I’ve bought several guns from Simpsons. SxS, bolt actions and 22s. I’ve not been disappointed yet. I’m really a novice but I haven’t seen much difference between any of the post war GDR/DDR SXS. Whether Simson or Gbr Merkel. A 1982 Gbr. Merkel did have some stamped internal parts but it worked fine. I’ve kept a 1952 and 1958 Sauer 12ga. One has the “3 Rings” the other the “4 Rings” markings on the barrels. Maybe Krupp and a Russian indicator of the steel or the stamps were handy in a workers paradise? I’ve been happy with a couple of Husqvarna 310 (310AS and 310AN) and Brno ZP47 sidelocks. The Brno have more drop on the stock than I’m used to. The 310AN has a weld to fix a crack in the trigger guard where it screws into the gun that they didn’t notice and I didn’t notice till I took it apart but not a deal breaker. Call them and have the SKU and a salesman will go over the gun with you and answer any questions. They’ll break the gun down and tell you what the markings are on the flats. But they’re not what’s the word? Loonies?? Like all of us here. One time they told me it was a December 1970 gun (12/70). Nope! there was also an 867. And I’m still not sure I decipher a Belgian markings correctly. I’ve got a gunsmith friend who has cleaned the dried grease and opened the chokes for a $$. These guns are far better than a Stevens 311 and see what people want for them.
