Joe:
With an 8.7mm pre-rifled stamp the cartridge is probably a 9.3mm variant. GGCA(German Gun Collectors Association -
www.germanguns.com forsale) Journal # 38 has an article on the Kettner klan with combined info from member Axel Pantermühl & Max Ern(German gunmaker). In brief, Franz Otto Julius Kettner founded the firm Eduard Kettner Company in 1884. The Eduard Kettner firm was pretty much a firearms merchant sourcing the craftsmen of Suhl for their weapons. In 1925 the Dornheim Company absorbed the Eduard Kettner Company. Robert Friedrich Bühring was the manager followed by Karl Georg Bühring(Buehring) and Dr. Klaus Bühring. On June 30th, 1943 Köln was pretty much leveled destroying the Eduard Kettner Company facilities. In 1945 the business was resurrected with the aide of an American general. Eduard Kettner peddled all things outdoors and by 1958 Georg and Helmut Bühring were at the helm. They occupied a building near the New Theater very close to the Rhein. It was in this period of 1951 to 1961 that the company really began to come into it's own again offering anything from clothing, knives, drillings and even Savage offerings.
Pics would be most helpful especially the marks/stamps on the underside of the tubes from the flats up to the forend hanger.
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
