The issue with most of the Italian gun industry (and the Spanish, German and English), is that their are a few companies who supply a lot of the other with anything from raw materials through finished products for incorporation into the final product. No one will tell you who is doing what, but a few friends of mine who have had access can vouch for that. Add in modern CAD/CAM and CNC work for the most part, and the old hand-built is slowly going away. While the top tier still use hand finishing and chasing, and the top masters for engraving, lower tier guns are coming along nicely with laser engraving and machining regulated by computer.
Even Fabbri - considered by many as the best of the best in Italy uses modern computer equipment - and was the first to do so years ago
In response to:
And between, BRizzini, Marocchi, Fabarm , FAIR ??. How is the Marocchi Zero 3 ?? and the best Rizzini for clay targets ??
personally, I would go for the B Rizzini first as far as O/U guns go, although the new Fabarm semi is garnering a lot of attention
Remember one thing as well, at the top of the list are some fantastic guns, but they are made by small shops, so service may become an issue. Example: The Bertuzzi brothers have retired, so you need to find someone who can work on their guns and MAKE a part if necessary - not always an easy thing to find
For the bulk of us who love the eye candy, but in reality are left financially wanting, your basic Browning, Beretta grade level gun from a good maker will serve us well and be readily fixable. That is not saying that a used Perazzi can't be found. Two friends of mine have recently purchased older used guns for the price of a new Browning/Beretta 68x series gun, while another found a K-80 that was 8 years old and never fired and got it for less than a DT-10 Beretta (and
drsmfd - it has the $4300 charcoal case coloring option - only one I have ever seen) - drop- dead gorgeous
Point being of the rambling - keep your eyes open, especially at local clubs - even put up a "Want to Buy" sign so someone retiring or upgrading might see it, and you might be able to find a top-tier used gun for the amount of a lower tier new gun.
I would take a Perazzi that was several years old inn decent shape over a new B. Rizzini just due to balance and handling