I HAD A CUSTOMER BRING IN A DRILING, ON THE LEFT BARREL IT IS MARKED F.W. KESSLER...SUHL...T/M, ON THE TOP OF THE RIB IT SHOWS...V. HAFNER...SUHL...CASSEL. IT IS A DBL 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN OVER A 9.3 x 72R, per my friends at germanguns.com. On the bottom of each barrel there are two eagles I originally thouhght but they must be the Henne (chicken monogram) for Suhl. They were covered with either gold or bronze, it looks like gold to me. One henne is larger than the other. Ther are numerous other Inspector marks on the underside of the barrels, even the RE-PROOF date of 534. The gentlemen at the germangun.com club believe this is pre1890, and only inspected in 534 to adhere to the ever-changing demands of the laws. The front trigger has a screw to adjust the front trigger, the latch at the bottom of the trigger guard opens the breech, the lever on top switched the hammer from hitting the right shotgun barrel ofr the rifle barrel, at the same time it moves the rear site from a shotgun sight to a rifle sight. The barrels were made of "PRIMA FLUSS STAHL. There are four engravings on the breech, 1 = a rabbit scene, 2= the other on the same side is a Doe Deer, 3= opposite side of gun there is a fox scene 4= A Buck Deer scene. there is a fifth engraving on the shell holder which is on top of the stock, not the rear nor the bottom but on top, it has room for 3 bullet rounds and one extra shotgun shell. On the cover there is a 5th engraving of a Elk scene.
Can anyone add to it's identity or value of this drilling. also tie it to whom made this thing. the german gun club believes this was made by kessler for valentin haefner, since it has a serial number of 19449, their thinking is it had to be made by someone whom made alot of drillings unless part of this number is the gunmaker's number and the factory number. if you could email me i could send you pictures, but i am a new member and have no idea how to attach pictures to this site. so please email me ..
KCU@TRAKSGUNSMITHING.COM ..THEN... I can attach the pictures to my reply in my email...I can do that...
Thank You for any assistance....
Sincerely
Kurt Ullmann
www.traksgunsmithing.com
