doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Max G. Fischer Berlin

I've been meaning for some time to post this interesting pre-1912 Max G. Fischer example owned by Clay. It may seem that I'm a stickler on longarms peddled by firearms merchants whose only connection to the firearms is there name being rolled stamped atop the rib but that is just a simple fact of smart economics. I had assumed that the Berlin makers had sourced their examples from Suhl, and the surrounding area, but this example proves otherwise seeing Max G. Fischer completed it from sourced components with it bearing his own serial number range. It is refreshing to see master craftsmen outside of Suhl & Zella-Mehlis using their talents and of course as always there are exceptions to the assumed rule.












Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Hi Raimey. One of my very favorite upland guns is a dainty rounded action 16 ga hammer gun marked Max Fischer, Berlin on the top rib, and also with his own serial number, this time marked MF 2xx, a very low number. Your examaple appears to not have the "MF" preceeding the actual number. It sports Krupp steel barrels, and no identifying marks that I can find as to the source. I have always assumed it to be a Sauer gun finished by Max Fischer. I have had this gun for many years, bought it from Thad Scott. It apparently at one time was fitted with an extra set of combo barrels, as it has a set trigger, but they did not survive until my purchase, wish they had. I shoot it with 2 1/2" Poly Wad loads, but also use it for my "vintager" style black powder shooting. It has much better than usual engraving and wood. When I bought it, the buttstock had been shortened to 12" and also cut to a very harsh pitch at the rear. Thad surmised it was used by a wheel chair bound shooter. It has been extended back to my usual 14 1/2" now, but that harsh angle is still visible at the glue line. Came to me in wonderful original codition, even with a very nice braided leather sling, which I use and like a lot. All in all, one of my favorite guns, perhaps in my top three. Don't see many Max Fischer guns, Ben Loving had one in inventory for long time, a clam shell type actioned gun, apparently has moved it out, as it no longer appears in his inventory.

Raimey,

Thanks for posting this. As Daryl H. surmised, this example is essentially a variation on a Greener Facile Princeps action. The ejectors were out of whack (to the point that I couldn't open and close the action), so I sent the gun to the shop of an ejector specialist. After tearing out some of his hair and cursing the Greener name, this gentleman has decided to investigate the feasibility of converting the Fischer to a non-ejector.
Fine by me.
Clay

Clay, is your gun the one that Ben Loving in California had in his inventory?

Chief,

No, it is not the same gun.

Richard Fischer, Jr. Hofbüchsenmacher example:



Lot #2270B - R. Fischer Drilling http://www.proxibid.com/asp/CatalogPrint.asp?aid=15834

"Serial no. 371. 16 gauge and 8x57JR. 26 7/8-inch barrels with matted flat rib. Spear front sight and folding rear sight. Krupp Stahl. Rib marked: Richard Fischer, Jr. Hofbuchsenmacher, Gera-Reuhs. Case-hardened scalloped reinforced boxlock action fully engraved with foliate scroll and game scenes. Left side: three hinds. Right side: stag with two hinds. Cocking indicators. Adjustable set front trigger (rifle barrel). Extractor. Non-automatic safety. Greener-style crossbolt. Horn triggerguard and grip cap. Finely checkered pistolgrip stock of straight grain walnut. Nickel silver oval with monogram. Cheekpiece. Horn buttplate with basket weave design. Finely checkered splinter fore-end with Deeley Edge style release. Sirius 4x 42 telescopic sight with bold post and crossbar reticule with hand detachable mounts. ?"



Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Richard Fischer Jr. Gera-Reuhs drilling

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Hard to read, even with a good photo tool. What is the meaning of the term "Gera-Reuhs?", and is the gun marked from Berlin? Maybe that's a town, not in Berlin, I don't know. Do you believe this is maybe a son of Max Fischer?

Gera is a town south of Leipzig, (which is south of and not all that far from Berlin.) Gera can also be a family name in Slovakia, southern Poland, perhaps Bohemia and Moravia, as well as in Germany. Not clear to me whether the German Gera's are ethnic Slavs, or whether the Gera's in Slovakia and other Slavic regions are ethnic Germans. Reuhs is a family name (not a common one) in Germany and sometimes further east. It is sometimes but not always a Jewish name (ditto Gera) which, sadly, probably explains why neither name is common in that part of the world.
Neat drilling, by the way.

Cheif:

I don't think Richard Fischer was in the direct Max Fischer line but seeing that he advertises as a Höfbüchsenmacher, supplier to a court, I'd say that his father probably was the one that acquired the rank and Jr. just continued the tradition. I don't know from which court he was sourced. No the term "Berlin" wasn't on the example and I've asked for better pics as well as pics of a Max Fischer example owned by the same person. As soon as the pics arrive I'll post them.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse