Otto Seelig of Wiesbaden was a gunmaker to the Danish Royal House, and it may be here that he paid his tribute or fee for the use of the title. Otto Selisch lived in the same town of Wiesbaden and I would put a good bit of stock in the fact that they worked together more than in competition as Otto Selisch’s name is found on double rifles of the Danish Royal Family. Some sources give Otto Selisch as the source of the Muzzelverschluss(Clam Shell) actions, which was developed in the mid to late 1890s. He made the actions and the Berlin contingent, with the possible exception of Heinrich Barella, Otto Bock, Bemesu(small gunsmith or firearms merchant), Carl Stiegele, W. Förster, Bayer Hofgewehrfabrik, Munchen, etc., sourced the Muzzelverschluss components from him.

Robert Schüler also made longarms on the Clam Shell action in the early 1900s. For now I don’t know when he actually began which deals me some misery.

Greifelt included a Muzzelverschluss in their catalogue and possibly could be a source. And their was of course a Schlegelmilch connection: Greifelt & Schlegelmich frim.

But for now I think the following links & folks were responsible:
Friedrich Ernst Ferdinand Merkel(1821-1901) – engraver
Son Bernhard Emil Merkel(1874-1954) – Guns marked “B.Merkel-Suhl”
Found his own separate business circa 1900 and his son Fritz(1906-1976) followed in his footsteps
Ernst August Merkel(1853-1912)
Louis Franz Ferdinand Merkel(1866-1904)
Heinrich Barella, Genschow, Kettner, Kind & Mauser purchased components from Bernhard Merkel sourcing Sauer as a forge and machine shop. Now I have not seen a Sauer Muzzelverschluss to my recollection. This is a prime example of how lord/top gunmakers would source Suhl and surrounding areas for the best/top craftsmen for their end product while the Hof title holders had the connections and probably finished the arms. Suhl had it all but the connections: components, craftsmen, proofhouse, etc.

I still haven’t found all of my Otto Seelig info but when I see his name I think of the Muzzelverschluss. I think the action fell out of favor by the end of WWI, when the request for actions seemed to taper off but ALFA, GECO, Kind, etc. offered it as an option for an additional 75RM.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse