Benelli is building exactly 250 of its new Super Black Eagle 3 250th Anniversary Edition, one shotgun for each year since 1776, and once they’re gone the run closes for good.
Production splits evenly between the two chamberings that dominate the waterfowl world, with 125 guns in 12-gauge 3-inch and 125 in 20-gauge 3-inch. Additionally, every shotgun carries its own custom sequential serial number.
Underneath the commemorative dress sits the same inertia-driven Super Black Eagle 3 that has earned its keep in flooded timber and frozen fields for years. Benelli didn’t reinvent anything mechanical for this edition, and that’s the right call. Collectors want a milestone gun that still runs like the platform they trust, not a shelf dweller with an asterisk.
The dress itself is where the anniversary work went. Hand-selected AA-grade walnut gives the stock and fore-end an heirloom-quality figure, while the receiver carries deep engraving accented with gold inlay. Artwork weaves together the American flag, words from the Declaration of Independence and a gold 250th Anniversary emblem created just for this edition. Centering the design is a custom interpretation of the U.S. seal, its eagle clutching olive branches on one side and arrows on the other, the familiar shorthand for peace through strength that has ridden on American iconography since the era of the Founding Fathers.
Benelli frames the gun as an expression of gratitude toward the country whose sporting traditions built its American customer base, and the semiquincentennial timing gives that sentiment a once-in-a-generation hook. Among Super Black Eagle editions, this one ranks with the most exclusive the company has produced.
The Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 250th Anniversary Edition will reach select authorized dealers in extremely limited quantities. For more on the company’s shotguns and full lineup, go to benelliusa.com.
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