Gentlemen:
I've acquired an extremely tight and well fitted (wood to metal) game scene engraved 16 ga hammer double marked C.L. Schindler Sohn Zella & Gotha. The museum curator at Zella said the highly regarded Schindler firm began in 1769 and continued through WW1. The curator, a Herr von Nordheim was helpful, but insisted the gun should have proof marks required by the guild if before 1891 and by German law if after 1891. It has neither obvious proof marks nor a serial number. I hoped that by taking it down I could locate some in a location other than the water table. The problem is removing the forend. The piece resembles the Samuel Rubin Morgenroth double rifle featured in the Summer 2008 double gun and the E. Dotter double currently on Gunbroker. There is a sort of teardrop shaped knurled protrusion attached to an engraved forend tip that seems to have something to do with takedown, but it won't budge and I am afraid to force it. It won't twist, it can't be pulled or pushed and downward force is not working.I have been advised that this may be a LeFaucheux action. A horn lever under the forend moves to the right to open the gun and exposes the flat wood of the forend and two screws. Am I missing an obvious step?
Thanks for any help. Jorge
