Few shotguns strike a chord with shooters quite like a Beretta over-under. For the extremely well-healed, the Beretta SL3 Premium shotgun serves as a top-tier example of the form, in every detail. But the one-of-one custom guns from Beretta comprise something different entirely. The recent unveiling of the Beretta SL3 Tutankhamun raises the bar to truly new heights, with a shotgun built for a king.
Beretta SL3 Tutankhamun Shotgun
Beretta designers took inspiration from the the 1922 discovery of King Tut’s tomb. The discovery marked a pivotal point in history, sparking new interest in Ancient Egypt. And Tut’s undisturbed tomb provided more than 5,000 artifacts, re-writing the history books forever. Now this effort from Beretta captures that moment, and that history, while staking its claim as a seminal point in custom shotgun making.
Beretta showed off the gun at the recent Safari Club International Convention in Nashville. Master Engraver Luca Casari reportedly spent 1,000 hours of engraving on this masterpiece. Ultimately, EuroOptic owner Alex Roy purchased the shotgun.
“I am so glad to be able to support Beretta and this amazing art,” Roy told Safari Club. “I do not have a long-term plan for it, but I will put it on display at our company headquarters so I can share the beauty with others and they can see this work of art.”
Engraving Fit for a Pharaoh
The right side plate of the shotgun features three prominent gold-inlaid subjects. Together they represent Ancient Egypt’s 18th Dynasty. The far left features Pharaoh Tutankhamun, ruler of Egypt from around 1332 to 1323 BC, and the last of his royal family rule. To his right is Queen Ankesenanum, the pharaoh’s wife, and to her right we find Queen Neferneferuaten Nefertiti, who ruled prior to King Tut.
The left side of the shotgun manages to provide even more amazing artwork. The two main deities of Ancient Egypt figure loom on the left side plate. There we see Horus (the falcon head and wings) and Anubis (a canine head).
The top and bottom of the shotgun provide yet more interesting inlays of Ancient Egypt and Tut’s tomb. They include the winged beetle, Tut’s death mask, the crook and flail and dates corresponding to the historic discovery.
Finally, the shotgun comes in an incredible naturally tanned cowhide case. It opens just like a sarcophagus, allowing the lid to completely remove from this one-of-a-kind bespoke gun case. The Pietro Beretta Selection craftsmen created a stunning tribute to Tut’s inner coffin, with striking detail.
Availability of the King Tut shotgun, much like all the pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings, has met its sunset. But if you really want to feel, ahem, poor, head on over to the Beretta Gallery. It’s where your shotgun dreams are waiting.
