Manufactured in Belgium, this shotgun was subsequently embellished by Roy Vail. Roy Vail was a renowned shotgun and rifle maker from Warwick, N.Y., active from the 1950s to the 1970s. He was a top quality gun maker who made about 150 shotguns and 200 rifles. He often used European actions (such is the case with this shotgun) on the shotguns and then he would add the wood, engraving, inlays and checkering. Fitted with a single white bead sight on the smooth solid rib. The chambers measure 2 3/4 inches and the chokes are improved cylinder/improved modified. The barrel flats and bottoms are marked with standard Belgian proofs. The shotgun features extensive engraving starting with 1 inch wedges of tight scroll ahead of the breech. The receiver is elaborately engraved with highly detailed semi-relief game scenes of ducks taking off from a pond on the right and a dog and bird on the left. The underside of the receiver features tight intricate scroll and is marked "ROY VAIL WARWICK, NY". The action is fitted with dual gold washed triggers and a tang mounted safety/selector switch. Mounted on a fluer de lis checkered beavertail forearm and straight grip stock with checkered tear drop flats, inset gold initial plaque marked "RFS" and a serrated horn buttplate. Barrel and stock measurements are: bore diameter at 9 inches from breech .621/.620 inches; wall thickness at 9 inches from breech .049/.05; drop at comb 1 1/4 inch; drop at heel 2 1/8 inches; 0 cast; 14 3/8 inch length of pull.

Very fine as embellished and stocked by a master craftsman. Displaying 99% of the deep blue finish on the barrels and 45% of the muted case colors on the receiver. The metal shows mostly light handling marks, with some aging of the gold was on the triggers and a small amount of light spotting at the end of the upper tang. The wood is also very fine with a few small indentations, sharp checkering, and light handling marks. Mechanically very good, though there is some very slight side to side play between the barrels and the frame.