Even Manufacturers Can't be Trusted (or, Why the Zoli Pernice Isn't a Boss)

 As the title says, even manufacturers are now just pulling stuff out of their ass in order to sell product.  Is it just marketing (the business term for lying), or do they actually not know their ass from a hole in the ground?

Case in point: The Zoli Pernice over/under shotgun, which Zoli literally touts on their website as a "true Boss action".  The problem is that other than being a shotgun, it's got nothing in common with a Boss. 

Let's take a look at the lockup of a Boss, specifically, the split (or bifurcated) lumps that mate with their counterparts in the frame, and are the design's defining characteristic.  

 

This photo shows a Perazzi barrel, which employs a true Boss lockup.

Now, let's take a look at the Pernice barrels, shall we?

Do you see any Boss-style lumps?  I don't.  

Let's list the possibilities for this "faux pas".

1 - Zoli doesn't know what the hell a Boss actually looks like, or how it works.  (not likely)

2 - Zoli's marketing department doesn't know what the hell a Boss actually looks like, or how it works.  (possibly)

3 - Zoli's marketing department doesn't know what a Boss looks like, or how it works and, they think you don't either.  (more likely)

4 - Zoli and their marketing department both do know what a Boss looks like, and how it works, but they think you're stupid.  (most probable)

If that wasn't enough to peg the bullshit-o-meter, it also has "self-lubricating" mainsprings.  Imagine what you can do with the time normally spent lubing your mainsprings.  The mind boggles with the possibilities.

I normally don't concern myself with production guns in this price range but, for many people the cost of this gun would be a major expenditure of funds, and to mislead the buyer with a flat out lie in advertising is simply wrong.

 

Truly, honesty is as rare as competence in this business.  It is, however, a bit unfair to lay the entire blame on the manufacturer in this case (and many others) because, if the average consumer actually knew what they were looking at, dishonest dealers, manufacturers who make ridiculous claims, and incompetent gunsmiths would not be able to proliferate.