doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Trying to Identify 1930s? O/U Shotgun

Newb here,
just picked up an O/U shotgun and cannot find any info on the gun at all, its german, marked " UDO ANSCHUTZ " on the right side of the Barrell, and " ZELLA MEHLIS" on the left. I have found that Zella is a city in Germany for many gunmakers, and that most left there during the war. But Cannot locate any info on UDO or anything that anyone by that name made shotguns.
It is a 16 ga. double trigger, and has some really nice engraving, and is in what seems to be very good condition. Resembles a Merkel, but a close inspection shows differences in design.

Any help, or suggestions of literature I could purchase on the weapon would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks in Advance,

Philip

Well Zella Mehlis is located in what used to be East Germany. I expect the most notable firm that was located there until wars end was Walther which relocated to Ulm where they remain today. I drove thru Zella Mehlis when I was in Germany 2 years ago and couldn't find any remaining traces of gunmaking there.I suspect that lack of any detailed markings on your beautiful shotgun points to Guild construction.
Congradulations on a nice find!
Jim

SxS of the World for Y2K had nothing. Udo Anschutz sounds like a person's name and it's obviously a well made gun. Hope you enjoy your new treasure.

Udo Anschutz was the maker. I believe he is associated with pistols, too. I've seen a handfull of guns with his name, all good quality and embellished. Of course, related to the other Anschutzs, I'm sure.

Yes, Udo Anschutz was the maker, a well respected maker, although they did not turn out a lot of shotguns. I suspect the action was bought "in the white" or unfinished from Merkel and finished and fit by Anschutz, perhaps with barrels bought unfinished from Sauer. It's often hard to tell where the basic parts originated, but most folks don't care much anyway. Looks like a "keeper" to me, I would be pleased to have it in my collection. Hope you gain much enjoyment from it.

Anschutz is still a gun manufacturer and specializes in rifles for competitive shooting. Don't know if Udo is the same lineage but possibly. Their rifles are just about unbeatable, and if you were watching the Olympic Biathlons this past week you saw quite a few of them on the backs of the athletes from many countries. They have almost total domination in US in small bore rifle competitions. Their model 54 is legendary. Quality is expensive though.

Zella Mehlis also had the largest Govt proof house in Germany.

Udo Anschutz was a manufacturer of sporting arms in Zella-Mehlis circa 1927-39. As Daryl and others have stated. He was best known for his Free-Pistols. The date mark on that gun is 1936 I believe. Someone will correct me if I am wrong.

Jerry is correct. Especially in the rimfire / airgun arena, Anschutz is the one to own. I have a M64 (free hand silhouette version of the M54) and it is better than I ever will be.

I am sure that gun would fetch a nice price in Germany where the Anschutz name is highly regarded.

Pete

This example was the 425th thru I would guess the Zella-Mehlis proofhouse in December of 1936. Mr. Hallquist is hot on the trail as Jerry and PeteM and I think it was in 1936(Berlin) that either a Büchel or Anschült example broke many records. But Udo Anschültz could not have completed this example, but may have contributed some hours to the 180 or so hours it takes to make an example, as the lone bell tolled for Udo Anschültz a year and a month earlier than the proof date. His shield(with "U.A." over "Z") should be near the forend lug but I have serious reservations that Udo added any effort to this one. Merkel is also a good guess but I also see elements of either Thieme & Schlegelmilch, Funk and possibly Krieghoff with that hog-back stock. It may be a marriage of Funk & Merkel. Undo Anschültz purchased/absorbed the Ernst Friedrich Büchel firm as there were no direct heirs and a nephew Richard Ansorg, a businessman, attempted to run the firm during the difficult times of 1921 to 1935. Franz Oscar Merkel married Udo Anschültz's daughter and took the reins of the firm at the death of Udo Anschültz in 1935. I don't think he was the Oscar Merkel of Brother's Merkel but possibly his son. So that's why the example has Merkel like elements. Are there any other interesting marks on the tubes besides the "D"(Decker boys??) near the lugs? I'd say that a craftsman at the Ado Anschültz made the tube seeing Zacharias Anschültz had a tube forge in Suhl in the early 1800s. I'd guess that Ado was the grandson of Zacharias Anschültz. I'd also guess Johann Gottfried Anschültz to be the son of Zacharias and possible the father or uncle of Udo. Johann Gottfried Anschültz founded the J.G. Anschültz frim in 1856 and I would guess Ado to have been born about the same time. And of course there's much more on the J.G. Anschütz firm of which is known for target arms. I'd say that the craftsmen of Zella Saint Blasii/ Zella-Mehlis were heavily sourced and that is the reason for the volume at the Zella-Mehlis proofhouse.

I wonder if the proofmarks were partially removed and then there was an effort to reapply?

The stamp of Frank Merkel-Vorm. Udo Anschültz was used post 1935.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Raimey, you never cease to astound me.

Clay:
Thanks and I wish I could take credit for it but there are bits and pieces of info out there already compiled by someone and it's just a matter of finding it and putting it together then guess at the missing puzzle pieces.

Ernst Kerner peddled a few sidelock drillings with a similar safety in the same location.

FPH: could you post a pic of the marks on the top tube?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse