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Geha shotguns. Gewehr 98 converted after WWI. Lots of info here: http://readingbreak.com/Features/JohnG/1/GEHA.htm

I have a pair of Gehas, WWI 98 Mauser rifles originally, one in 12, the other in 16 bore.
would not shoot either. They have large detachable bolt heads to fit the base of the shells, as Recoil Rob says, not much holding the bolt in place.
Franc, I had a Greener Martini smooth bore police gun in 14 ga, I sold it to a gent who was going to rebarrel it to a 12 ga rifled slug gun. These come with a safety catch too.
There are a few around, see if you can find one for your project, hell for stout, those guns.
Mike

Hi:

The Geha guns have been discussed before and the consensus is that they are NOT safe to shoot! Shoot one at your own risk. There are many other well built guns out there to choose from!!!

I went to a gun auction to buy one several years ago but after looking at it, I deceided that it was not a good idea!

Franchi

Mike, Yes I agree that a nice Greener GP Martini would be a great Gun ,but don't see them very often.
I'll keep looking,needs to be cheap as budget is rather pitiful I'm afraid
Thanks lads
Franc

Ditto the Greener GP Martini. I had a take-down model in 12 gauge once, I foolishly sold it in a senior moment. Wish I had it back.

The Greener Police Guns are cheap up here when you can find them because there is no ammunition available.
I sold one for $150.00last year, it was in 14 gauge.
Mike

The Greener Police guns are very stout indeed. I had one that had been re-bored to 12 bore and proofed as a 3 inch magnum. I don't think I would fire it with such a load as the recoil would be most unpleasant. Ammunition for them is now collector's item stuff. There was the Mk 1, Mk 2 and Mk 3 versions. Ammo was usually brass and some with a brittle sort of plastic. Thousands were made. Greener then used the actions and tooling to produce many thousands of shotguns. Most were 12 bore but a few were made in 16; they are rare. There was even a 32" and a 34" Trap model; also rare. The standard ones are quite common here in Britain. Heavy and solid. Lagopus.....

FO; I have three 98 Mauser actioned shotguns, 2-16 gau. and 1-12 gau., I believe they were made in 20 gau. also but I've never located one. They also came in 2 grades - Geha, the plain jane and the Remo which is substantially more refined. Some were in turn converted by their owners to slug guns. The safety lug does all the work on the 12 gau. but I believe the front lugs engage "slightly" on the 16s and 20s. Make sure that the "mushroom" at the front of the bolt is there - not safe to fire without. FWIW --- John Can. ** As far as safety goes, I've never heard of a problem, remember most cheaper bolts only have one lug - the bolt handle. Good write up in Bolt Action Rifles by Frank de Haas / the net on the above**

On these 98s conversions look very carefully on what acts as a bolt lugs. Most I have seen it's the bolt handle, I personally would not shoot one.

On the 98 Mauser the "Handle" is completely to the rear of the receiver bridge & locks into "Nothing". The third "Safety" lug which ordinarily had a slight clearence & did not actually add to the strength of the action, was there only in case the two front ones sheared, is relied upon to bolt these conversions. They thus become a rear bolted gun rather than a front bolted one. The strength of the receiver rails combined with that of the lug itself is what determines whether they are safe or not. As mentioned some guns designed& built from scratch as bolt action shotguns used a single rear lug in conjuction with the handle. The handle being attached to the lug neither adds to or detracts from the strength of the bolting.