Revdocdrew,
The earliest SD&G catalogs I own list several types of damascus available on Daly guns. These include what SD&G referred to as "Clunny" damascus, "Bernard or Turkish first quality damascus", and "Chine" damascus. I've never been able to associate which one of these might correspond to the "Herringbone" pattern often seen on Prussian Dalys (usually diamond quality guns).
John,
The possible date of production of Mark's gun falls into a pretty narrow range. The gun does not bear proof marks (which marks it as a pre-1892 gun), yet it also (I'm willing to bet) does NOT have the Anson & Deeley brevete mark and use number stamped on the center of the breech which means it made made after the A&D patent had expired. The gun also shows the "early" Lindner crossed pistols under crown mark which was revised in response to the newly required government proof marks. And of course the guns bears the "country of origin" mark required beginning in 1891.
I confess to not having firm enough grasp of German history to know if it reasonable that the timeline for marking the gun SAXONY instead of PRUSSIA would correspond with some change on "ownership" of the land in and around Suhl. Or perhaps Lindner (SD&G) thought SAXONY looked nicer than PRUSSIA and changed it.
George,
I remember taking a quick look at the big 8. If it bore crossed pistols stamp with a crown or HAL over them, it was a Lindner gun. I know of one man who was interested in the gun. I have not heard if he as successful.
Ken
