Gentlemen,
incidentally, two days ago a very good friend from Chattanooga, TN showed me photos of a twin of the gun in question. I also saw photos with stock removed, markings on the barrel flats, the receiver and some more features.
Features of the other gun are:
SN: 1917xx
Markings: the usual German markings. No crown/N, no “Nitro” (at least, not visible on the photos), no Belgian proofs.
Safety: “SAFE” (not “SICHER); automatic safety
Sauer markings: “J. P. SAUER & SON” on both sides of the receiver, one big crown on barrel flat of left barrel, “MADE IN PRUSSIA” on the receiver, as well as a workers mark “WA” in oval. “Krupp Fluid steel” on the barrels.
Action: Blitz type action with hammers mounted on trigger plate. The hammers do have quiet large “hammer” heads – nothing I’ve seen before. And not comparable to those of the FN patent shown.
Barrel lugs: very unusual and nothing I’ve seen before (at least, not on Sauers).
I estimate manufacture of the other gun (it’s definitely a different gun) around 1912 approximately.
Now: my very good friend and I discussed this gun, as we both haven’t seen before such a Sauer. I see three possibilities for an explanation:
1/an unknown Sauer model
2/ a period fake of an other maker trying to sell his shotgun(s) as Sauers
3/ an “adopted child”
Regarding #3: Sauer in fact adopted some guns: for example, Sauer both (high class) special guns (like double rifle drillings with side locks) from Oskar Merkel or Emil Kerner in the white, added barrels and the Sauer markings and sold them as Sauers. But I’m not aware of any “adopted children” yet from the lower end….
Hum. Very interesting guns, at least.
Regards
Martin
P.S: Sorry, can’t show photos of the other gun.
