doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com J.P. Sauer & Son Info Needed

I have a friend who has a J.P. Sauer 12ga SxS and is wondering what any of you can tell us about the gun. Can anyone tell from the serial number (J.P. Sauer & Son, Made in Prussia, S/N 132234)how old it is and what do you think of the value of them. The gun is in fair condition. There is a small dent in one barrel (very fixable)and the bluing is worn but the bores are otherwise perfect and shinny. The action is tight as can be. The biggest fault is the butt stock has been replaced by an amateur. It is a shame becaust if you close yoour eyes the gun has a very nice feel. It is light weight, has a rounded frame and generally feels good in you hands. Thanks for any info.

Bill G.

Bill G.:

I assume it is a boxlock? Does it have upper and lower scears or both? Where are the cocking indicators? Many of the drillings in the 132xxx range looks to have a 1906 proof date. Some are within 20 or 30 of the one in question. Remember Sauer churned them out and they were really a tool; not a drop in quality but sort of price point and intended to be used. On the average boxlocks range for $750 to $1300 depending on condition.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

It is a boxlock. It also has Krup Steel Barrels. I have included some pictures below.
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It looks to be the U.S. import verion of a Model 8 with upper hinged scears and without lower intercepting. It has one of the "Crown" marks as found on longarms and is for either workmanship or shooting performance. On the shooting performance more time and effort as put into the longarm in patterning and the like. Any chance of a better pic of the flats and the stamps on the underside of the left tube, or maybe you could just post the info?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Not really all that up on these guns, but I would suspect if it has the spelling Son & not Sohn that it indeed was a US export model. My VL&D/Sauer Knock-About Sidelock uses the Son spelling.

Looking at DGJ back issues with Jeff Stephens' valuable contributions it appears that the German market guns had cocking indicators and the above does not. Sauers "made for export to the North American American market early in the last century on the other hand will generally lack sling swivels, cheek pieces and cocking indicators. . ." German market produced guns were identified as Roman numeral models---i.e. Model VIII---and those exported to North America prior to 1914 were referred to by grade.

And the word "Made in Prussia" is an export give-away and might indicate a later proof date.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Thanks for the info. I'll try to get better pictures of the barrel flats. For what I can remember under the serial number it says: 247 D, a crown like stamp, the number 3 over a leaf shaped stamp, U, 13/1. There is another stamp that looks a bit like a monk and a staff on both barrels.

13/1 refers to the barrel boring, (a tight 12 gauge). The "monk with staff" is the Sauer caveman with club trademark. I'll holdfire on the other marks until I see the photos. If you have a 1975 Gun Digest or a copy of the Gun Digest Treasury (1961) there are good summaries of German proof marks.

Is the checkering going all the way to the receiver not uncommon?

I have a Miroku made Westernfield with checkering like that.