doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Need some info on an old merkel shotgun

Hello, I am knew to the forum and found this sight searching for information about this shot gun. Its an old Merkel 20 gauge O/U marked underneath with Suhler Waffenwerk Gebruder Merkel, Suhl. Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Here are some pictures that might help.

Does it read "HAGEN" on the side? Also could you pleasure us with some pics of the proofmarks and any marks from the flats back to the forend lug. The proofmarks may be difficult to find/see without removing the sidepanels which more than likely will require a fitted turnscrew.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

It does read Hagen on the side. I will try to get more pictures later.

Appears to be basically the well known and well thought of Model 200 series gun, built over a number of years. The engraving pattern is just a bit different than examples I have owned, but otherwise appears the same. Good, well made, sturdy, popular guns. The next step "up" from Gebruder Merkel was their 201 series, which were the same basic gun with more engraving and better wood. I have one of those still in my collection, a "Luxus" grade 201 from after the war period. Not sure what the Hagen marking means, perhaps Raimey's never ending research will find something.

any idea of the value? i'm not looking to sell by any means as the gun was my grandfathers.. but i am curious..

The 20 gauge configuration will be worth more than a 12 gauge, but the 200 series was their "entry level" O/U gun. It appears to be in good condition, from your photos, which I assume were taken with a quickie digital camera. If the condition is indeed good overall, no bore problems, I would guess perhaps $1,500 or in that general range, more if the condition proves better, less if problems show up on a close examaination. It likely has tight chokes, which limits it's use as a unpland gun. If there is a large gun shop nearby, you might get their opinion, and have the chokes actually measured. A Model 201 in 20 gauge would likely bring $500 more, maybe even a bit more than that. To my eye, this looks like a Model 200 gun. There should be a date code in the proof marks to show when it was actually proofed, something like 938 would mean Sept. 1938.

These guys are right: this is a Merkel 200E. Neat little gun.

I bet HAGEN was an importer; like Arms De Chasse was in the 1980's--during the commie times.

Anyone want to guess at the year?

My wild guess is 1960--I'm shootin' from the hip--It'll be interesting to learn.

Too bad somebody had to work on this fine little gun, likely not knowing what a treasure they had.
Doesn't look like's it been shot much. But I wish the guy who used it had taken an little better care of this princess.

Enjoy,

BB

what do you mean someone worked on it?? im about to take it out and look for the proof marks

i found 638 while having the barrels cracked open... then underneath that written vertically is Nitro

thanks for all your help so far!!

Then June 1938 is your date of proof. Hagens Sports would have been either a retailer or an importer. Not sure what that bottom word under Sports is. I'm not sure what bridge boy sees that I don't. I haven't seen any clear signs of tampering???