Orvis has long had dynamic relationships with more than a dozen of the world’s most capable gunmakers, resulting in proprietary models sold under the Orvis name. The encyclopedic list includes Arrieta, AyA, Beretta and Chapuis as well as Fabarm and its parent company, Caesar Guerini. Orvis-branded guns are well known for their aesthetic upgrades and dimensions designed for demanding and dedicated wingshooters.
Recently the Manchester, Vermont-based company introduced the Orvis Heritage, a 20-gauge side-by-side produced by Fabarm and based on the Italian gunmaker’s Classis model. The limited run of rounded-action guns is available with a range of options, including 28- or 30-inch barrels, double triggers ($399 extra), a custom length of pull (price on request) and cast-on for left-handed shooters ($160). The gun features the same monolithic action, four-lug locking system, chrome-lined Fabarm Tri-Bore barrels (with 3" chambers and five screw-in chokes), swamp-style rib and ejectors as the Fabarm Autumn (see The Gun Rack, Jan/Feb ’21). Two important differences between the sibling guns are that, unlike the case-colored Autumn, the Orvis Heritage has a blued receiver and features an automatic safety.
“We are enormously proud of our longstanding and ever-growing relationship with Caesar Guerini and Fabarm,” said Greg Carpiniello, Orvis Gun Department Manager. “We are absolutely convinced that they offer the industry’s highest combination of quality, performance, reliability and aesthetics. The Heritage will carry Orvis’s history forward as a gun that parents will hand down to children and grandchildren.”
The English straight-stock gun with oil-rubbed Turkish walnut weighs 6½ pounds and is available starting at $4,199, including an Integrale case with cloth socks and a choke case.
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I bought one of the FABARM Autumn 20 gauge straight grip, 28 inch barrel models and was dismayed to find it weighed 6 1/2 lbs. It is the identical gun except for Orvis name as this one advertised here.
I was not able to handle any and I was assured by FABARM that it should weigh right at 6 lbs in that configuration.
In addition, it had a very noticeable flared section at the muzzles to accommodate the choke tubes. I thought all makers had graduated from the flared muzzles some time ago! It was particularly noticeable and obtrusive on a side by side!
I just wanted these observations to be published as no where else among all the reviewers had I seen any comments about the weight or flared muzzles. I am happy to see that Orvis is as a minimum listing a realistic weight for this gun.
I sold the gun in unfired condition and reinforced what I should know by now know that no gun should be bought without handling first. Unfortunately, that was not possible with the Autumn
The weight of trigger pull for either a single or double wasn’t listed. Where can I find that information? Also, is there any other upgrades available (hand-engraving, wood, butt plate, etc.)?
For an in-depth review of the Orvis Heritage, you’ll want to check out Bruce Buck’s Gun Review column in our September/October 2022 issue. FYI, Bruce measured the trigger pulls at 4-3/4 pounds for both barrels. For more information, you can visit Orvis’s website: https://www.orvis.com/orvis-shotguns.