"There is no listing of "Collath" serial numbers available. The company "G.Teschner & Co., Wilhelm Collath Söhne" in Frankfurt on Oder went out of business in 1940. Soon the German Gun Collectors Association
www.germanguns.com will publish a special "Der Waffenschmied" issue #45 on Collath guns, containing articles on the company history, gun designs and cartridge developments.
The 8x72R cartridge was not a proprietary one of the Collaths, nor was it a "Sauer & Sohn" development. Instead, it was the first rifle cartridge designed by Wilhelm Brenneke, Leipzig, in 1898. He intended to get 8x57IR ballistics from a slimmer package, better suited to slim drilling actions. The "S&S" monicker is applied erroneously because it resembles a lengthened 8x58R Sauer & Sohn."
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbt...true#Post299179Carl Wilhelm Theodor Collath was born on February 25th, 1838, the same year that Johann Gottlieb Teschner hung out his gunmaking shingle. Collath would have attained the rank of master by the mid 1850s when he joined Teschner and more than likely at this time he married Teschner's daughter. As noted above Carl Wilhelm Theodor Collath became a partner on April 25th, 1871 and in 1875 at Johann Gottlieb Teschner's death, he became the sole owner. It would seem that the G. Teschner & Company name of the concern was a constant and that the latter portion changed from Collath to Collath & Söhne. Carl Wilhelm Theodor Collath died at age 68 on June 21, 1906 with Franz & Paul taking the reins, both being excellent marksmen on par with Ernst Steigleder and some cat named Stusche. Paul was a top shot with a rifle and won many awards.
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbt...true#Post280465Cheers,
Raimey
rse
