I'm curious why it was proofed 5 times, with 4 being in the Czech Republic. Is there at monogram of a stylized "M" intertwinded with a "S" on the standing breech or is that scratches? A fine example by the craftsmen in Weipert probably either just before WWI or during. My guess is that it was sourced from Wenzel Moregenstern, who would have sourced the components and may have subed the work. About this time his masters numbered a few over a baker's dozen for assembly work. The engraving, the sideframe reinforcement as well as the rose & scroll engraving are similar to those of Wenzel Morgenstern. Then it went to Suhl, Germany and was proofed pre-1923 before the Germans assumed control of the Weipert facility circa 1940, still allowing the proofhouse to use the escutcheon of the falling fir tree(which one can see very well on these stamps) topped with either 2 crossed hammers. A pic of the lower rib just may reveal the preliminary data string giving the year it was made. If it was an example from the 1930s, I'd expect to see a rampant lion, which 1st saw use sometime between 1928 & 1931.
Thanks for the effort on the pics as it was worth it. I'm not sure on the Lovena from Gulfcoast Guns but the fellas peddling it were well suited to restock it but from memory I don't think it was.
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
