This example was the 425th thru I would guess the Zella-Mehlis proofhouse in December of 1936. Mr. Hallquist is hot on the trail as Jerry and PeteM and I think it was in 1936(Berlin) that either a Büchel or Anschült example broke many records. But Udo Anschültz could not have completed this example, but may have contributed some hours to the 180 or so hours it takes to make an example, as the lone bell tolled for Udo Anschültz a year and a month earlier than the proof date. His shield(with "U.A." over "Z") should be near the forend lug but I have serious reservations that Udo added any effort to this one. Merkel is also a good guess but I also see elements of either Thieme & Schlegelmilch, Funk and possibly Krieghoff with that hog-back stock. It may be a marriage of Funk & Merkel. Undo Anschültz purchased/absorbed the Ernst Friedrich Büchel firm as there were no direct heirs and a nephew Richard Ansorg, a businessman, attempted to run the firm during the difficult times of 1921 to 1935. Franz Oscar Merkel married Udo Anschültz's daughter and took the reins of the firm at the death of Udo Anschültz in 1935. I don't think he was the Oscar Merkel of Brother's Merkel but possibly his son. So that's why the example has Merkel like elements. Are there any other interesting marks on the tubes besides the "D"(Decker boys??) near the lugs? I'd say that a craftsman at the Ado Anschültz made the tube seeing Zacharias Anschültz had a tube forge in Suhl in the early 1800s. I'd guess that Ado was the grandson of Zacharias Anschültz. I'd also guess Johann Gottfried Anschültz to be the son of Zacharias and possible the father or uncle of Udo. Johann Gottfried Anschültz founded the J.G. Anschültz frim in 1856 and I would guess Ado to have been born about the same time. And of course there's much more on the J.G. Anschütz firm of which is known for target arms. I'd say that the craftsmen of Zella Saint Blasii/ Zella-Mehlis were heavily sourced and that is the reason for the volume at the Zella-Mehlis proofhouse.

I wonder if the proofmarks were partially removed and then there was an effort to reapply?

The stamp of Frank Merkel-Vorm. Udo Anschültz was used post 1935.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse