doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com J.P. Sauer

OK, so I was not looking for a gun today but where do I wind up -my favorite gun store. So as I am looking at the racks of guns hoping there is nothing I want and there pops out a 12 g. shotgun and jumps into my eager hands . Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I wish I had a camera with me since I don't remember all that much about it except I liked it a lot and it was coming home with me (although not today). Nice wood, 28 1/2" barrels IC and Mod. I am a little concerned they were cut because they don't meet at the muzzle and relatively open chokes but I could not be sure. The choked area had the look of recent opening but I am not sure of that either. There were a few crowns of different sizes on the barrel flats.

The biggest wraparound "sideclips" I have ever seen almost as if the barrels nestle into them. It had cocking indicators on each side like a small round dial with a pointer. Very watch like. Some engraving. Normal Top lever to the right and forearm release pretty conventional lever in the middle. Serial # 650xx.

Any information on this beautiful old gun will be appreciated. I will post pics after I pick it up in a week or so.

Thanks,
Milt

Until you post some information about the proof marks from the barrel flats and action flat it is pretty hard to tell you much other than what you have told us. Is it a box lock or side lock? If a box lock, is the action scalloped or straight. What engraving is on it? What date stamp is on the flats?

That serial number places it about 1897 and most likely a blackpowder shotgun with short chambers originally. Might even be damascus barrels. Lots to investigate here before you start firing modern shells through it.

Jerry,
I realize I did not have very much info but dating it is a big help already. It has steel barrels and it is a sidelock. I did not have cash with me so I have to go up and get it next week. He wanted $1,150 and cash would save the 7 % tax. I have no idea if it is over or underpriced.

Builder go to parkergun.org to the form there is a post and pictures of a J.P Sauer knockabout let me know if it looks like what you describe. On page 3

My guess is it looks more like the box lock Sauer (gun 20-14) here as they seem a bit more common than the side locks:

http://www.mbabllc.com/forsale.htm

Thanks, Plumber, but it is different. The main difference would be the side fences that wrap around and under the barrels (they are really big) and the cocking indicators. I should start leaving the camera in the car since my memory is lousy.

At this point, I am no longer even sure if it is a sidelock but it does not look like gun 20-14. Thanks for trying.

Builder, by the serial number and Your description you are describing a Sauer Sidelock gun produced around 1896-1897 or so, as others have already noted. It is also very likely the gun has the special Sauer bbl construction (DRP 70343 see DGJ Vol 15 issue 1) used by them for some years. As the author of the article noted above, I would be interested in seeing photos of the gun that you describe, wherein I sould be able to tell you more about it. Please contact me direct at sauercollector@hotmail.com. Thankyou. Jeff Stephens

Milt, most of the older German guns I've seen have some engraving between the muzzles, usually a crosshatch pattern. If your muzzle end is missing this there's a good chance it was cut, especially if the muzzles are not touching.

Builder-

Sorry, I didn't read your follow up where you said it was a sidelock.