doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com CLUELESS: Otto Bock? Pre-War? Please help

Again I see evidence that it's a chopper lump.

Keep it warm:
As an aside please let us know where you are located. It troubles me it see a gun like this that's been not maintained for God knows how long. Perhaps we can put you in touch with a member or gunsmith that can at least clean and oil it for now till you decide what you want to do restoration wise.
Jim

I'm just outside Detroit, Michigan.

Is the gun in questionable shape? Or does it just need a good cleaning/oiling?

Also, and most importantly to me, could someone perhaps recap all the things that are now known about the rifle? I'm very anxious to give my dad an update. It may seem like a hassle, but I would love to know what each of the marks means. Am I asking too much?

So here are the proof marks. Can anyone elaborate on the meaning of each?

Barrels under forearm:


Watertable (below):


Barrel Flats (below):

Ks in a jagged circle - multiple tube task effort by Louis Kelber, one of the best rifled tube makers.

Imperial Eagle with "Crown" over "G" preliminary proof more than likely of the single tube only with a solid projectile with say 3 times the black powder powder charge and 1 1/2 times the bullet weight. Here I think the Austrians used two lead spheres.

Stylized brace of SS are the initials of the tube knitter and it may have been one of the Schilling boys, or some other S last name, possibly with a 1st name like Sylvestr.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

"Crown" over "N" denotes Nitro proof with paired Imperial Eagle and "Crown" over "U" denoting 2nd proof or final? and inspection. I assume that is on the water table?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Exciting! The wife and I are reading your replies. Going to call my dad in a few and tell him FINALLY, after owning the rifle for roughly 70 years, where it originated!

[/quote]

St. M G / 18,7 grams denotes an 18.7 gram steel metal jacket bullet.

Imperial Eagle coupled with "Crown" over "G" is the triple preliminary proof post the 1911 rules change more than likely with the tubes fashioned in the tubeset. Really a repeat of the mark higher on the tubes.

Eagle "Crown" over "U" 2nd proof and an inspection mark.

9.1mm over 74mm is the pre-rifled, submitted for proof diameter with an anticipated 74mm chamber, i.e., 9.3X74R cartridge.

Intertwined Z-M denotes the mark of the Zella Mehlis proofhouse.

I'm sure I can add more if you desire.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

8.12 - proof date of August of 1912

877 - #877 in the proof queue for August #1912 - ledger number

Curious as to how you came to inquire/post here?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Is there an official maker of the rifle? Does it have a name?

What would you refer to it as?

EDIT: My dad brought the rifle over and I took the initial pictures of it. I went online and typed in "Otto Bock rifle". Either one of the pictures or one of the resulting links was to this website. So I clicked and started looking around here.

I soon realized that I didn't understand much of the "language" and terminology, so I thought I would take a chance, sign up, and hope for some helpful people.

I couldn't be more happy!

Boxlock double rifle, or Doppelbuchse and possibly a Blitz or triggerplate action? Any image of the floorplate or underside of the action where the horn triggerbow guard is missing?

On the PM I provided the following for terms/definitions & info on the Z-M proofhouse:

http://www.hallowellco.com/abbrevia.htm

http://www.beschussanstalt.zella-mehlis.de/en/

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse