doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Need Help Identifying a manufacturer

I found a nice, probable Belgian 16 gauge, European chambers, decent checkering, nice wood, decent "engraving" for a song the other day but it doesn't have proof or manufacturer mark ONE on any of it. 16 gauge underlever. Probable Liege anonymous? Barrels ring true, without polishing the patina away, I can't really discern if they are damascus or not, has a cheekpiece stock that seems original and all the wood looks good. Anybody with any ideas, I'd appreciate any help in figuring out what this sweet sixteen is.

I took it all to pieces last night and can't find any marking or even pencil marks on anything. Seems Belgian, but by who?

Pictures of item in question.

Any pics of the flats and the area between the flats and the forend hanger? This area will point to a maker, if any.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Could well be lower grade Austrian or German circa 1890, from the times before proof became mandatory in those countries. I've seen a very similar gun with Ferlach proofs circa 1900.
With kind regards,
Jani

I made some additional visual comparison and I'm now 99% certain that this is a Ferlach gun. Hammers nailed it.

Cheers,
Jani

Thanks.

I took some more pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/dimsphotos/sets/72157625207202474/show/. Numbers but not recognizable proof marks to me but I'm not well versed in these sorts of doubles.

Anyway, thanks again!

****.97 would be 1897 manufacture?

Hat's off to you Jani for pulling a rabbit out of the hat. Yes, it looks to be a Ferlach from 1897. Near the bottom of the flats, is there an intertwined "EF", "EV"???

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

I'm pretty sure of the E, but I'll wait for sunlight and finding my manifying glass before I'd say EF or EV.

Thanks again. I'll look in the morning when I have sunlight and glasses that are stronger. She's a nice shottie. Part of me wants to make some reduced BP loads for her and try her out, being as the barrels ring and seem in good shape...

Thanks again. I'll look in the morning on V vs F.

Was looking at other Ferlach guns on the web, and looks about right. Reckon it was worth a 150 dollar investment because it's NEAT, not because I'm a profiteer! Bet it'd take a cotton tail or dove. Swings really nice. YES, I know about being very careful about shooting old shotguns, but it'd be nice if I decide it'd be healthy enough to give the gal another go at game!

Multiple thanks, mi amigos. More spelunking on "letters" in the morning. Frelach is looking probable.

With Jani's wisdom, I'd guess it to be a "F", which is for Ferlach while "V" is for Vienna and then there's "W" for Weipert. As far as I know the Ferlach proofhouse has their records and the datastring will connect the longarm to the records. Zooming in it appears to be a "F". Next to the "16.2" stamp on the underside of the right tube there is a set of initials "E.K."?? that might point to a maker.




Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

I see K clearly but for the first letter I'm not so sure; E? F? I don't see a match at this time but some of the old time Ferlach makers starting with K are:
Kirchbaumer, J.
Koschat, J.
Kullnig, T.
Kawan, A.
Kalischnig, S.

With kind regards,
Jani

The starboard barrel is stamped 16.2 and FK, port side barrel is stamped 16.8 and FK closer up by the breech. Guess there might have been a Ferlach barrel maker who's first name started with F.

Thanks again. Reckon that was the best 150 bucks I've spent on an unknown shotgun in a while? :-) Everything seems sound, metallurgically. I'm tempted to load up some light goex loads with #7 and shoot it and see how she does.

Thanks a lot in helping me understand how to identify this gal.

I was googling around. Is there any good email or postal address for the Ferlach Proof House? I can't seem to turn anything up on the internet. Curious if they could give a final verdict on maker.

Thanks again everybody.

Beschussamt Ferlach
Maschinenhausgasse 2
A-9170 Ferlach
Austria

Phone +43-4227-2576
Fax +43-4227-4174

With kind regards,
Jani

Looks like a Husqvarna to me. I've got two just like it except for the engraving.

Here is a list of all CIP recognized proof houses in the world. It includes address, telephone, email, etc.

www.cip-bp.org/uploads/docs/CIP-Proof-Houses.pdf


This document contains all current proof marks in use.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/hearings/20061004/imco/genco_en.pdf


Finally, you can watch videos of a proof in process on the CIP website:

http://www.cip-bp.org/index.php?id=epreuve-arme

Pete

Many Many Thanks to you ALL.