Sharp List: Beretta 486 Parallelo Hunting Shotgun
Marc Newson, the design wizard who joined Apple last fall, worked with the Italian gun brand Beretta over the winter to launch a new version of the 486 Parallelo hunting shotgun. While it might seem like an odd side project, the result is a sublime, 21st-century reworking of the historic, a perfect blending of future and past. By extending the high-grade walnut up and over the receiver, Newson’s created a wooden bridge connecting to the safety catch.
This leaves the impression of a seamless flow between the contrasting materials. The top level, meanwhile, comes with an intricate homage to Asia’s most famous sporting export, the pheasant, etched into the metal. All parts have been refashioned into more streamlined, ergonomic shapes, including a relocated trigger guard and slimmer forend. Of particular note: hand-polished barrels completely devoid of any weld lines. Quite extraordinarily, Newson’s managed to fuse his Apple-inspired cuttingedge philosophy with the DNA of the centuries-old manufacturer. The result sets the standards for luxury firearms.
