doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com Fred Adolph Drilling?

Just acquired a beautifully engraved (metal and wood) 1923 gun in 16x16 and a proof caliber of "6.4x55". The gun is not signed but James Julia sold it as "undoubtedly" made by Adolph. Others have now told me it's probably not but might have been engraved in Suhl by one of the craftsmen who did his engraving work (Fritz Heimbeck?). The caliber has been guessed as a 6.5 Swedish which means it was not made for the American market but for the Swedish market since the 6.5 Swedish wasn't popular in the US until the 1970s. Therefore they say it's probably not an Adolph. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[img:center]https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QINi9WQXJiKDcOtSkLkpMXn-htZs4HoIHqwh2_dPl_8/edit?usp=sharing[/img]

Lovely example of the Suhl mechanics. It is possible that Adolph performed the stock work but I'm confident that all other aspects were completed in Suhl and the sporting weapon experienced proof in Suhl in September of 1923 with a ledger number 436. For about the 1st 6 months of the period when the Suhl proof facility actually began dating their wares, they toyed with the idea of a ledger like Zella Mehlis but apparently it did not find favour.

I am of the opinion that Adolf peddled it & was a firearms merchant. Display any other marks forward of the flats to the forend hanger & the mechanics marks might point toward a maker in Suhl.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Cut some images loose & post so that they can be closely inspected. I hazard a guess it is a Blitz action by F.W. Ke�ler of Suhl. Check the standing breech for a monogram.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

The bullet weight is the 10 grammes. Make a wax chamber cast to ferret out the calibre demon.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Probability is very, very high that the sporting weapon is a F.W. Ke�ler Selbstspannerdrilling System Tip-Top & attained some form of protection:

"System Tip-Top is my own construction and protected by law. The gun receives a superior fashion and better balance by the short locks as other Hammerless with locks affixed on the trigger-plate."

More than likely a D.R.G.M.


I still see a very low probability that firearms merchant Adolph contributed much effort.

Loose some of those images.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

I'd search for an American calibre in the neighbourhood of 0.25" calibre 2 1/2" in length. Did Adolph fancy such. I'll have to consult his catalogue. I don't think 0.25" Krag?? too long.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Maybe 25-35-117? or 25 Special 123 grain? Wax cast is in order.

Loose some images & post additional.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Many thanks Raimey, I've sent some pix via email. Sam

Many thanks. I've spent some time working on a sea-wall issue @ Apollo Beach & one of our neighbours hails from St. Pete.


Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

There is very little doubt in my mind that the caliber of this drilling is 6.5x55 Swede. Rimless caliber drillings are uncommon, but are sometimes seen. The link, above, clearly describes a rimless extractor. There is a special issue of "DER WAFFENSCHMEID" about Fred Adolph and his guns. He clearly was more a marketer of Suhl made guns and "Newton" class cartridges. It is hard for me to believe he would release a gun without having his name on it.
Mike