Innovation is a word not typically associated with today’s break-open sporting shotguns. In fact, for a sizeable community devoted to vintage upland shotguns, the concept of innovation might just as well have stopped in the 19^thcentury with the creation of rose-and-scroll engraving.

Ava Cauley and her father Kevin often razz each other about which of their Perazzis is better. But all kidding aside, coached by legendary shooting instructor and Perazzi advocate Mike Simpson, the three of them have centered on Perazzi to shape the 16-year-old into a world-class, bunker-trap competitor.

Longthorne Gunmakers of England announced their first side by side, called the Renaissance.

Like other Longthorne sidelock and boxlock shotguns, the side-by-side Renaissance has barrels machined from a single steel billet for improved accuracy, lower recoil and reduced muzzle flip on the second shot. The barrels, proofed for steel shot, are 100% English made at Longthorne’s factory in Northampton. 

It’s official: Longthorne shotguns are now available in the U.S. – bringing to American fine-gun afficionados the most advanced break-opens to appear from England in the past century.

John Herkowitz, owner of Pacific Sporting Arms in Azusa, California with a secondary location in Walled Lake, Michigan, took the first-move advantage in becoming Longthorne’s exclusive American agent after watching the gunmaker evolve over the past few years.