While we are visiting my bench...

[targa911S]

THIS walked in the door the other day for a dent to be removed. No makers marks at all. Only markings are KRUPP steel on the barrels. Germanys finest barrel maker. All the proof marks say it was made in Germany in the 50's. I have never seen anything like it. There is a horn lever under the barrels that acts as the fore end. Moving the lever to the left allows the barrels to move forward and drop down to load. Closing the lever returns the barrels and cocks the action. The "bow tie" on top of the action is the safety and a sight. If it points down the axis it is in safe, if it is parallel to the action it is in fire. 100% coin relieved, not engraved. The under lever, trigger guard, and butt plate all are made from horn. At first I thought it was a Belgian under lever gun. Called a LaFucette (sp). No not even close. It screams Germany everywhere. Also there is a trap door storage compartment in the toe of the stock. There are 4 spaces. Two for 16 gauge shot shells, and two more FOR RIFLE SHELLS!!! Too bad the other set of barrels are missing! If any of you have any ideas as to who made this I welcome any resources. As close as I can come is that it is a "bespoke" or one off gem.

[targa911S]

Notice how even the hidden screws are timed perfectly. This is a high end gun.

[Racerbvd]

Sweet!!!

[Buckterrier]

Let's make a coach gun!!

[targa911S]

Now where's my hacksaw?

[herr_oberst]

Wow! Great stuff! Plenty of marks on that steel!

Are you saying you didn't clock those screwheads?

[targa911S]

these pics are of the gun as it is from the original maker. I have not touched it other than removal of a small dent in the left barrel. awesome huh?

[Mericet]

I will ask around. I have no idea.

[gwood]

The German Gun Collectors Association has a website and forum.

[Rick Lee]

I see a "Suhl" stamp on there and that's a pretty famous gun factory town in eastern Germany where they also made Makarovs. It's near Erfurt. JP Sauer & Sohn and Merkel were there. My guess is this is one of those.

[Rick Lee]

I'm leaning toward Merkel.

Merkel: Guns

[sc_rufctr]

Nice... I would pay a lot of money for something like that.

The rifle barrels are probably rusting away in a barn in Europe somewhere

[aigel]

Indeed, what Rich says. Suhl narrows it down somewhat. I don't think it is Merkel. I don't think Merkel is old enough.

[Rick Lee]

If it's not Merkel, it has to be JP Sauer & Sohn. That's sort of like a real original SIG.

[aigel]

No expert but did a little searching and found indeed, what Rich says. Suhl narrows it down somewhat. I don't think it is Merkel. I don't think Merkel is old enough. Suhl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So, the 11.15 x 60 is an 11 mm black powder Mauser caliber? I am confused what 50s you speak of. The gun is too old for 1950s and too new for 1850s.

The proof marks show a big eagle, that's the Reichsadler. German 1892 proof rules and tables - The DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com
Just looking at that document, I'd guess this thing was made in the 1890s. The Reichsadler was used in the Weimar Republik and Nazi Germany but looked different (more abstract) later.

I would search for Suhl gunmakers in that era and you should be able to narrow it down quickly. Also consider the possibility that it was modified from a drilling?

Keep us posted. Cool gun!

G

[sc_rufctr]

Anybody willing to put a price on it?

[aigel]

The crown with the S underneath is for "Schrot" - shot - indicating that it is tested for shot.

G

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by targa911S

Notice how even the hidden screws are timed perfectly. This is a high end gun.

Is that an "18" in a circle on the barrel in the 4th picture? If so, it could indicate an 18gauge bore x 2 1/2" shell which should come out somewhere close to the 11mm x 60mm mark. Whoever did the woodwork/inletting was certainly a master at his craft! I have seen this type of action before, but can't remember where or what it is. It will come to me eventually (maybe!).

[targa911S]

I knew if I put you hounds on the trail I would come up with something. This is all good stuff. I offered him $1000.00 for it and he turned me down. Family gun.

[targa911S]

I'm thinking it's an I. Meffert. The action and engraving are very much alike as well as well as the use of horn. I. Meffert also made the underlever style action.
It could also be a E. Schmidt & Habermann. They were in Suhl. This is not your commoners gun, certainly no JP Sauer & Sohn or Merkel.