Connecticut Shotgun Announces New A-10 American

Antony Galazan and his Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Co. (CSMC) are poised to shift the balance of the double-gun world—again.

On September 1 CSMC went public with the new A-10 American, an American-made sidelock over/under available in 12, 20 and 28 gauge on a 12-gauge frame or in 20 and 28 gauge on a smaller 20-gauge action. The Standard Grade starts at a base price of $7,995, with limited-offer discounts bringing the price to $3,995. (The scaled 20-gauge gun is $500 more.) Even with minimal bouquet & scroll engraving, that is an impressive price for a detachable-sidelock gun. The Deluxe Grade, available for an additional $1,000, includes more extensive bulino-style game-scene engraving, light engraving inside the locks, and a gold escutcheon inlaid in the forend.

Discounts offered at the time of the announcement included $2,000 for a “very small group” of initial orders, $1,000 for existing CSMC customers, and $1,000 for full payment in advance. Production was to begin immediately, and CSMC Product Manager Mike Burnett said delivery of finished A-10 Americans was expected to begin in April 2010.

The A-10 American was designed and will be built entirely at CSMC’s shop in New Britain, Connecticut. “The overall design premise is that of a traditional strong Italian sidelock,” Burnett said. Additionally, according to Burnett, the A-10 has barrel-locking features similar to those on Beretta 687 series guns and to the “Rizzini locking system” favored by most other production-line makers in Italy’s Val Trompia.

In another design improvement, Burnett said the A-10 will balance well because the barrels are fitted with “a monoblock that is more shaped to the barrels than to the receiver, which takes out some of the weight and gives a better feel to the gun.”

This is a full sidelock over/under, not a boxlock with sideplates. The locks are detachable by pressing open a pair of hidden tabs on the right lock. According to CSMC’s Website, a full sidelock “allows for faster trigger pulls, easier cleaning and maintenance, as well as more safety due to intercepting sears.”

The larger frames can be fitted with 12-, 20- and 28-gauge barrels, which can be ordered separately. All three gauges will be chambered in 2-3/4”. Barrel lengths are 26”, 28”, 30” and 32”, and each set comes with five Trulock chokes (Skeet, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified and Full). All have ventilated top and solid center ribs and are overbored, chrome-lined and hard-shot compatible.

Other standard features include selective automatic ejectors, a single selective trigger that is adjustable to three set-point positions, a coin-finish receiver, and a Bradley-type bead front sight. The gun will come in an impact-resistant plastic case.

All guns will include a system for altering balance and overall weight for shooter preference. The system has a weight hanger between the barrels under the forend and another weight adjustment in the stock.

Standard stocks will be American black walnut with a hand-rubbed oil finish and a black Galazan recoil pad. They will be available with either a pistol grip or a straight grip and a choice of either a slender, tapered Hunting forend or a larger, fluted Target forend. CSMC rates the standard wood as 2X, with upgrades including 3X ($350), 4X ($600) and Exhibition ($900). Checkering is in a 24-lpi multi-point pattern.

Burnett described a production process that is essentially built to order from a menu of standard options including Standard or Deluxe grade, gauge, barrel length, grip style, and flush or extended chokes. Extra barrel sets are $2,200, and matched pairs will cost $200 more than the two guns would individually.

“Anything else you can possibly think of can be done through the custom shop,” Burnett said. This includes, of course, any choice of engraving as well as wood at any quality and cost. Fixed-cost custom options include double triggers, color-case hardening, custom stock dimensions, a high-gloss oil finish, and Winchester- or English-style leather-covered recoil pads.

For more information on the A-10 American, contact CSMC, 860-225-6581; www.A10American.com.