A 16ga with original 65mm chamber will have the 16 in a circle. If it has a 16 in a circle and a 2 3/4"(70mm)chamber it has been rechambered. If it was rechambered and re proofed in Germany it will have new proof with 16 and a 70, and depending on when it was done, it will have a crown R (repair)proof.
Mike
Hmmm. The Sauer 20ga I owned (Model 280, imported by Abercrombie & Fitch in the 30's) had 20 in a circle on the barrel flats and 2 3/4" marked on the extractor. One should never assume, but in this case I did. And my assumption was that the chambers came that way from Sauer, since the gun was made for export to the States. But I suppose A&F could have had them lengthened after the guns arrived in this country. Might be something Bob Beach would know about.
But probably does not apply to the gun in question, which doesn't appear to have been made for export. Agree that it's a very unique and interesting gun. Given the weight, I don't know that I'd be overly concerned about lengthened chambers. Would be good to have wall thickness at the end of the chambers measured by a gunsmith.
