OWD,

The answer to your first question is pretty straightforward, and the answer to your second question is much more complex. I'll understand if your eyes glaze over as I try to explain the second.


1. When was the "regent diamond" quality gun introduced into the Daly line-up?


The earliest SD&G catalog reference I have to the regent diamond quality model (i.e., the model 500 SxS) is 1906. It is not in the 1903 catalog so its introduction falls somewhere between those two dates.


2. How many Daly/Lindner guns were made?


Just to make sure I understand your question, are you asking how many Prussian Daly guns, specifically sourced from H.A. Lindner were made? The reason I ask is that not all Prussian Dalys are Lindners, and not all Lindners are Dalys.

Assuming I understand your question correctly, let me state for the record that I don't know how many Lindner Dalys were produced. I have a reasonable guess based on an extrapolation from the database, but that it what it is, a guess/estimate. Some may disagree with my estimate.

Since there are no surviving SD&G records, nor any surving Heinrich Lindner records that have come to light, my thoughts are derived mostly into what I can discern from the database of Daly guns that have been reported to me by a collection of fellow Daly enthusiast. The original databse was created by Bill Wise and Michael Petrov, and it now contains almost 400 guns.

So how many Lindner Dalys do I think were produced over Heinrich Lindner's 42 year run (1874 - 1916)? About 4,000, maybe a few more. Again, this estimate is based on what I have recorded in the database and what I have observed looking at Prussian Dalys for the last dozen years. I'm happy to delve further into the details, but I'll leave it at that.

3. What is the highest Lindner Daly serial number recorded?

The key to this question is to recognize that Lindner Dalys have two distinct serial number ranges, the "early" crown over crossed pistol marked guns and the later HAL over crossed pistol marked guns. 1892 is the delineation bewteen the two ranges (sort of).

Within the early range (crown marked), the highest number yet recorded is #3950. In the second serial number range (HAL marked), the highest serial number is 26XX. The owner of the last one has asked me not provide the details so I am respecting his wishes.)

While Heinrich Lindner was mostly out of the Daly production post-WWI, he was still somehow involved in the trade, possibly as a liaison for other Suhl makers (my speculation.) A couple of post-WWI Prussian Dalys have been noted with Lindner marks (the trap gun in the for sale section is a good example). My speculation is that these may be left over stock due to the interruption of the war.

Hopefully that helps.

Ken




Last edited by Ken Georgi; 08/31/12 09:14 AM.