In other words, Wood wields a side-by-side because it’s as functional as it is lovely, and that’s a perspective finding new traction in the field these days. There’s a genuine revival of interest in side-by-side shotguns, with manufacturers filling in the price-point gap between heavy, soulless, and correspondingly cheap models and the five-digit bespoke guns that have long defined the breed.
Part of the fuel driving the side-by-side love is the general rise in interest in upland bird hunting. It’s hard to put a number on the increase, but everyone from outfitters to gun dealers to kennel owners reports a bump in the number of people newly intrigued with chasing quail and woodcock. In addition to Wood’s list of advantages, these shotguns are trimmer and can weigh less than over-and-unders and other shotgun actions. That makes them keenly suited for pulling through the South’s more iconic landscapes—hellish cutovers, cane thickets, and briar-knotted brambles.
The newer models are also quite handsome. Whereas less expensive side-by-sides—think sub-$600—tended to be ugly and clunky, more recent offerings put greater emphasis on aesthetics and build quality.
The Fabarm Autumn is a perfect example. The Italian gunmaker began producing side-by-side shotguns at its founding around 1900, and while a few Fabarm shotguns found their way stateside, the company never gained much of an American following. That could soon change. In 2011, the venerable gunmaker Caesar Guerini announced its purchase of an equity stake in Fabarm, and last year began importing the first Fabarm side-by-side shotgun made with American shooters in mind.