Cosmi semi-auto shotguns have always been some of the most fascinating firearms in the shotgun world. With long recoil action, tubular magazine located in the stock, and action capable of pivot opening like a break-action shotgun, the design of Cosmi guns is unusual, to say the least. From the establishment of the company, Cosmi only made shotguns, however, they’ve recently entered the rifle market by introducing the new Rigato rifle that utilizes the same design as their shotguns.

The location of the tubular magazine in Cosmi guns.

The Rigato rifle is chambered in .444 Marlin or .45-70 Government and has a 5-round magazine capacity. These are typical lever action rifle cartridges because as in the case of lever guns, Rigato also uses a tubular magazine and can’t be chambered in calibers that normally use spitzer bullets. The location of the magazine inside the stock is said to keep these guns better balanced shot after shot compared to the firearms with under-barrel tubular magazines.

The reason Cosmi shotguns have a break open action is that for many hunters, having the action open is an ultimate guarantee of safety, especially during group hunting trips. This is something that is highly valued by break action shotgun aficionados and is often considered an advantage over other actions. This feature migrated to the Rigato rifle too.

Besides having a unique design, Cosmi guns are also state-of-the-art firearms in terms of quality and used materials. Each of the Cosmi Rigato rifles is completely handmade and requires 400 hours of high skilled labor to fit and assemble the 100 machined parts. The barrels used in these rifles are made by Krieger and the furniture is made of premium quality walnut wood.

Wrapping up this article, I suggest you read the following short story that tells about how the company was founded.

“Have a dream, then open your eyes and try to make it true”.

These words of our founder, Rodolfo Cosmi, embody his philosophy and work ethic. True to his word, Rodolfo Cosmi, designed and built a unique semi-automatic shotgun that ultimately became the flagship of the Cosmi line and paved the foundation of a successful company. The history of Cosmi starts with Rodolfo: his story is one of talent, passion and hard work, following the best tradition of Italian craftsmanship.

At the end of the 19th century, Rodolfo Cosmi worked as a craftsman in a small village in Montefeltro, in central Italy. His meticulous and innovative approach eventually led him to develop an interest in firearms. Being of limited means, Rodolfo could not afford to buy a shotgun so he decided to build a “decent shotgun” for himself. In 1895, using some worn-out parts from an old shotgun and the shaft of an umbrella, he built his first gun. His ingenuity and mechanical genius were apparent and soon Rodolfo received orders to build more guns. He eventually received a patent for his unique designs. By this time, the Cosmi shotgun had become famous and Rodolfo even counted the King of Italy among his clientele. From its humble beginnings, Cosmi has become a prestigious international firm. The excellence that is Cosmi has earned prestige and fame in worldwide shooting circles. A Cosmi is a must-have and can be found in the personal collections of heads of state, intellectuals and famous sportsmen all over the world.

Photos from www.cosmi.net