[quote=L. Brown][quote=moses]
Does the Merkel have the fleur de lis proof mark for steel shot & a 1350 bar proof. If so that would be the clincher
O.M
A gun made in 1989, unless reproofed, would not have the fleur de lys or "steel shot" as a proofmark. Those marks first appeared in 2005.
As Vol suggested the Birminham gun handled better than the rest. I meant to check if Merkel 47E had "Boy Scout" monogram on flats but never got past taking the for end off. When new or as new those modern mass-produced German doubles are notoriously hard to break down and even harder to put together. I didn't want to leave young fella at the counter with gun broken down into three pieces. There was no point because I would have picked Webley & Scott anyway. Not sure what model the W&S was but there was fairly good amount of light engraving, but no disk strikers. It was made sometime after WWII as 2&3/4" 3&1/4 tons per square inch suggest. I would guess 1950s when shorter barrel and Churchill rib were still in vogue. Great little knockabout rainy day gun.
