A recent visit to the company allowed us to reconfirm our knowledge and expand new knowledge on the historic Breda brand, brilliantly raised to new heights by the passion and skills of Eng. Michele Marocchi. The solid company from Sarezzo, with its wide-ranging gunmaking experience, builds a well-differentiated series of shotguns where semi-automatic and over-and-under shotguns stand out for their technical and historical heritage. In this latter specific sector, the Zenith stands out, a model with seals and closures of an adequate setting for a very long operational life on the platforms: but the technical purpose in Breda must always be accompanied by aesthetic aspects that make the weapon something personalized. , particularly, pleasant and this superimposed, as we can observe, fully meets these requirements.
Starting from the receiver, you can see the deep U-section and low sides, ideal for giving aesthetic momentum and high strength thanks to the considerable thicknesses involved, extremely reassuring and not massive, which form the two parts of the table. In the face the holes of the strikers stand out, in the upper right of the observer the elastic pawl protrudes for the repositioning in the center of the key and then, in parallel and just below the middle of the upper barrel, the closing cones moved by the key. The two round struts for arming the batteries are inserted into the thickness of the sides, while the half-pins and, in sequence, the hinge protrude in their front part; in the bottom a hollow is milled which has, as a consequence, a raised base about the middle of the back. At this point of the description we are ready to examine the complementary part: the breech monobloc.
In the blank obtained by forging, the seats of the two barrels are milled and the details are made, in complementarity with those of the receiver described above, the seals and locks of the weapon. From above the half-planes can be seen, protruding from the profile of the upper barrel and ready to rest on the center lines of the table; below the monobloc continues with the flattening of the sides which find in the walls of the receiver the flush contrast for a perfect junction in antagonism with the transverse yaws. Meanwhile, in the lateral thickness, the guides for the stems of the automatic ejectors, the actuation levers and the glasses for hooking to the bottom of the cartridges are highlighted. Below you can see the earlobes, complementary to the half-pins, and a semicircular plinth, made from hardened steel and brought back under the breech of the lower barrel: this prominence contrasts with the internal relief of the back and can be replaced when play should occur . In this way, the tilting and the inhibition of the forward thrust of the barrel group are obtained, relieving the pivot points: the closure is entrusted to the insertion of the two conical pins in the holes made in the thickness between the breech of the upper barrel and the half-plane. The key moves this element which acts as a split piece.
We have the images of two models differentiated by the silver or black finish of the receiver: for both the working of the surfaces with deep radii enlivened by changes in angle thanks to which the highlights are truly unique. The rounded action breasts are highlighted by the deep calyxes, the slight reinforcement thickening on the sides draws a harmonious round arch that elides in the back where the bridge, that sheet from which the trigger protrudes, shows a junction with the same not flush, as usual, but graceful by a rounded bevel that highlights its thickness. Equally enjoyable is the oval of the guard obtained from a small plate with a lenticular section, not trivially flat, and designed with the right rear open angle to avoid dents on the middle finger. The inclined scratches obtained on the upper parts of the monobloc to give a sense of greater lightness to the whole are appreciable.
The barrels chambered in 12/70 are proposed with a length of 76 or 81 cm (30 "or 32") and are banked for the use of steel shot; all have long slope drilling with 100 mm choke cones, all aimed at accelerating the shot column properly, while minimizing the recoil sensation for less fatigue of the shooter and better intervention for the second shot. The continuation of the joint after the insertion into the monobloc sees an intermediate rib equipped with large ventilation slots, similar to those subtended by the upper rib welded directly to the barrel through the jumpers, without the sub-rib: a slightly more expensive method, but much more elegant. The expected width is 7 or 10 mm. Finally, five chokes of the type are supplied Maxi 90 Extended with the appropriate key and containers.
Let's finish the mechanical aspects with a look at the batteries and coil springs mounted on guide rods: various details are gilded for greater resistance to oxidation as in the crosshead where the levers for controlling the ejectors are placed. Also of the crosshead, the quality of the coupling of the rod to the tooth of the rod group by means of a roller gives a pleasant rolling friction rather than the sliding one. Lastly, a decisive element for the success of the shots: the trigger group provides a single trigger that can be adjusted to seven positions.
The choice and use of woods is a pride of Breda: the identification of the walnut is already carried out with an identity to the mechanics to be dressed and the same surface finish can appear in at least two styles with different aesthetic effects. The aging in leg ensures the best yield in processing and then in use. We leave the images to explain the technical and visual beauty of the two Zenith specimens proposed: it should be noted that a Grade 4 walnut is reserved for this series, then the perfect embedding of the mechanics with wood to grow by a minimum thickness, always constant, must be observed. at all points. The lines are those suitable for shooting with their own specific value. The shotgun is delivered in a special black ABS case with lined internal compartments.
Any comment seems superfluous to us and only a field test could say something more about this very technical model and equally well cared for in terms of aesthetics and finish. As it is in the style of the Breda brand.
Breda until 1997 exceptional rifles. Then nisba.