I was just recently gifted a 20 gauge gun that seems like it was made to order as an Iowa pheasant gun.
Circa 1965-1968 or so, a company called Richland Arms was importing Italian and Spanish guns that were built to the notions of one Francis Sell. Included in the companies 1968 catalog was a review of their model 707 in 20 gauge, penned by Mr. Sell. If you are not part of the baby boom generation, the name Francis Sell might not mean much to you, but, he was a proponent of the 3" 20 gauge gun, when equipped with lengthened forcing cones, a bit of a backbore, long tubes, and tight chokes, for everything, up to and including geese. As you might imagine, steel shot legislation sorta' threw a big, wet, blanket on those ideas for most hunters, but, the guns imported by Richland are still out there.
The Spanish guns, model 200's, were the lower priced alternative in the catalog, and the gem was the Italian model 707 built by Prendelli & Gasperini. The example I have has a snug beavertail, a nice, open pistol grip stock, no ejectors, and double triggers. The chokes are modified and improved modified, the barrels are 28". The 707 was also produced in 12 gauge, as a lightweight 2 3/4" model, and the 20, which was always a 3".
The single bad thing I can honestly say about it is the white line spacers that someone decided they should be fitted with. I will remove those eventually. The 707 in 20 gauge exhibits typical Italian quality of the era, at least on par with or maybe even a bit better than the run-of-the-mill Beretta of the same era. Fit and finish are nice, and every screw is timed perfectly. The barrels are struck perfectly, in and out, far better than on my Uggy, a decent gun in it's own right.
The 707s seldom turn up, which, is a shame, as the guns were a great value back in the day-a two barrel set was cataloged at under $300 in the 1968 catalog.
I owned a Darne 20 with a straight stock, longish 29" tubes and tight chokes, that was a splendid pheasant gun. I have never been able to satisfactorily replace it, and, I have looked hard, but, this gun, left in my custody by an elderly friend, might just do that. I have only had the chance to shoot it once at my local club, a quick round of trap, and I was impressed with the guns performance after I found my groove. It is not exceptionally light, 6lbs 8ozs or so, but, it handles really well.
For an idea of Mr. Sell's thinking on the 20 gauge 3" magnum, see "The 20 Comes of Age", 1977 Gun Digest. For the record, I myself have no intention of firing a 3" load of number 4s out of any 20 gauge, including this one.
Good luck in your quest.
Best,
Ted
