In 1884 Franz Otto Julius Kettner, son of Eduard Kettner(1811-1888) founded Eduard Kettner of Köln and a satellite facility in Suhl. Franz Kettner(1808-1873) was a brother to Eduard and had a son named Franz Kettner(1840-1913) and a grandson named Franz Kettner(1875-1963) who along with a greatgrandson named Eduard Franz Kettner(1908-2006) were all master gunsmiths(a fine example of why the gunmaking families are so difficult to trace). Apparently 1st cousins Franz Kettner(1840-1913) and Franz Otto Julius Kettner were in business together under Eduard Kettner and probably in the 1890s Franz left. The word on the street is that Eduard Kettner/Franz Otto Julius Kettner leaned heavily toward the firearms merchant side while the mastergunsmith line of Franz Kettner may have made almost every item in their own shops. The pre-1912 hammer cocking rear lock action drilling is probably 8x57/360(8.15X46R fits in the range but I don't think so). A better pic of the rifle tube may or may not provide some insight. Looks to have Krupp tubes. Let me check my info on 172,28).
The Kipplaufbuchsen is of the "Tell" variety and was probably made by Sauer and is more than likely chambered for 0.32 Winchester(it also could be 8.15X46R but I would think it would have been stamped so). Here is a Sauer example at Bob Jones -
http://www.bobjonesguns.com/details.asp?id=C4465R . Options were 13mm, Winchester 22 Kurz and 22 Winchester, .32 Win and 9mm Express(9 360/57R) It was proofed/proved in the final form and let me check on that mark near the forend lug.
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
