Stan, I'm not sure I see you're point. You seem to be saying Beretta are the best firm. But you have also bought British gunmaking into your thinking, alongside Remington and how long the firms have been going. Oh and by the way, it's Anglophile, nothing to do with telephones!
I'll take it that what you're getting at is that you feel Beretta are the greatest. I believe this is an extremely subjective area and that we'd all end up arguing for those firms that we especially like, follow or support. It's much the same as some folk think Bentley is better than Rolls, or Lotus is better than Porsche, or Ford better than GM. Get a pub full of enthusiasts and they'll back whichever firm they feel most interested in, most loyal to or which they've followed for longest. Much the same for followers of football teams - or cricket teams, since you bought the Brits into it!
Either way, it'll make for lively discussion.
Tim
My point is that the Italians do not receive proper credit for their amazing domination of the market for fine double guns. Not only the continuous operation of one gunmaker, Beretta, but the innovations that have come from the little region of Brescia are astounding when taken into consideration. English names such as Boss, Woodward, Westley Richards, and Purdey cast a large shadow, but there is possibly a greater presence of gun making excellence. The monicker "London Gun" has carried an aura of near awe, and has been held up as a banner for two centuries. But, the awe might well be better placed now with the term "Brescia Gun".
Consider not only the high end guns of the goliath Beretta, but the likes of Rizzini, Piotti, Guerini, Zanardini, Poli, Perugini & Visini, Famars Abbiatico and Salvanelli, and to ramp it up a notch or two ...... Perazzi, Bosis and Fabbri. And there are many, many more small shops in operation there today turning out the finest double guns with some of the finest engraving the world has ever known
I'm not casting aspersions on the great English makers, but by all means give all credit
due to the finest competition, and hunting doubles in the world that come from the the Val Trompia, and surrounding area.
SRH