Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company makes and markets a stunning array of shotguns including the A-10, Revelation, Inverness, RBL, Model 21 in an over/under version as well as the traditional side-by-side and a dedicated modular competition gun that it calls the G1. This is only a partial list, but I’ve reported on most of them in these pages. I can’t recall a single example that was less than outstanding.
All were well made and well thought out and performed as expected.
I particularly like the CSMC Model 21, which is basically a clone of the classic Winchester Model 21, and the Model 21 O/U, which is best described as an over/under that “identifies” as a 21. I’m also fond of the A-10 and Inverness over/unders. Being a die-hard traditionalist, perhaps my favorite is the incarnation of the small bore A.H. Fox side-by-side.
The newest creation to appear on my doorstep is the RSP, which is a wonderfully sleek round-action over/under that utilizes the same time-tested, trigger-plate mounted innards of CSMC’s other O/Us combined with full coverage laser engraved sideplates. It exhibits real bone-and-charcoal case hardening and exhibition grade Turkish walnut for aesthetics. That’s a real “mouthful” for one paragraph, and I might as well break character and go ahead and admit that I really like the little thing.
The sample gun is a 20 gauge with 3-inch chambers for versatility. It weighs in at a mere 6 pounds, 6 ounces on my home scales and has 28-inch vent-rib barrels that hinge on the side, giving the gun a nice shallow profile that fits well in the hand. Despite its slight weight, it has a pleasant balance that falls just on the leading edge of the hinge. For a field gun, you just can’t get any better. The rib is slim, matted and flat-topped, making it perfect for field work. The gun has a slender, crisp selective single trigger that’s fire-blued, and selective ejectors that are perfectly timed and really snap the spent hulls out.
As you would expect, all the wood-to-wood and wood-to-metal joints fit perfectly. The checkering that decorates the forend and buttstock is tiny and crisply executed. All in all, the gun’s overall fit and finish are excellent. The RSP comes with a full complement of choke tubes that cover every need and field use showed that they throw nice, even patterns. The barrels are well-regulated, as they should be.
The spectacular Turkish walnut buttstock carries standard measurements with a 14 1/2 inch length of pull and 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 inches of drop at comb and heel, respectively. These measurements fit my very average frame pretty well. My personal “druthers” would require a tad of cast-off at heel and toe, but hitting was easy with the standard dimensions. Those of you who are blessed to not be quite so average can have custom dimensions on request.
The sample gun was equipped with a slender, rounded, field-style forend with an Anson release. Like the rest of the gun, it just feels “right” in the hand. The grip is described by CSMC as a “pistol grip” but that description doesn’t tell the whole story. Unlike a target gun or many field guns of today, the grip is quite open in the manner of a “Prince of Wales” grip on an English gun. Unlike a “Prince of Wales” grip, though, the shallow curve terminates in a flat, rose-and-scroll engraved butt cap. The grip feels very natural and is largely responsible for the gun’s nimbleness and provides a slight gain of control compared to a straight-hand English grip. It’s a nice compromise and the grip cap is a nice aesthetic touch.
When paired with the trim, hand-friendly forend and a slightly forward balance, the guns ergonomics are really nice. I found that the gun smartly snapped to my shoulder on flushing game such as quail but gave up absolutely nothing in the smooth swing that’s needed for fast passing targets such as mourning doves or teal.
In addition to the functionality of the combination, I found another pleasant side effect. The gun’s lines are as graceful as a swan’s neck and somehow, it’s “racy” too! I once had a friend who came into a sudden and sizeable inheritance. As a reward to himself for being so fortunate, he hied himself off to Atlanta and bought a brand-new, gleaming red Ferrari. He basked in the attention for a while, until he realized that it was impossible for anyone to not notice his prize. He claimed that it looked so fast that he feared that he’d get a speeding ticket sitting in his driveway! The RSP is a little like that!
I know that I’m often accused of getting “carried away” with guns that perform well and look good, too, and I gladly confess. I’ll even confess that if a gun is well made and functions reliably as this one does, I don’t get as caught up in the minutiae of its mechanics as many of my colleagues do! After all, it has a lifetime warranty to attest to its reliability.
Unlike some of my more technically minded peers, what I most want to know is “what it does in my hands!” And that’s where the RSP shines! Is it balky and unresponsive or is it eager? Does it carry on your arm like a woman in love? Let me pick some words that convey the feel of this gun! Slender. Comfortable. Quick. Responsive. Steady. Dependable. And it’s gorgeous, to boot!
I guess that I should mention in closing that the RSP is also available on custom order with custom dimensions and in all the common gauges and with barrel lengths up to 30 inches, if you need them. Personally, this one works just fine for me!
This article originally appeared in the 2025 May/June issue of Sporting Classics Magazine.