Though I primarily write about rifles and handguns, I am an avid shotgunner. In fact, I live for the few days I get to spend each year behind good dogs with a trim, fast-handling gun with knock-your-socks-off wood. One such shotgun I have been working with is the Magnus combo by Caesar Guerini.

At my local gunshop, the extraordinary Magnus initially caught my eye because of its obvious quality yet surprisingly low MSRP of $5,160 for a combo set. My curiosity piqued, I contacted Caesar Guerini USA, and requested a loaner gun in both 20 and 28 gauge for review.

The receiver is machined from a solid-steel forging and shaped in the classic "Boss" pattern. It is a solid boxlock design that is common among Brescia makers but differs in that its hardened steel trunnions are easily replaceable in the event the owner is lucky enough to shoot it that much.

The most obvious difference between the Magnus and other Brescia makers' boxlocks is the addition of sideplates. The screwless, pinless sideplates are perfectly fitted. They allow more room for engraving and the rich, color-casehardening that attracted me to the Magnus. The laser-engraved sideplates have delicate scrollwork borders and game scenes with a gold-inlaid grouse scene on the left side, a quail on the right, and a pheasant on the underside. The engraving is nicely executed and eye-catching yet conservative.

Some of the more interesting mechanical features include a conical locking lug, so the gun wears in as you shoot it; an action-tension adjustment, so the gun always feels tight; rebounding hammers for easier action opening and longer firing-pin life; oversized ejectors; a manual, selective safety; and a single, gold-plated trigger that consistently breaks at a crisp, clean 3 pounds, 15 ounces.

My test gun also has very nice wood. The buttstock is rich, dark, Turkish walnut with a fair degree of figure. The cut-checkering is very well done, and the wood-to-metal fitting is perfect. The stock has a Prince of Wales-style grip and a wooden buttplate.

Each set of barrels has its own fitted fore-end, and both matched the buttstock nicely. The fore-end is released via an Anson pushrod latch on the fore-end tip. I prefer that style because it is clean-looking and self-adjusting, and it allows the checkering to wrap around the fore-end.

I also took some time to mount the gun to test its ergonomics and handling qualities. Though these are subjective tests, hitting with a shotgun is all about "feel." Your mileage may vary, but with either set of barrels installed, the Magnus was quick to the shoulder and swung well despite its light weight. Of course, I only shoot field guns, so the weight difference between the Magnus and my other guns was negligible--a sporting clays competitor may have trouble keeping the little field gun swinging.

I particularly liked the feel of the Prince of Wales grip. Though I'd never tried one before, I also liked the wooden buttplate, which seemed to slide effortlessly into place even when I came up with a less-than-perfect mount.