Hi, can members please help with a question of value? I want a 20g Sporter CG either Summit or Magnus. Since they are mechanically identical what are the cosmetic differences and are they worth the money? It is not a gun I will be selling in the foreseeable future.

Thank you for photos Randy, is the wood better quality, I can see you are paying for better engraving? Which do. You think is better value?

Your username suggests you're in the UK. If so bear in mind the UK spec Magnus doesn't have the tacky gold inlay and the Summit doesn't have the fancy woodwork.

I think the Magnus is one of the best-looking shotguns made. CG really knows how to finish a gun.

It is primarily an engraving and wood upgrade difference. Everything else is the same. For what it's worth, I shoot with more people that own a Magnus than a Summit. Also, it seems the case hardened finish seems to wear off quite easily - something to keep in mind

Is this the finish on the receiver or barrels? How can you prevent this happening?

There is no case color finish on either model being discussed here.

I have a Magnus Limited with the case hardened finish and it still looks like new so...??

Well, you are lucky. A friend that has two, both have finish wear on the receiver. Another friend has his receiver finish wearing off as well. If you look through the "for sale" ads on other forums, most show finish wear on the receiver. Not sure if it is prevalent to older models or something else. It is just something I have personally noticed.

I don't like false side plates...
Big fan of quarter sawed wood

Coloured finishes wearing thin through handling are not confined to CGs. For example a friend has a Silver Pigeon 5 losing it's colour even though it's only ever been used for clays - and then not a large round count. Even genuine colour case hardening wears away, as can the black finish on high end guns such as Perazzis after lots of handling and shooting.

CG does coat the silver receivers with something they call 'Invisalloy'. I have heard that very aggressive solvents can damage the coating and I've seen couple of older CGs where the silver receivers have gone to a dull grey finish but it's very unusual.

Agree on the side plates. Love qtr sawed for furniture but maybe not so much for gun stocks.

Surely they do. Shot with a guy last year that had a Perazzi with barrels that were nearly silver.

After all said and done, I’m happy I spent the extra money every time I shoot it.
Though there’s no right or wrong answer.

Reach out to August Crocker in Texas. He gets some exceptional wood on his CG’s. The magnus is an attractive gun in my opinion but if you can get nice wood on a summit without paying a premium to get it that’s what I would be inclined to do. I think all the CG guns are pretty easy to look at

The guys at Guerini told me they use G-96 gun treatment in the shop and that’s what I should use on my Summit LTD (color case). Once a month l’ll also put on a light coat of Renaissance Wax, and the gun looks the same as the day I received it.

Invictus, not overly fond of gold on a gun.

I like the looks of the Magnus better, but would not pay the difference over the Summit.

All my guns are field guns. One Tempio light, one Woodlander, and 6 Magnus.
I like the sideplates and the way CG dovetail them to the receiver and stock. Just my personal preference.
The Magnus will come with better wood but the wood on my Woodlander wood put many other makes to shame. I have not had any problems with finish wearing on either my "case coloured" guns or invisalloy coated alloy receiver guns. I think the previous posters recommendation of waxing the receivers with Renaissance wax is an excellent idea on any gun that is important to you.
I shoot my CG's better than any other gun. I think that is partly because I admire the gun every time I remove it from it's slip. It fills me full of confidence and I think that is half the battle, whether target or field shooting.
If you like the Magnus over the Summit and can afford it, go for it. You will spend far more on shells than the price difference in the two guns.