss;
- improvement of shot technology;
- intricate decoration of the gun.
- the invention of the first sights;
- the emergence of different types of trunks for different conditions.
The weapons were further divided into two main groups:
- smoothbore;
- rifled, which had a greater range and destructive power.
Ultimately, the evolution of firearms led to the emergence of a huge variety of designs so easy to use and ergonomic that even ladies could use them.
Today, in museums around the world you can see rare examples of weapons from past centuries.
Tula Museum of Weapons. Exhibition dedicated to firearms
Some antique guns end up in private collections, fetching prices from luxury apartments and cars at auctions.
Hunting rifle from France (circa 1605–1610), made by mechanic and artist Marin le Bourgeois
What other models of elite shotguns are there?
In addition to the above-mentioned expensive shooting samples, collectors may also be interested in the following products:
- Chapuis Savana double-barreled shotguns. The model was bought by wealthy travelers who went to hunt large wild animals in Africa and Asia. The price of one unit is only 28 thousand dollars.
- William & Son. Elite shotguns have been entering the arms market since 1999. Each year, William Asprey and Paul West, the company's founding craftsmen, produce up to 12 units costing $75,000 each.
- Montecarlo Beretta Imperiale. It is a double-barreled hunting rifle, which is mainly used by Olympic champions. The product costs up to 106 thousand dollars.
