Beretta’s new side-by-side gun is out of this world

Beretta has created the unique 486 Copernicus side-by-side shotgun in celebration of the 550th anniversary of the birth of Nicolaus Copernicus. The gun required 800 hours of work from Beretta’s master engravers, stock-makers and artisans and includes a body that has been embellished with coloured depictions of the sun, moon and stars.

Jonathan Carter, manager of The Gun Shop, said: “This is a gun that has divided opinion. We all know Beretta is capable of making some of the best conventionally beautiful firearms in the world, and it’s nice to see it thinking outside of the box and pushing the limits of how a gun is adorned. I can’t wait to see it in person one day so I can appreciate it fully.”

Diggory Hadoke, editor of Vintage Guns, said: “This is an example of a firearm being used as a canvas for creating an objet d’art. Gunmakers have done this kind of thing in various ways over the years to show off their capabilities. Typically, they have been exhibition or presentation pieces. This kind of project becomes a media talking point and creates wider attention, thereby acting as quite an effective marketing tool for the company.”