I purchased this at an estate sale on Saturday. It’s a single-shot .22 long rifle, with octagon barrel ( a barrel length of 22/˝ inches), wood stock and a smooth, plain steel butt plate.
The trigger guard is sort of unusual and rather decorative for such a simple firearm.
It has a simple brass-blade front sight with rear “V” - very standard for these old guns. The large hammer tang is offset to the right to clear the sights.
I would term this action as a “semi-falling block” type. The sear is two-position. At its first notch, the hammer is cocked, a round knob on the right hand side of the receiver is pushed upwards with the thumb, which allows the round to be inserted, then the block is lowered and the hammer fully cocked (second sear notch). Once fired, the hammer is again cocked and the same movement (by pressing the knob even farther upwards) causes the lower half of the receiver to retract the spent case. There is no ejector, so I assume you either rotate the gun 90 degrees and let gravity do its work on the spent case - or reach in and remove it manually?
* It is missing its trigger spring so I will have to fabricate one before I can actually test fire it.
What has me puzzled is - it has no manufacturers mark, anywhere? It has proof marks and all the parts (the wood stock, barrel, receiver, trigger, hammer, etc.) are all stamped with what I assume is the lowest serial numbered spoon I ever have owned … #14.
The proof markings are shown here:
“R” - with a crown above.
“Y” -with a star above.
A bomb(?) with the letters “ELG” ( which I think may be a German proof mark? )
The underside of the octagon barrel is stamped - ”Belgium 886” and also has the letters “BK” or perhaps “BR“.
I have never encountered a spoon with no maker/manufacturers name.
Your comments/thoughts appreciated.