As far as I know regarding WWII, or post 1923, sporting weapons examples exist with proof dates from the 1st quarter of 1945 and from the last quarter of 1945 and really don't miss a year. Not real sure if any exist at the very end of WWII. Some say the late 1945 dates may be errors but I think the guys knew what they were doing and with a few examples trickling out, they would have continued the protocol from pre-WWII.

Parameters were developed and me thinks it was a RLM(Reichs Luftwaffe Ministerium) that gave that J.P. Sauer & Sohn, Berlin-Suhl Weapons & Bicycle manufacturer and Suhl Weapons factory Brothers Merkel were provided with a schematic that gives the tube length to be 680mm +/-2mm and an overall length of 1105mm +/-5mm. Specific locations for 2 Eagle holding a Swastika are given on the right side of the upper near the breech and the right side of the stock near the butt. I think most were 12 bore full/full but some makers offered a 16 bore. If one is looking at the weapon for the RLM possibility, then I'd be hard pressed to believe it was a pilot, or pilot in training, issue without the birds. Krieghoff is rumoured to have been sourced with the birds in the correct position. I think I recall they were pretty plain, possibly devoid of engraving. I may have the following models matched correctly:

J.P. Sauer & Sohn - Modell 33 Bock-Doppelflinte

Simson/Waffa/BSW/Gustloff-Werke offered a offered a modell on the Simson Bock-Doppelflinte design.

Simson was probably a Modell 48
BSW a Modell 47
Fabrikat Gustloff-Werke a Modell 6428?

Merkel Brothers - probably Modell 200?

Krieghoff - I haven't a clue

I think it was Simson that reorganized as Berlin-Suhler Waffen und Fahrzeugwerke in an attempt to fend off the Nazis. Waffa must have been a tradename/trademark at the onset of this effort. But Wilhelm Gustloff was the leader of the Nazi Party in Switzerland that was neutralized by the cat David Frankfurter. I'm not sure how ole Fritz Saukel rose up thru the ranks, but Gauleiter Fritz Saukel was the strongarm that either arrested or had the Simsons arrested and forced them to sign the company over to the government. Then in 1935 Fritz Saukel founded the Gustloff consortium with Simson/BSW being under the umbrella along with even I think Hirtenberger as a present to Adolf Hitler.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse